How to Host a Foreign Exchange Student

If you’ve applied and been accepted to become a Host Family for a Foreign Exchange Student, here are some steps to take to make sure the experience is a terrific one for both your family and the student.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Approval from a reputable foreign exchange organization to be a Host Family
• A foreign exchange student
• patience and an open heart

1. Prepare your family for the arrival of the student. Discuss household rules, expectations about showing respect to the student and their privacy and reinforcing standing family rules. Just because you have an exchange student is no reason to let household rules slide.

2. Prepare the foreign exchange student’s space. If they will be sharing a room, make sure there is a clear delineation of space for the student’s personal belongings. Ideally, they should have separate storage for their clothing and personal items. If they will have a private room in your home, make sure the room is clean and cleared of clutter.

3. Decide what chores the exchange student will be expected to do. The exchange student will become part of your family and will expect to share in household chores.

4. Share your religious and cultural beliefs, but do not force the student to accept them. While you may require the student attend your religious worship with you, you cannot expect them to accept or adopt your religion. Be open and respectful of their beliefs. Do not try to convert or indoctrinate the foreign exchange student to your religious beliefs.

5. Plan a ‘welcome’ event. This can simply be signs to welcome your exchange student and a nice ‘getting to know you’ dinner at home, or a more formal outing to show them the town where you live.

6. Give your student, and your family, a few days to adjust to the experience. Don’t try to force too much extra-curricular activity or ask too many questions of your student at one time. They will be with you a while, so let them settle in and get to know them a little at a time.

7. Be prepared to provide transportation to their medical or dental appointments.

8. Be prepared to provide food and shelter free of charge. However, you are not expected to provide money for their personal items, like clothing and toiletries. You are also not expected to provide money for doctor, dentist, or entertainment activities like bowling or movies.

9. Enjoy the experience of being a host family to a foreign exchange student. You will gain a lasting relationship with someone from another country, who, in turn, will never forget the hospitality and educational experience of living abroad.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact your Foreign Exchange Coordinate should problems or questions arise.
• Be prepared for your student to go through a period of adjustment where they might become homesick.
• Do not expect your foreign exchange student to be your housekeeper! They are, after all students. While it is reasonable to expect them to participate in household chores, they are students and need time to do homework and be a kid, as well.

Resources

• A Good Foreign Exchange Student Program

[beanandpumpkin]

on 6/12/2009 Great article on how to host a foreign exchange student! We hosted a girl from Germany a couple of years ago, and it was awesome.

[1InternetSmarty]

on 4/8/2009 Excellent article on hosting a foreign exchange student. I've always been interested in trying this. Five stars.

[leaper]

on 2/25/2009 I am thinking about doing this. Thanks for the information.

[Punkuns]

on 12/24/2008 I have often wondered how you would go about hosting a foreign exchange student, exceptional article, very informative!

[Meri]

on 12/11/2008 Great tips! We had two boys from Finland. We really enjoyed having them.