AFS Student Learning Journey

Enf-of-Stay Orientation

TOOLKIT FOR AFS FACILITATORS

March 2021

©2021 AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc.

Instructions for using this Toolkit
● You can literally copy-paste some of our slides to run your
orientation, and we have embedded plenty of links for you to make
them interactive and engaging. Please make sure they are only used
within an AFS context.

● The sample slides are mostly for visuals. The step-by-step and
facilitator instructions for each activity are in the speaker notes.

● If delivering the orientation online, make sure to test the

presentation, video and the audio in advance.
 Background &
General Recommendations

©2021 AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc. 3

 The Upgraded AFS Student Learning Journey
AN ENHANCED CURRICULUM
As of 2021, the AFS Student Learning Journey now includes an online
educational component for all high school study abroad program
participants.

Coming together virtually as global groups of students, guided by trained

facilitators, this new aspect of the program will complement and enhance
the Orientations and Monthly Reflections that happen at the local level.

The SLJ Online Curriculum (SLJ 2.0) includes content developed in

collaboration with in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania’s
Center for Social Impact Strategy (CSIS).

This component advances the way we prepare students to practice social

impact and return home to become active global citizens with the
essential global skills they need to live, learn, work and volunteer to
contribute to society and change the world.

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©2021 AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc.
 The Upgraded AFS Student Learning Journey
BEFORE DURING AFTER
Monthly Contact & Learning Reflections
SENDING PARTNER

Arrival
Orientation

Post-Arrival Mid-Stay End of Stay

Orientation Orientation Orientation
HOSTING PARTNER

Pre-Departure
Orientation Re-Entry
Orientation
INTERNATIONAL

SLJ Advanced (optional) SLJ Advanced (optional)

Discovery Modules Develop Modules
SLJ 2.0 SLJ 2.0 SLJ 2.0
Discovery Modules Develop Modules Debrief Modules
 Learning Objectives for
SLJ Online Curriculum
This new content enhances the global realm of AFS Educational Goals and introduces skills
for students to engage with the community and practice taking action while on the program.
If you want to familiarize yourself with the online content, you can find an overview here.

PERSONAL GROWTH

CO-CREATING WITH OTHERS

UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD

TAKING ACTION

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©2021 AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc.
 AFS Educational Goals for End-of-Stay Orientation

PERSONAL CULTURAL
● Self-awareness ● Cultural knowledge and awareness
● Critical thinking ● Intercultural effectiveness

INTERPERSONAL GLOBAL
GLOBAL

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©2021 AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc.
 MUSTs for the End-of-Stay Orientation?
Key things to include in your orientation

#1 Focus on change (Before – After)

#2 Preparing to let go and say good-bye

#3 Discuss potential challenges upon return

#4 Reflection on the host culture

#5 Main takeaways from the experience

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©2021 AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc.
 Tips for running orientations online
● Remember, less is more: Things are likely to take twice as long to
complete online. Prioritise and be realistic.
● Be very explicit about your instructions and specify the length of time
to complete each task.
● Insert times for students and families to interact and provide
feedback.
● Try to avoid being exclusively task oriented. This is a hard time for
everyone and people are likely to want to discuss their situation and
share with others.
● Zoom is only as good as its user, so learn about best practices and a
few tricks for facilitators. Some of the proposed activities suggest you
divide people into sub-groups. Find out how to do that here.
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©2021 AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc.
 End-of-Stay Orientation
Face-to-face Sample Activities

©2021 AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc.

 Preparation
Before you begin…
Make sure you are familiar with the
End-of-Stay section in the AFS Student Learning
Journey Curriculum.

You can also review the webinar on Mid-Stay

Orientation for details about some of the activities
mentioned here.

©2021 AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc.

 AFS Enf-of-Stay Orientation: Sample Agenda
DAY 1 DAY 2

Welcome and aims Preparing to go home

Me before - me after Practicalities regarding travel
and returning home
What did you learn about
culture All about goodbyes

Tree of life Future diary

My exchange was Social Impact projects check-in

Circle of light Wrap-up and Good-byes

©2021 AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc.

Me before - Me after

● Grab a paper sheet, colored markers

and any other material you have
available

● Think about yourself before you started

your program and now and draw these
two “versions” of you. It can be a
illustration, a mind map or any other
visual representation. Express yourself!
What did you learn about
Culture?
1. In pairs, each team will receive
one-two discussion questions to
reflect on and discuss.

2. Each pair will share their

questions and answers with the
rest of the group.
Sample Activity 3
What did you learn about Culture? 3-2-1
1. Ask students to remember back to when they arrived in the host country, maybe even back further to
when they were at home. What were their original expectations of the following:
● Your host country- the country and culture
● Their AFS experience - what they would do etc.
● The hosting experience - living in another family
● School
● Making friends in a new country
Encourage students to write their top 5+ expectations and the reality.
1. Ask the students to write 3 facts they have learned, 2 questions they still have, 1 opinion they now
have that was informed by their life in the host-country.
2. Students then share their 3-2-1s and facilitators guide the discussion
Sample Activity 4 (60 minutes)
Tree of life
Session Outline:
1. Divide the room into four areas, each with a blank flip chart
sheets with different titles (e.g. home culture, host family, youth
in the host culture, host school, host community, etc.).
2. Ask students to go around the room and list as many things as
they learned for each one of these categories..
3. Students can then focus on what they learned about themselves.
Use a visual, such as a tree, where students can add sticky notes
in different sections.
4. Go through the tree learnings together
Sample Activity 5 (30 minutes)
My exchange was...
Session Outline:
1. Asking students to think of one word that defines their AFS
experience. They should first take some time to reflect on their
own in a quiet place.
2. Students then should write this word n a colourful paper.
3. Form a circle.
4. Students go around the circle with each person reading the word
Sample Activity 6 (90 minutes - depending on the size of the group)
Circle of light
Session Outline:
0. This activity needs to be set up in
a dark room
1. Have everyone sit or stand in a
circle.
2. Pass out a candle to each person.
3. Have your candle and lighter ready.
4. Then, turn off all lights so the room
is completely black.
5. Give the introduction.
Sample Activity 7 (90 minutes)
Preparing to go home
Session Outline:
1. Group participants into groups (ideally 2 to 4 max) and ask students to
identify four possible challenge that they will encounter when they
return.
2. Each group reports back.
3. As a large group select the best four possible challenges and write
them on a flip chart board.
4. Organize students into four teams and assign each team the collection
of information for one of the four challenges.
5. Facilitator explains the data collection process
6. Each group reports on findings and general discussion.
 End-of-Stay Orientation
Online Sample Activities

*see this site for more virtual tools

©2021 AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc.

Sample Agenda Online End-of-Stay Orientation -
Two 60 min sessions (ideal) or one 90 min session

10 MIN Welcome & Introductions

10 MIN Check-in

30 MIN What did you learn about culture

5 MIN My exchange was

25 MIN Preparing to go home

5 MIN Closing & next steps

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 Sample Activity 1.1 (10-15 minutes depending on group size)
Greetings & Intros
Who is on the call? Please tell us
● Your name
● Where you are currently
● And one of the following:
- One funny thing that you have experienced or seen in the last week.
- What is one item you are planning to take back with you
- What is one item/person/place you can’t but wish you could take

©2019
©2019AFSAFS
Intercultural
Intercultural
Programs,
Programs,
Inc.©2020
Inc. AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc.
 Sample Activity 1.2
Greetings & Intros
Let’s review our goals for today
● To reflect on and articulate your
learnings.
● To plan your farewells and how you are
going to thank and say goodbye to
people and places
● To prepare for your return, and identify
the opportunities and challenges you
might encounter

Is there anything else you would like to

©2019 discuss?
©2019
Inc.©2020
Inc.
AFSAFS
Intercultural
Intercultural
Programs,
Programs,
AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc.
 Sample Activity 1.3
Greetings & Intros
Let’s agree on rules of engagement
Here are some standard rules for this meeting we propose:
● What is shared in this group, stays in the group.
● Respect each other’s opinion, while you don’t have to agree, everyone’s
point of view is valid and every experience is unique.
● We encourage you to actively listen. This is even harder to do online so
avoid distractions like having other web-pages open or checking your
phone.
● We are all in this together. Let’s try and keep this space friendly and
supportive and brave.

Are there any other rules you’d like us to include? Post them on the chat.
©2019
©2019AFSAFS
Intercultural
Intercultural
Programs,
Programs,
Inc.©2020
Inc. AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc.
 Sample Activity 2 (10 minutes)
Check-in -
Choose the
person who
best
represents 1 2 3
where you
are right
now in your
journey.
4 5 6

©2020 AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc. Image courtesy of the University of Hull
Sample Activity 3 (20 -30 mins depending on size of the group)
What did you learn about Culture?

1. In pairs discuss the question you are

assigned. You have 5 minutes to discuss your
answer.
2. Be ready to share it with the group
Sample Activity 3 .1
What did you learn about Culture? -
Let’s share
1. Each pair shares their sentence/ question
As a group:
2. What are the learnings you have made during this
time?
3. What adjustment tools have you gained during this
experiences that might help you in your return?
Sample Activity 4 (5 minutes)
My exchange was...
Let’s think about

1. Think of one word that defines your AFS

experience.
2. Share it in this Menti cloud
Sample Activity 5.1 (5 minutes)
Preparing to go home - feelings
Let’s think about:

1. What are some of

the feelings that
you have about
your return?
2. Share it in this
Menti cloud
Sample Activity 5.2 (25 minutes)
Preparing to go home - future
Let’s discuss:

1. What are some of the opportunities you are

looking forward to when you return?
2. What are some of the challenges you may
encounter? How can you tackle them?
 Closing

Thank you for participating to this session!

● The next steps for us are xxx
● If you have any further questions or comments please contact
xxx

©2019©2019AFSAFS
Intercultural
Intercultural
Programs,
Programs,
©2021 AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc.
Inc. Inc.