By on April 25th, 2016
Special Considerations for Hosting More than One International Student
Hosting an international student in your home is an opportunity of a lifetime that many people aren’t even aware of. The benefits of providing a homestay site to a student are vast, and we’ve covered the topic many times on our website. In addition to learning about a new culture, you’ll get the chance to create a lasting relationship.
There are many reasons why a host may wish to host more than one international student at a time. Here are some things to think about when you are considering this route.
Why Host More than One Student at a Time?
If you do not have children, or are elderly and retired, you may find that hosting two students at once provides your students with a “sibling”, or peer, that they can rely on. For many couples, it provides an instant sense of “family”, rather than a sense of having rented out the spare room. This is important for host families. Providing that familial atmosphere is part of what makes a homestay so beneficial for both parties.
Hosting two students at once gives you and the students an even greater chance of being exposed to new experiences. Many homestay programs will allow you to do this only if the two students are of different cultures, or speak difference languages, to ensure that there is no ganging up or too much focus placed on the native culture. Even being from two different places, the mere act of being in a new environment, and learning a new culture, is enough to create a bond between the students. Feelings of homesickness and the new experience of being in America can be shared, regardless of where each student may be from individually.
What Do I Need to Provide for Multiple International Students?
You’ll need to provide each one with the same care as a single international guest. This means you’ll need a private, furnished room that includes a closet and a desk space for each, as well as the ability to offer the same amount of support and time as you would a single student. Whenever possible, Universal Student Housing encourages you to engage in family outings and regular conversations to help the students learn English and become more familiar with American culture. With multiple international guests, you’ll need to ensure that you are able to give each one some time every day for conversations and interaction.
The financial cost is another thing to consider. While it may not cost you much more in groceries or accommodations, you should consider the extra cost involved with family outings that include more than one person.
Other Considerations
Some people may prefer to ask that their multiple host students be of the same gender, or that they share a common degree program, to give them something in common that they can share. Universal Student Housing’s matching services are very thorough, and we can assure you that we will do our best to accommodate your requests.
Just like with single students, the length of hosting multiple students could be anywhere from a few short weeks to a year. We typically work with stays around the four to ten-week mark, but extended stays can be arranged if the student applies, and you are willing to host them for the entire time.
Once you have filled out your application on our website, you can discuss the possibility of hosting more than one international student with the Universal Student Housing Staff member who calls you within the next 24 hours.