Programme details
| Programme length | Start | End | Price | Age on departure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFS year programme (academic year) | August 2009 | July 2010 | $10,750 + $350 visa | 16 - 17 |
Tunisia is a North African Muslim nation with strong ties to the Middle East. At one time, Tunisia hosted the headquarters of both the Arab League and the Palestine Liberation Organisation. In addition, Tunisia’s official language is Arabic, even though its native population is Berber, a North African ethnic community whose native language, in Tunisia at least, has become mostly obsolete. (Bilingual Tunisians most commonly speak Arabic and French.) Tunisian culture is an interesting and charming example of Arab Islamic culture blended with Mediterranean, European and Western influences, the result of 3,000 years as a melting pot of Mediterranean cultures combined with a genuine openness to and acceptance of others.
Tourists flock to Tunisia’s sparkling coastal beaches, but seldom stray from Mediterranean resorts to explore the country’s extensive, well-preserved Roman ruins that lie inland. Both inside and outside tourist districts, family-oriented Tunisians welcome visitors who respect their Muslim traditions, even at single-sex bathhouses where Tunisians typically gather to socialise.
Tunisia is one of most westernised Arab countries. Education, tourism and the media have been strong factors in this. The degree of Western liberality, of course, varies from urban to rural sectors and from one region to another as Tunisia is a land of diversity.
Family life
Tunisian families are quite close-knit. Family members enjoy being together particularly for special occasions such as religious celebrations, weddings and other family events.
School life
The average time spent in school is 32 hours per week, unevenly distributed between weekdays (from three to six hours per day) and between classes (from one to five hours per week), depending on what you study. On Friday afternoons, and weekends, schools are closed.
Typical classes include maths, biology, physics and chemistry, computer science, French, English, German, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, history, geography, civic education, religious education, philosophy, artistic education and physical education. Students can also participate in clubs and extracurricular activities (usually on Friday afternoons) such as drama, music, sports or health clubs. Homework is common in secondary education. The school year starts in September and ends the first week of June. It includes one-week holidays in November and February and two-week holidays in late December/early January and late March/early April.
AFS Tunisia requires pre-existing French language skills and does not accept smokers.
