By on November 16th, 2014

Advice for Host Families

If you are considering hosting a foreign exchange student, you should know you are giving someone a one-in-a-lifetime chance at fulfilling a dream. Host families are given the opportunity to help a foreign exchange student learn about a different country and way of life. When welcoming a foreign exchange student into your home, there are some ground rules and advice that host families should know.

Get to Know Your Student

Through a series of emails and/or letters, host families can exchange pictures, share stories and information with their foreign exchange student. When filing out an application to become a host family it is important to put some thought into the paperwork. You should communicate with your exchange organization about any apprehensions or preferences you have about the student who will be sharing your home. By finding out about your student, you can determine if he or she will be a suitable match for your family or not.

Communicate with Your Exchange Student

A language barrier is to be expected when you have an exchange student living in your home. Even though your guest may have an excellent grasp of the English language, it is impossible for them to know all the “Americanisms” our country uses. Be patient and understanding of your guest and realize he or she is trying very hard to get used to being away from their homeland and trying to acclimate to a new country. Talk to your student openly and let them know you are willing to help them learn new things and will do your best to make the experience of living in your country a positive one.

Invite Your Guest to Dine with You and Your Family

Many foreign exchange students are curious about the foods served by American families. As a part of making your student feel like one of the family, you should include him or her in mealtimes. Mealtime is as much about letting the student experience new cuisine, as it is about allowing them to participate in family conversations, most students enjoy the feeling of being included.

Handle Sensitive Issues with Compassion

An important thing for host families to remember is to treat their student with compassion and understanding. It is not at all unusual for a foreign exchange student to feel displaced and upset at the thought of being away from their family and friends for so long. Couple the feelings of displacement, with other issues like culture shock and a language barrier; you have the makings for a very stressful situation. If your student has trouble with English, try the best you can to show them some understanding and handle any sensitive issues with compassion, because it will diffuse anxiety and make your guest feel less self-conscious.

How Host Families Can Make Homestays Great

Every semester, thousands of students from all over the world pack their bags and hop on a plane to go live in a new country. Studying abroad is a great experience, and it is the adventure of a lifetime. A host family can ensure a student has a great experience through being kind and going out of their way to make the young man or woman feel accepted as one of their own.

Best Wishes!

Becoming a host family for a foreign exchange student is one of the most worthwhile things you can ever do for a young man or woman from another country. Providing a safe and structured environment for an exchange student, will help them grow as a person and give them a broadened sense of the world around them. If you wish to find out more information about host families and exchange students, visit our website at www.ushhost.com.