Japanese Exchange Program

In 2025, St. Andrew's joined the exchange partnership with Momoyama Gakuin High School, an established international program founded in 1972 through the National Association of Episcopal Schools.

The Program

Students have the opportunity to spend their sophomore year at Momoyama Gakuin High School in Osaka, Japan, living with a host family, attending classes and joining the daily life of a Japanese school. In return, Momoyama students spend a year at St. Andrew's in Austin.

Who Can Apply?

Current St. Andrew’s ninth-grade students are eligible to apply during the fall of their freshman year for the opportunity to participate in the exchange during their sophomore year.

Students considering the program should understand that this is much more than a year of international travel. Participants are committing themselves to becoming active members of another school, family and community.

Students should be prepared to...

List of 7 items.

Approach the experience with curiosity, maturity and flexibility.
Engage seriously in their academic responsibilities.
Adapt to the expectations and routines of their host family and school.
Participate actively in the life of the Momoyama community.
Work through language and cultural differences.
Advocate for themselves and ask for help when needed.
Embrace the increased independence that comes with living abroad.

What Students Gain

List of 6 items.

Independence

Students manage daily life away from home and learn to advocate for themselves.
Adaptability

New routines, customs and expectations become familiar with time and practice.
Language and Communication

Japanese improves through everyday conversations with classmates, teammates and host families.
Confidence

Students find out they can solve problems on their own, and learn when to ask for help.
Empathy and perspective

Friendships with people whose lives differ from their own change how students see the world.
Global connections

Students return home with relationships overseas and a clearer sense of how their own lives connect to people and places far from home.

What Is Expected of a Host Family?

List of 8 items.

Provide a private bedroom and comfortable place to call home.

Sharing a bathroom with siblings is perfectly appropriate.
Commit to one academic year or one semester.
Provide meals and include the student in family routines.

Students can participate in meals, age-appropriate household responsibilities, family activities and outings.
Help arrange transportation to and from school.

Families may drive, arrange carpools or use St. Andrew’s school transportation options.
Help the student participate in St. Andrew’s life.

Athletic events, performances, dances and other activities are an important part of experiencing American high school life.
Communicate with patience and openness.

Asking questions, listening carefully, speaking more slowly when helpful and using translation tools can make communication easier.
Treat the student as part of the family.

Appropriate household expectations, routines, curfews and responsibilities can help students feel included rather than like guests.
Stay connected with St. Andrew’s.

Families are not expected to navigate challenges alone. School staff and the Exchange Program team are available to provide guidance and support.