SWEDEN
YFU Sweden website

The environment in Sweden is so clean and nature so expansive that you can take a swim from the steps of the City Hall in Stockholm, Sweden’s capital, or pick wild flowers and berries almost anywhere.

Swedes really enjoy outdoor activities and they will want you to join them. Why not? Your host family lives in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Swedes generally get five weeks of vacation each year and much of it is spent outdoors. They like sports, fishing, golf, tennis, sailing, and swimming. Major team sports are hockey and soccer. Northern and central mountains offer chances to ski and hike.

A large part of Swedish society revolves around close family ties and loyalties. Swedish families generally spend a lot of time together, visit friends and relatives, and in summer, often take trips to their cabins. Few Swedish teenagers work after school. Most are involved in sports, clubs, or other social activities during the week nights.

Academic Programs

Most Swedish students go to gymnasium, an upper secondary school. If you are a YFU student in Sweden for a year, you will attend gymnasium and be placed in a group of subjects that interest you in areas such as languages, art, technology, or natural sciences. When you arrive in Sweden you will have a three- to four-day orientation camp. You will receive basic language training and meet students on the year and semester program from all over the world before you go to your host family.

School generally begins between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. and lasts until 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., with an hour lunch break. There are typically four school breaks during the year—fall, summer, Easter, and Christmas.

Although there are no after school sports activities, Swedish students get involved in sports practice with their clubs or teams after school.

Arts/Music Year Program
From the country that gave us the Nobel Peace Prize and Pippi Longstocking comes a wonderful opportunity for YFU participants to study visual arts, music, dance, or drama.

YFU students study 35 classes per week, out of which 11-14 are in the specific subject of their chosen art. The rest of the classes are in general academic subjects such as mathematics, English, history, and social sciences. Students applying for the arts program will need to fill out an additional application.

Visual Art. The visual art program focuses on drawing and painting. Other art related subjects such as pottery, metalwork, and woodwork are also offered, including art history.

Music. The special music program requires students to be experienced in at least one main instrument, including voice. All kinds of music are taught in addition to classical training. Other music courses include music theory, music history, and ensemble playing.

Dance. Open to students with experience in classical ballet and at least one other dance form, such as jazz dance. The main subjects are Dance, Form and Creation, and Dance Training. Art-related subjects are also offered.

Drama. The drama program requires students to speak some Swedish or learn Swedish very early in the program. Movement, dance, and music are included as drama activities. Acceptance is on a case-by-case basis, determined by YFU Sweden. The drama program is not available for students on the semester program.

SOURCE: YFU USA.