SV-2007-0005 Future Leaders Exchange Program ; '06-'07 Post Survey

There are only a few weeks left until you finish the FLEX program. We hope that you have had a very enjoyable year. Before you return home, we would like to ask you some questions about your experiences and thoughts. These questions will be used to evaluate the FLEX Program and to make it better for future FLEX participants. Your answers will be strictly confidential, and the data collected will only be used for analytical and evaluative purposes.

Please answer all of the questions as best you can. This is not a test—there are no right or wrong answers. Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. Thank you for your help. We hope you have fun during the rest of your program. Have a safe journey home!

Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Statements:

The information solicited on this survey is requested pursuant to the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-62) and the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act (22 U.S.C. 2451, et seq.). In order to ensure that the U.S. Department of State’s international exchange programs meet statutory program requirements (22 U.S.C. 2460(c)), the Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) regularly monitors the programs, gathers data about program accomplishments, and evaluates selected ones. ECA uses the information collected to inform program design, management, and funding. All personal information that is collected through surveys is considered confidential. All responses are coded to ensure the confidentiality of individual responses. Data collected under this study will not be shared, sold, or used for fundraising purposes. Survey data and findings will be used only in an aggregate form for the express purposes of fulfilling the data needs of the outcome assessment. Responses to this survey are voluntary.

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average fifteen (15) minutes to respond to this survey, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and respondents are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. Please send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to: A/ISS/DIR, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520.

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Which was your host/placement organization in the United States? Please check one.

4-H Foundation (World Wise)		CCI	
AFS-USA, Inc.		CIEE	
AIFS/AYA		Nacel Open Door	
American Councils		PAX	
ASPECT Foundation		PIE	
ASSE		World Link	
AYUSA		Do Not Know	

2. Exchange programs provide participants with many important opportunities for learning and engaging people from other countries. Please choose the three most important accomplishments of your program.

Accomplishments	
Increased my understanding of American society, people, and culture
Promoted mutual understanding between Americans and foreigners
Made friends with students from other countries
Made friends with American students
Improved my English
Learned about community service and volunteerism
Shared my culture with others
Improved my leadership skills
Improved my education
Other (please write in):

3. How difficult was it for you to adapt to life in the United States?

	Very Difficult	Somewhat Difficult	Neither easy nor difficult	Somewhat Easy	Very Easy
Adapting to life in the United States was…

II. PROGRAM SATISFACTION

4. Please rate your satisfaction with these specific aspects of your program. Please check one box in each row.

	Very dissatisfied	Dissatisfied	Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied	Satisfied	Very satisfied
Pre-Departure orientation
Mid-year orientation
End-year orientation
Life with host family
FLEX program activities (example: trips, workshops, community service)
Social life in the United States
Academic life in the United States
Religious life in the United States
Relationship with your local coordinator

5. What did you like best about your exchange experience?

______________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. What did you like least about your exchange experience?

______________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Would you recommend the FLEX program to others?

	
Yes
No

8. If you could improve the FLEX program, what recommendations would you make?

______________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

III. ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCE IN THE U.S.

9. To what extent were you involved in the following activities? Please check one box in each row.

	Never	Seldom	Some of the time	Most of the time
Community service (e.g. helping others, environment, health, education, etc.)
Civic or political activism (e.g. elections, volunteering)
Cultural activities (e.g., visiting museums/historical sites, attending concerts, theater)
Part-time job (including babysitting, yard work, etc.)
Religious activities
Sports teams
School clubs or organizations (e.g. musicals, band, debate team, etc.)
Family Activities
Other (please write in):

10. Did you share information about your country in any of the following ways? Please check one box in each row.

	Yes	No
Formal presentation at school
Formal presentation at a community event (recreation center, home for elderly people, volunteering event etc.)
Formal presentation in a religious setting (mosque, church, synagogue etc.)
Discussion with your host family
Discussion with your friends
Interview with the media (newspaper, radio, TV)
Other (please write in):

11. Do you think people have a better understanding of your country because of the information you shared with them?

	No, not at all	A little	Somewhat	A good deal	A great deal
Americans have better understanding of my home country

IV. CURRENT OUTLOOK AND OPINIONS

Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. Please check on box in each row

12. In society:

	Strongly disagree	Somewhat disagree	Neither agree nor disagree	Somewhat agree	Strongly agree
Men and women should have equal opportunities.
Men and women should equally share family responsibilities.
Ethnic minorities should have equal opportunities.
People with disabilities (mentally and/or physically challenged) should have equal opportunities.
Religious minorities should have equal opportunities.

13. In society, an individual should have the right to:

	Strongly disagree	Somewhat disagree	Neither agree nor disagree	Somewhat agree	Strongly agree
Travel freely to other countries.
Have acceptable housing.
Be considered equal under law regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or religion.
Practice any religion.
Receive an education.
Have a job.
Have acceptable health care.
Have access to information.
Have freedom of speech.

14. Please rate your understanding or knowledge of the following topics. Please check one box in each row.

	No knowledge	Less than basic	Basic knowledge	Beyond basic	Advanced knowledge
U.S. democracy
U.S. economy
U.S. values and culture
Religious and ethnic diversity in the United States
Freedom of speech and the press in the United States
Voluntary community service
Daily life in the U.S.

15. How do you view the United States government and the American people? Please check one box in each row.

	Strongly unfavorable	Generally unfavorable	Neither favorable nor unfavorable	Generally favorable	Strongly favorable
U.S. government
American people

16. How do you view the United States government and its relationship with your home country?

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree nor Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree
The United States government is a trustworthy partner for my country.

17. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statements below? Please check one box in each row.

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree nor Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree
Voting is important because real decisions are made in elections.
Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of democracy.
An independent media is important to the free flow of information.
All citizens in a country should have equal rights and protections under the law
The Rule of Law is fundamental to a functioning democracy.
Individuals and organizations have the right to free speech and to voice opposition.
Teachers should incorporate democratic principles into their classroom practices.

18. As a result of your exchange experience, please rate yourself as either poor, fair, good or excellent on the following leadership characteristics. Please check one box in each row.

	Poor	Fair	Good	Excellent
Being self-reliant, being independent, relying on yourself
Speaking in public
Listening to other people’s suggestions or concerns
Expressing ideas and feelings
Being tolerant of people different from you
Leading a team and motivating others
Being flexible
Solving problems
Discussing your beliefs/values
Willing to make changes in your community
Critical thinking

V. PLANS

19. As a direct result of your participation in the exchange program, do you think you will do any of the following in your community? Please check one box in each row.

	Yes	No
Assume a leadership role or position in your community
Organize or initiate new activities or projects in your community
Establish a new organization in your community
Volunteer in your community
Support economic rights and social justice in your community
Participate in FLEX alumni activities

20. Do you think you will share your program experience or the knowledge you gained during your exchange in any of the following ways? Please check one box in each row.

	Yes	No
Participate in media interviews (newspaper, television, radio, internet)
Give presentations to community, neighborhood, school, or university groups
Create a website
Write a Blog
Other (Please write in):

21. Would you like to return to the United States one day to visit, to work, to study or to live? Please check one box in each row.

	Yes	No	Do not know
To visit
To work
To study
To live

22. Do you think you will stay in touch with the following people when you return home?

	Yes	No	Not sure
Other FLEX participants
Host/placement organization staff
Host family
Teachers at my school
Students in my high school
Community members
Other (Please write in):

VI. PERSONAL BACKGROUND

23. Home country: ________________

24. Geographic location:

I live in…	
My country’s capital city
Another major city in my country other than the capital
A small city, town or rural location in my country

25. Age: _____________

26. Gender:

	
Female
Male

27. What religious group do you consider yourself a member of or feel closest to? Please check one.

			
Bahai’i	□	Muslim	□
Buddhist	□	Shinto	□
Christian (Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, etc.)	□	Sikh	□
Confucian	□	Taoist	□
Hindu	□	Zoroastrian	□
Jain	□	None	□
Jewish	□	Other (Please specify):	□

28. Have you registered for the State Department Alumni website, https://alumni.state.gov?

	
Yes, I know about it and I have registered
Yes, I know about it but I have not yet registered
Yes, I know about it but I do not plan to register
No, I do not know about it

29. Thank you for completing this survey! If you have any additional comments you would like to make, please do so here. We value your thoughts.

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30. How long did it take you to complete this survey? _____ minutes

SV-2007-xxxx 7 OMB No.: 1405-0158

Expiration Date: 02/29/08

Estimated Burden Time: 15 minutes