A GUIDE FOR PARENTS · RESEARCH & POSSIBILITIES

What can a school stay abroad give your child?

English is part of the story. A school stay also offers opportunities to navigate unfamiliar situations, connect with people and explore a different way of life. Here is how to think about those benefits — and what research can and cannot tell us.

English with a purpose

School lessons, friendships and everyday conversations create reasons to use English. A 2024 systematic review focused on primary and secondary exchanges examines language gains, motivation and intercultural competence. It highlights the limited evidence base at these ages and the importance of exposure and interaction. Simply being abroad is not a guarantee of progress.

Heinzmann, Ferris, Roderer & Ehrsam (2024), Student exchange in primary and secondary education: systematic review. This concerns school-age learners; it is not evidence of outcomes in C2 programmes.

Confidence through participation

Sharing an idea in class, starting a conversation or asking a question can give a student opportunities to practise speaking up. We present this as a possibility of the experience, not a measured promise that every student will become more confident.

Independence, with support

New routines offer practice in organising a day, making choices and asking for help. Independence should grow alongside appropriate adult support. Readiness, personality and the quality of the arrangements matter; the sources linked here do not establish a guaranteed increase in independence.

Understanding people beyond their own culture

A 2020 case study interviewed six secondary-school exchange students in Hawai‘i and their host families. It found that cultural learning worked in both directions, through active interaction and positive student–host relationships. Its small, specific sample helps explain how learning can happen; it cannot predict results for every teenager or destination.

Manca Sustarsic (2020), The Impact of Intercultural Exchange on Secondary School Exchange Students and Their Host Families, Journal of International Students.

Friendships and a sense of belonging

Joining school life and sharing everyday moments at home provide opportunities for connection. Belonging can take time. Parents should ask how students are supported if they feel isolated, homesick or uncomfortable with an arrangement.

A clearer picture of future possibilities

Experiencing another school system may help a young person imagine future international study. This is a practical possibility, not a promise of university admission, better grades or a career advantage. Academic recognition should be checked with the home school before travel.

What helps turn opportunity into experience?

Ask about school fit, chances to use English beyond lessons, accommodation, communication with parents and what happens when something is difficult. These are useful questions for comparing programmes and planning a stay around the individual student.

At C2, we discuss schools around Maynooth and Celbridge, accommodation availability and personal support with each family. Our nearby team and communication with parents are central to those arrangements.

Sources checked 1 November 2026. Research from other programmes does not establish outcomes for C2 students. This guide distinguishes research findings from practical opportunities.