Germantown Academy has been welcoming students from Colegio Internacional Europa in Espartinas, Sevilla, Spain for almost 10 years now. This year, GA and Edie Leon '26 and Gia Sharf '23 and their families, are hosting two students for six weeks this fall. Upper School Spanish Teacher Carol Peery Ayers 1760 gave some insight on how students are selected to participate in the exchange.

"Usually, two or three students, but sometimes more, come at a time from Spain and stay with GA families," Ayers said. "Between the winter and spring of the previous year, we have our students sign up for the exchange. We explain the commitment and how the exchange will work. It does not matter what level of Spanish the host student is in. You don't need to be an honors student; you just have to be passionate about it."

For the students that come to Fort Washington, the purpose of the exchange is to experience the culture and to improve their English. Europa is a bilingual school, so they come to GA with strong grasp of the English language, according to Ayers. While on campus, the students have their own schedule and are placed in the same courses that are offered to GA students, depending on their academic level. Some have even assisted in AP Spanish classes. Outside of school, they live with the host student and family. 

The same goes for the GA students that travel to Sevilla, which will happen in the spring. Ayers said last year, the GA students went to Madrid for a couple days before going to Sevilla where they met the host families with whom they would spend four weeks. Similarly to the Spanish exchange students helping GA students, the GA students spend time in the Europa Lower School assisting students who are learning English.

While the students are in a different country, they are still keeping tabs on their schoolwork back home. Ayers explained that in Europe, the education system is different, and it's geared toward a test at the end of high school. With the exchange students aware of this, they are responsible for the work in Sevilla as well as their GA work.

"They have tutors at their school that connect with them and they have to do their homework and schoolwork from Sevilla while they're here," Ayers said. "Our students do the same thing. They follow Canvas while they're over there and stay up on any assignments."

Ayers said that this year the History department has agreed to take the students to Philadelphia for a historical tour. In the past, they have also taken trips to cities like New York and Washington D.C. Ayers added that some of the families have planned trips as well. 

"I think this exchange program has become part of the fabric of GA," Ayers said. “I think our kids expect the students from Spain to show up and be part of the community now, and they do! It's a super positive experience for both sides."