Alberta Education sponsors student exchange programs for high school students studying French (Quebec), German, Japanese or Spanish (Mexico and Spain). In these programs Alberta students alternate between hosting partners in their homes and schools, and traveling to live with their partners, experiencing their homes, and becoming active participants at their schools. While the focus is on developing language skills, living in a culture and lifestyle different to the one they are used to in Alberta develops coping and interpersonal skills - skills which last a lifetime and are particularly useful for living in a rapidly changing world and workforce. Students must have completed a 20-level second language program or equivalent before they can participate in an exchange program.