How Aspen Middle Schoolers Will Make Friends Around the World

This year, Aspen Academy middle schoolers will meet a class of students in another country. They'll talk, share stories, and work on projects together without leaving campus.

It's all part of the new ISP Virtual Exchange Program. We asked Fabiola Lopez, Spanish Instructor, Student Leadership & Entrepreneurship Coach, who is leading it, what she hopes students will gain.

What is the Virtual Exchange Program?

The Virtual Exchange Program pairs an Aspen class with a class the same age at a sibling school in another country. Both schools are part of International Schools Partnership (ISP), a global group of schools.

The two schools are no more than five hours apart in time. That means students can meet live on video during the school day.

Between live calls, the classes trade videos, messages, and shared projects. The exchange runs from October through May.

Why is Fabiola excited to lead it?

Fabiola remembers when her own kids had pen pals in elementary school. They traded letters with students in another state.

"Leading the Virtual Exchange Program is an exciting experience for me as a teacher, and for my students, which is the most important part," she says.

This time, students won't wait weeks for a letter. They'll see and hear their new friends on screen.

Which students are taking part?

Aspen's Middle School classes are taking part in this first year. Our partner school is to be announced October 5!

What will students learn?

Students will learn to talk with people from another culture with confidence and kindness. Fabiola hopes that shows up by May.

"By the end of the year, I hope they can have a simple conversation with native speakers with more confidence," she says. "I also hope they'll feel a kind of empathy toward other cultures that they didn't have before."

Real teens also teach things a textbook can't. "They'll learn slang, and they'll hear how other teens see life," Fabiola says.

By May, students will be able to:

• Use online tools to talk and work with others
• Name ways life is different in their partner's country
• Keep those differences in mind when they talk with their partners
• Speak with respect across cultures

They'll also grow four life skills: curiosity, communication, confidence, and understanding other cultures.

How does it help students Make the World Better?

At Aspen, Make the World Better starts with how we treat people. Fabiola says this program builds that kind of care.

"Learning about another culture gives students the chance to see other cultures with more empathy and respect," she says.

Reading about a country is one thing. Knowing a student there by name is how empathy becomes a habit.

What happens after the program ends?

Fabiola hopes the friendships last for years. "I would love to see them traveling around the world, for work or for fun, with confidence and respect for other cultures," she says.

"I hope they build meaningful international relationships long after the program ends."

In May, we'll share student projects here. Every exchange follows Aspen's student safety policies, and we only share photos with the right permissions.