Some educationalists think that international exchange visits will benefit teenagers at the school. To what extent do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

It is thought by some experts in the field of education that

exchange

students

from other countries have a positive impact on teenage

students

at the

school

. Looking at

this

issue from cultural and developmental perspectives, the benefits far exceed the drawbacks. There are some disadvantages to having international

students

. One evident drawback is that it could lead to miscommunication between them and

students

at the

school

. Both

students

experience language barriers when interacting with each other, which often causes misunderstanding and confusion.

In addition

, cultural differences could significantly hinder communication, causing

students

to develop frustration and fear.

As a result

, they develop negative attitudes towards other cultures, which contradicts the important purpose of having

exchange

visits.

This

point is highlighted in a survey conducted by the Ministry of Education in Japan showing that as much as 20% of high

school

students

in Japan lost confidence to converse with foreigners after having

exchange

students

in their

school

.

However

, international student visits offer significant benefits to teenagers at the

school

. One obvious advantage is that it promotes cultural understanding. Interaction with peers from other cultures provides a valuable opportunity to learn that every culture is unique and acquire tolerance and acceptance of differences, which is becoming increasingly crucial in

this

global age.

Therefore

, even though miscommunication could be expected, teenagers reap the benefit from cross-cultural communication in the long run.

Furthermore

, speaking to international

students

face-to-face is a more powerful way to form an emotional connection to their countries than simply reading about them. It is widely reported that individuals who have a friend from another country are more likely to have a positive view of that country compared to those without. While the risk of a culture clash remains, it can be greatly mitigated through thorough preparation

such

as classes about the visitors’ country and culture. In conclusion,

although

there are some downsides to international

exchange

programmes, the positives far outweigh the negatives. It is crucial that schools take measures to ensure a safe and effective learning environment for both international and domestic

students

.