Bringing up children abroad in a foreign environment and giving them an international education is usually very rewarding. These children learn to accept changes, challenges and new lifestyles without great effort. They adapt quickly in a new group, make friends easily and become self-reliant. They also learn one or two new foreign languages and develop a cultural awareness that many Swedish students lack. Their international scope is broad and they become bicultural and generally more open to cultural differences.

However, many children will lose part of their national identity and sometimes develop a rootlessness which may cause problems later on in life. The "feeling of home" is not as clear to them as it naturally is to youngsters growing up in their native country. They may also be afraid of forming strong relationships as they have experienced that they seldom last for a long period of time.

Research has been done regarding the psychological and social development of accompanying children. Many ideas are brought forward, but not until recently have we started to focus seriously on these children's personal situation. They have been seen as "accompanying baggage" and not been given much attention. Many feel that learning a foreign language has been the foremost experience of growing up abroad! Somehow, we have not fully understood that the foreign language is just a bi-product: more importantly, they will learn and adopt a completely new culture through their education in a foreign country. They will be formed and encultured with totally different attitudes, values and norms than those taught in Swedish schools.

With this in mind, their entire school situation must be planned and considered before leaving so that they, upon a return to Sweden, easily can adjust to the Swedish school system with its particular curriculum. They must also be prepared for a difference in values, norms and behavior!

Boarding Schools
The British "expats" generally seem to leave the up-bringing and schooling of their children to their boarding schools. They might send their children to these institutions when a child is even younger than 10 years old. The families meet for vacations, and the children grow up independent of their families.

Many researchers have pointed out that it is not advisable to send children to boarding school before the age of 14. Not until then are they emotionally prepared to be separated from their families.

There are of course situations where the only alternative might be a boarding school, for instance for families within the diplomatic corps. The family could be stationed in a country where no education is available. However, the main reason is that they move frequently from one country to another, which involves changes of schools, school systems and languages.

If possible, it is undoubtedly advisable to follow the recommendation of avoiding an early start in boarding schools and bring the whole family on the foreign assignment and thus share the life abroad together.

Diplomats and Businessmen
Although there are many similarities, we must still allow for a difference between the families working for the Swedish government and those working for various multinational companies.

Diplomats usually face a whole career abroad, while businessmen normally are only in one country for a period of time and then return home for good. There tend to be cases, however, where you will find business people leading the same life as many diplomats, being transferred from one country to another. This may have to do with their international experience and usefulness but also with a wish on their part to continue to live an international life. Most corporations recommend families to return home after a stay of a maximum of five years in order to avoid a "Flying Dutchman syndrome"!

Alternative Schools
When moving to a another country with your children, you must look into what kind of schools are available in the area. As a general rule, you should decide first in what language you wish your children to be educated. In a Western European country there might be a choice between local schools (where the native language is spoken) and English- speaking schools. You will even find a small Swedish school operating in some countries.

Swedish Schools
A Swedish school with a good curriculum and competent teachers could be an excellent alternative, if available. Your children will have a good education, maintain and develop their native tongue, and learn the language spoken in the country, in addition to English. They will also take all the subjects required by the Swedish School Board, and are thus prepared to "jump" right into the Swedish system without difficulty when moving home again.

The only disadvantage of a small Swedish school is, of course, limited resources and, with this, fewer activities. The children can feel somewhat isolated and their international experience could be restricted. There is a risk that they will not make any friends among their host countrymen or any other foreign students.

Local or International Schools
If there is a choice between a local and an international English-speaking school, the latter is definitely to be preferred. English is the dominant international language and in case of a transfer to another country, you will most likely find an English/American International school there.

North America - Public or Private Schools
When moving to North America, you might consider enrolling your children in a private school. As said earlier, private schools are costly, and most companies do not make extra allowances for private schools. These schools are usually smaller and more familiar, with fewer students in each class. More attention and care is spent on each student. As they are private enterprises, they must maintain a good academic standard to maintain a sufficient number of students.

Public schools are commonly very large with fairly big classes and, to certain Swedish students who may be used to smaller schools, they may at first seem frightening. However, the best schools (with dedicated teachers) will be found in good neighborhoods, and one must not forget that there is competition between the various local schools not only in sports but also in academic achievement. The school's reputation is always in focus and "at stake".

Schools in the U.S.
American schools face many problems today, as they have limited budgets and in certain areas a great influx of immigrants from many parts of the world. Some schools also have racial problems. Recruitment of teachers can pose a problem in certain states because of low salaries, poor working conditions and social difficulties. The quality of education naturally varies from state to state and must be considered separately.

You can obtain all the necessary information regarding the schools in your area from the local School Board. You can check the ranking of the school and its placement in nationwide academic tests.These show the students' average test scores and the percentage of students enrolling in college or university education.

International Schools
Private, independent international schools are very often American-sponsored, and they are likely to be found in the major cities of the world, primarily because of a fairly large American expatriate colony.

You can find today all over the world many other schools run by British, Australian or French entities, as well as Japanese.

The curriculum of the international schools reflects the international attendance and is not strictly American- oriented. The faculty is international, with high academic qualifications, and the schools are usually large, modern and have many facilities. Classes are normally kept small.

Graduation requirements follow American recommendations. Textbooks and all other material is American. Many schools offer I.B.(International Baccalauerate) courses.

Education in international schools is generally excellent.

ESL - English as a Second Language
When you as a foreigner enroll your children in an American or international school, the children will be tested in English and mathematics. If they have no previous experience in English, they will be placed in a special program where they will be taught English intensively.

They will most likely have one or two ESL classes per day at first, but will learn very quickly and be placed in the ordinary classes usually after the first semester.

ESL classes are offered in all grades, but a Swedish high school student will probably not need these if his knowledge of English is good.

ESL is sometimes called EFL (English as a Foreign Language).

The American School System
The American school system ranges from K (Kindergarten) to grade 12. It is divided into three parts: Lower School (K-6), Middle School or Junior High School (7-8), and Upper School or High School (9-12).

The School Year
The school year can be divided into two or three semesters, starting in August and ending in June. There are usually three major breaks in the year: Christmas, spring and Easter.

Grades
The two-semester year is split up into four quarters, with a marked grade period after each quarter.

In some schools, "final exams" are given in each individual subject once a year and in others after each semester. These are based on what the students have studied throughout the semester.

The students must pass all the exams and other requirements; if they do not, they will be held back one year.

The following grades are generally given:

A (Superior), B (Above Average), C (Average), D (Below Average) and F (Failing).

GRADE SCALE: (local school board in Virginia, USA)

A = 94 - 100%

B = 86 - 93%

C = 78 - 85%

D = 70 - 77%

F = - 70%

Most schools use an A to F grading scale and a 0 to 100% numerical scale, but the percentage equivalents may vary slightly from this chart. Check with the school concerning their system.

There is usually further testing during the school year (in all grades), including local, state and nationwide tests.

Students in grades 11 and 12 are tested regularly by a so-called SAT test (Student Aptitude Test) in order to qualify for college.

During the quarters, the students are given Progress Reports or Report Cards that inform you about your child's progress. You will always be informed if you need to help your child with his schoolwork!

Discipline
School discipline is fairly strict in comparison to the Swedish school system, though this varies somewhat between schools. There are punishments or restrictions if rules and regulations are not followed. Talking in class is not accepted. The teachers have authority and demand the respect of their students.

Students can be given "detention" if they repeatedly disobey rules, meaning that they will have to stay after school or during their "study hall" and work under supervision.

If they continue to be difficult, they will be "suspended" from school for a certain amount of time, depending on the offense.

The worst punishment is being "expelled", e.g. not allowed to stay in the school.

Lower School
Subjects taken in Lower School concentrate on READING, WRITING and MATH, as in most schools in the world. Other subjects are: SOCIAL STUDIES, P.E.(Physical Education),ART and MUSIC. There is much creativity incorporated in the learning methods. Report cards are given starting in grade K. Much emphasis is placed on competition, awards and merits. Diplomas are handed out regularly to students who achieve or improve the most. There are special programs for gifted children as well as for those who have learning difficulties.

The teachers change for each grade the children attend. They do not follow their classes as they do in Sweden. Sometimes a teacher can have his class in two consecutive grades, but this is very rare.

The classes are also very often broken up, and classmates are not necessarily the same as the previous year.

Differences
Americans believe that change leads to development and growth-a philosophy opposite to that of Swedes, who advocate stability and group-oriented work. Competition in classes is not encouraged.

In the Swedish school system, we find instead a concentration on "one class and one teacher" for as many years as possible in order to maintain stability and security within the group.

Living abroad, we must reevaluate our own system and try to see the advantages of the new. The children will be taught by different persons every year, all specialized in their particular field (grade). There will be many new classmates every year.They will get used to changes and be open to new personalities and teaching methods. The teacher does not play such an important role as in Sweden. An advantage of this system is that in case the class ends up with a poor teacher, it will only last for a year!

The philosophy is to foster independent human beings ready to accept that they live in an ever-changing world where everyone must rely on his own capabilities.

Middle School
Middle School starts preparing the students for High School. Here they will have one teacher for one subject, and will start more independent studies. The transition from the Lower School to Middle School is as dramatic and full of tension as in Sweden, but much help is available and it usually goes very smoothly.

Subjects taken are: ENGLISH, MATH, SCIENCE, HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, FRENCH, GERMAN or another foreign language, P.E., ART, MUSIC, DRAMA and some other elective subjects.

Students take the same subjects every day, which is a great difference between the European and American systems. They concentrate on specific subjects and do not study more than a maximum of seven subjects per day and week.

Upper School
Upper School or High School is the final stage in education and is aimed toward preparing students for college and university studies. There are, however, many options for vocational training and classes that are oriented towards more practical occupations.

Credits
In order to graduate from High School, students must have earned approximately 22 CREDITS (varying from state to state, but usually about 22 to 24). They earn one credit per subject during one full school year, but it is sometimes also possible to take one-semester courses and receive half a credit per semester. They must pass each class to get one credit. There are certain basic requirements in terms of subjects in granting diplomas.

Grades 9 to 12
The Freshman Class is the same as grade 9, and the most common subjects are usually English, world cultures, math (algebra or geometry), physical science, a foreign language and P.E.. There is also a choice between music, art and drama.

The Sophomere Class is grade 10, with the subjects English, U.S. history, math, biology, a language and P.E. One more elective (see above) is taken but this could also be a computer course or typing.

The Junior Class is grade 11. Subjects are usually English, U.S. government, math, (algebra II/trigonometry, math analysis), science (chemistry and physics), a language and an addtional elective.

The Senior Class is the final and 12th class. Courses include English, Western civilization, math analysis etc., a language, typing, computer or other electives. Senior class students must make certain that all graduation requirements have been met.

P.E.
In Physical Education, the students are taught such areas as health, sex education, drug and alcohol abuse, driver's license etc.

Graduation
Graduation from high school is a much-celebrated event, preceded and followed by dances and other social activities. It is highlighted by the students' famous PROM dance, a formal ball.

P.T.A. - Parent-Teachers Association
Parents play a very important and influential role in American schools as much work is based on the voluntary help of the mothers especially. It is a very active group, and it is almost expected of you to take part in some of the activities conducted during the school year-an excellent opportunity to learn a new and foreign school culture!

College and University Education
It is now very common that high school students continue to college and university education, at least for two more years, in order to study a skill or profession. Academic careers aiming towards a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree require approximately four years of study and a Master of Arts or Science five or six years. There are some 3,300 colleges and universities to choose from in the U.S., both private and state-run. Twenty or thirty universities are considered to be the very best, and the competition is fierce among the "top 20"! Among the most renowned "Ivy League" universities are Harvard, Princeton,Yale and Brown, to mention a few.

Costs vary from university to university and from state to state, but it is not inexpensive. An average tuition fee is about $10,000 per year. The fee is lower at state universities for students who reside or who have established residency there.

American parents begin saving early for their children's further education and also often hope for a scholarship in sports or other achievements.

Swedish students attending American universities can receive a good international education, useful even in the Swedish market. It is important to remember, however that it is nearly impossible to obtain a work permit in the U.S.

Our Native Tongue
It is essential to stress the importance of keeping the Swedish language active within your family while living abroad. Depending on the time spent abroad, this need may vary, but in the case of a stay in a foreign-speaking country longer than one year, the accompanying children must have some continuous education in their native language.

One Person - One Language
Research in this area strongly recommends that, in our case, Swedish is spoken in the home. Do not encourage a second language in the home if you as parents are both Swedish! In case each parent has his own language, the rule-"one person-one language"-should be obeyed from the beginning of a child's first communication until at least the age of three years. The child will then become bilingual. There might be cases when a third language is spoken in the family between the parents, and in this particular case the child might become trilingual, but it is recommended to stress the two languages at first.

There are various ideas regarding the upbringing of a child in several languages. It is usually best to give the child a solid foundation as far as the native language is concerned. A child is supposedly ready for a second language at the age of ten to twelve years.

The native language is an emotional language through which the parents have given the child love, affection and security. It is part of a person's roots and cultural heritage. With two languages, you receive two identities! If a language is not nurtured and encouraged, it will "fall behind" and stop in its development. A bilingual child must use both languages actively to avoid the risk of using one to convey sentiments and the other-often the language used at school-as the academic language. The vocabulary of the native language will remain childish and limited.

Swedish School
It is strongly advisable to start a Swedish school within the Swedish community in your new country.

The Swedish government gives a grant to each child who has a Swedish parent, to be used for supplementary Swedish education. It also covers a small sum to persons who are willing to assist teaching these children.

Swedish School Associations
A Swedish School Association shall be founded and thus be the sponsor for this Swedish school. Lessons can be held once a week, preferably using the local school facilities. Swedish will be taught and our cultural background reinforced through studies of history, social science and geography, for example.

There are good correspondance courses available to high school students free of charge. They should be followed under an adult's supervision.

It is recommended to have Swedish as an after-school activity on neutral ground, as it is extremely difficult to motivate children to study in the home.

Unquestionably, you will do your children a great favor in helping them to maintain their native language, as they will be much better prepared for a successful return to Swedish society.

Children living and attending school abroad will soon switch over to the new "school language" automatically even when playing or talking with their compatriots. It is the parents' responsibility to make sure that Swedish is spoken, remembered and used as much as possible!

A Language Dilemma
It is true that it is extremely rewarding to be able to manage two languages equally well. Our children will no doubt be able to express themselves fluently, often without an accent, after a couple of years abroad. We must be aware of the fact, though, that they will seldom acquire the vocabulary that their national fellow students have, and that there is a great difference in the knowledge of the language that our children have as compared with their classmates, for the simple reason that it is their native language. Consequently, they run the risk of acquiring a limited vocabulary in both languages. In the long run, they will concentrate on their new language and benefit from this academically, but this will be at the cost of their native tongue.

Parents' Responsibility
The only persons who can make sure that the native language is kept alive are the parents. It will mean much persistence and sometimes confrontations, as it is so much easier to give in and let the children have their way.

Pride and Prejudice
Many parents take pride in the fact that their children somehow are different and can master a foreign language. This is fully understandable, but it is not an excuse for ignoring the native language. Many problems with repatriation will be avoided if the children continue to speak their first language fluently. It is not going to be helpful to be different when trying to readjust to Swedish society.

Further Education in Sweden
Accompanying teenagers who have graduated from an international high school might face certain problems when applying to Swedish universities. As they are considered "foreigners", their high school diplomas must be evaluated and accepted by the Swedish School Board. The application must be sent to the VHS, National Admissions Office to Higher Education, http://www.vhs.se within a stipulated time. More information about the National Agency for Higher Education (Högskoleverket) can be found at http: //www.hsv.se.

Another interesting and informative web site for Swedes abroad is: http://studera.nu.

A test in the Swedish language must be done before applying to our Universities.
See: http://www.nordiska.su.se/

The Swedish Institute is the authority that has all the pertinent information to foreigners who would like to study in Sweden. Information regarding courses and studies can be obtained at the web site: http://www.si.se and http://www.sweden.se/templates/SIS///frontPage___4908.asp