THE American Academic Year Programme not only introduces students to high school life in the United States but also gives them a taste of family, social and cultural life.
One of the participants in 1992-93, Cheuk Lok-man, who won the championship in the programme's scholarship contest, said the experience was unforgettable.
'Studying in America was good training for me as I learnt to communicate with people from different countries.' Lok-man added that the programme helped improve her English. 'Since there were no large Chinese communities near where I lived, I had plenty of opportunities to speak English.' The student spent one year in a high school in Montana four years ago and is now reading law at the University of Hong Kong.
'The programme helped pave my way to university,' said the first-year student.
The special programme is jointly organised by the International Education Forum (IEF) and Silkway Education Service.
Melody Chan, programme executive of Silkway Education Service, said the programme is designed for teenagers aged 15 to 18 who want to experience the American way of life for a year.