What are the German / Spanish Summer Immersion Programs?

Each summer, International Experience sends a select group of American teenagers to Germany or Spain for two to three-weeks. This once-in a-lifetime experience allows U.S. teens to experience a different country and culture in an authentic way– It’s  a great way to build confidence and independence, broaden your horizons, and immerse yourself in a new environment – all while also having the support of a dedicated team behind you.

Why should you participate in the Summer Immersion Program?

• Learn about new countries, cultures, and traditions
• Make new friends from another country
• See amazing sights and cities
• Learn a new language or improve your speaking skills

What is included in the program cost?

The Immersion Program costs $1,000. If your family has hosted an iE exchange student, you are eligible to receive a full scholarship and the program fee will be waived.* Included in the program fee are:

• lodging – iE carefully screens and selects each student’s host family.
• meals
• travel insurance
• access to an iE Local Coordinator
• access to a 24-hour emergency hotline

*subject to accepted application; airfare excluded.

How do I take part in Summer Immersion Programs?

•    Be 15-18 years old
•    Have a valid passport
•    Be fully vaccinated by departure date
•    Be able to travel solo for longer period of time
  

  No previous language experience required! 

How do I participate in the Summer Immersion Program?

Step 1: Reach out to an iE representative via our website, email, or phone to learn more

Step 2: Apply for the immersion program of your choice.

Step 3: Complete your Immersion Program Participant Agreement

Still aren’t convinced? Here’s what past program participant, Brandon, had to say about his experience.

“The three-week German Immersion program was an amazing experience that I will never forget. My host family loves to travel and meet new people, so I felt welcome from the moment I left the terminal. Since my family was so eager to host me, we ended up filling up every day I was there with an activity – so I got to experience a lot of Germany. I think the greatest part of the exchange to me was how independent it made me feel. I had never left the country before, and although I had taken some trips without my parents before, I had never been on my own for that long before. As scary as it sounded at first, it was liberating. I feel more self-reliant and like I am ready for whatever the future may hold.”   -Brandon, German Immersion Program participant

It’s a phenomenon we see time and again in student exchange:
While selflessly giving of their homes and hearts, a host family will often gain just as much as they give! But what does that really look like? We want to highlight 5 unexpected benefits of opening your home to an exchange student.

1) See Your “Daily Grind” With Fresh Eyes

We’re living in an age of speed, convenience, and automation. As calendar pages fly by, days turn to months and months turn to years in the hustle of our jam-packed schedules. Hosting an exchange student provides a tangible way to “stop and smell the roses” as we begin to see daily life through new eyes and with new appreciation!

“When you have to explain so much of what you do to someone else, you are given the chance to see it again like it’s the first time, and that is precious. Life became something to notice again instead of being routine.” – host mom Charlotte Powell

2) Come Face-to-Face with a New Culture

Cultural interaction has always been a hallmark of student exchange, and it’s arguably more critical than ever in today’s world. If we want to break down prejudices and build understanding, RELATIONSHIPS are the most likely antidote! When we invite exchange students into our communities – to share in our schools, play on our teams, and sit at our tables – we invite a new perspective. We share what is sacred to us and learn about that which is foreign. These interactions with the “other” lead us into new layers of empathy and understanding, and we, in turn, model to our children exactly what it looks like to embrace differences.

“The magic of student exchange is that you get to look behind the curtain into how people actually function in their day-to-day life. We find that we are different, but we are much, much more the same.” – host mom Jill Amunrud

3) Adopt a Mentor for Your Kids! 

Exchange powerfully shapes the worldview of children of all ages, giving them a lasting relationship with the outside world! It’s a common misconception that host families should have a teen son or daughter in the home. While teens generally love the chance to help a student plug into the high school, younger children make fantastic hosts as well. Young children are generally very open and bond easily with their new “big brother” or “big sister.”

And since the very nature of hosting requires learning about and “adopting” somebody who is different than their own family, the life-lesson of growing up with an exchange student is invaluable. Of course, the daily connections are perhaps the sweetest in the end!

“I thought it would feel a little weird having someone other than family in our house all of the time, but it’s not weird at all. She feels like she really is part of our family. And I love to show her stuff, and she tells me all about her country. It’s really cool!” – host sister Emily, age 11

4) Stay Connected for LIFE

Time and again, host families report an ongoing relationship with their student and his/her natural parents that outlasts the original 5 or 10 month program. These family connections that span continents are probably the most unique and impressive component to student exchange. Host parents are truly expanding their family throughout the world!

“You get to know people, and it (student exchange) gives you a more long-term relationship. I was an exchange student in Denmark when I was younger, and I’ve kept in touch with my Danish host families. We were even able to take the kids to Denmark to visit them, and I know that for the rest of our lives we’ll be in touch with our German exchange student Stina, too. Exchange shows you that the world is still big, but it’s not THAT big.” – host mom Jill Fisher

5) Laugh! (Seriously!)

You might be surprised to find that IE students don’t need a lot of possessions, excursions, or special treatment. What DO they need? They need YOU! A warm, supportive “home away from home.” A place where they feel safe. A place where they can be GOOFY. Candid connections and good-natured fumbles – these are often the most memorable and endearing!

“It’s like our family expanded when we hosted Henrik. We have so much fun remembering all the silly things we did together, like teaching him that shouting ‘SHOTGUN’ meant you wanted to ride in the front seat of the car. (When the kids first did this in front of him, he couldn’t figure out what we were doing. Were we going to shoot guns or what?!) I can now say I have 3 children……two in the US and one in Germany.” – host mom Sharon Parry

Curious about what it takes to become a host family?
All you need is a spare bed, an open heart and a desire to be an involved and active family! Students come with their own spending money and insurance and hosts provide: “room and board,” help with local transportation, and (most importantly) the support of FAMILY.

Join the journey at iE-USA.org!

Why host an exchange student? Our tight-knit band of cultural adventurers agree – when they opened their homes to host, they GAINED so much more than they gave.

Are you ready for a life-changing adventure, right in your own living room? Consider these 10 reasons why hosting an exchange student may just be the very best decision you ever make:

1) Gain a new family member

No, really.

Sound too good to be true? It isn’t! So many of our host parents say they truly feel like they have a new son or daughter, and a bond that will last a lifetime. For many, it’s like adopting an international teen for a year… then enjoying a close connection with their “international in-laws” ever after.

“From the day Javier arrived, it has been an amazing experience! Our relationship has grown so close, it does seem like he is a member of our family. We have shared so many experiences, some wonderfully positive and some that have been learning experiences. Every experience has made the bond between us stronger. His mother has told us on several occasions that we have a Spanish son for the rest of our lives, and we expect that to be true.” – Lynn from Michigan

 

2) Cultivate life-long friendships

Exchange is an open door to a lifetime of connection… with your student, their family, and their world across the sea. When you open that door you just may find friendships taking you places you never imagined.

“We’ve visited several of our students in their home countries. But to me those trips aren’t about just being a tourist. It’s more like going to see a family member.”
– Ranelle from Colorado

3) Learn about the world from a new perspective

Have you ever thought about how much our own cultural perspective shapes our view of the world? Exchange students help us see through new eyes. What an extra special gift to children, who are just learning how to make sense of the world around them. When they learn to love someone different from themselves and to see through their eyes, they become empowered to see the world in a new way.

“Through my education and teaching people with different cultures and ways of thinking, I saw the influence of my own culture for the first time. I realized experiencing ‘differences’ were opportunities to learn and I wanted to surround myself with them.”
– Susan from Indiana

4) Energize your daily routine

Want laughs? Host an exchange student. Want to find adventures in the small things? Host an exchange student. Want to see your mundane “normal” through fresh eyes, to celebrate the mediocre, to engage your life in a new way? HOST AN EXCHANGE STUDENT! 

“We were surprised to find how much we loved sharing our daily lives with a student, and it made us appreciate the little things so much more!”
– Dan from Michigan

5) Give a gift to your family, community, and the world

Consider this. An exchange student who spends a school year in the United States is going to be changed forever. They will grow in confidence, resilience, social and emotional empathy, and communication, just to name a few. When you host, the gift you give that one curious international teen is beyond priceless. It will literally change the course of their future.

But what about the course of your family’s future? What about your community? What about this giant world we share? Hosting an exchange student is one of those grass-roots endeavors that fosters connection and understanding that can create a ripple-effect of good in the world. It brings people together. It closes the cultural gap. It creates an environment in which our children, teachers, classmates, and neighbors learn to see differently. And when we truly see one another, amazing things can happen. And it happens brick-by-brick, one meaningful relationship at at time.

“Bringing exchange students into the school adds perspective to the classroom. I wish more of our kids could go on exchange themselves, but for most that’s just not an option right now. The only way they can get exposure to the world and develop global awareness is to have people from different countries come to them. In my classroom, we talk about global issues, like global warming. I tell my students that these issues effect the whole world, so they require a different perspective. And when students learn alongside international students, they start thinking about the world differently.”
– Texas Dean of Students Erik Ostergren

6) Improve your communication skills & learn a new language

How do you say “thank you very much” in Thai? What’s the best way to give a compliment in German? Find out, and have so much fun doing it!

“We often compared our different cultures and continents.  We would pick a word and learn it in German, Chinese, Spanish & French. We all cooked for each other, learning about the different foods.”
– Kreena from Illinois

7) Connect with people in your community

Your local exchange coordinator. Other host families. Your student’s choir teacher, school friends, soccer coach. The great thing about hosting an exchange student is “it takes a village,” and so many families love finding new friendships in the process.

“We knew we’d have fun with our exchange student, but we didn’t expect to have so much fun getting to know the other host families! What a blast!”
– Jennifer from Georgia

8) Rediscover local attractions

If you had a visitor from Germany coming next week to enjoy YOUR town, what would you want to show them? Many host families find that they relish the opportunity to show off local culture and history, from picking apples to ice skating to civic theater in the park… their “sleepy normal life” takes on new excitement when an exchange student is in the mix!

“We loved showing our students around. Even “normal” places like Taco Bell were exciting to them, and they would say “cool, that’s just so American!” It was hilarious, and made us all realize we really are sitting amidst a million fun things to do, if we put on new eyes to see them!”
– Ann from Indiana

9) Develop & understand international perspectives

What better way to learn to see differently than by engaging with someone who SEES DIFFERENTLY. When we turn off the news, put away our Facebook feeds, and sit across the table from someone who’s lived a whole life in a culture different from ours, amazing things can happen.

“We learn the most when we experience things out of our comfort zone,” shares Susan. “Taking risks to help others experience their dreams is a rewarding experience. Go for it! You’ve really got nothing to lose and you have everything to gain!”
– Susan from Indiana

10) Give your younger kids an instant BEST show and tell ever

Did you know your younger kids may be the BEST reason to host an exchange student? Elementary age children adore their international “big brother” or “big sister,” and they will carry the lessons learned in empathy and understanding with them throughout their lifetime.

“I thought it would feel a little weird having someone other than family in our house all of the time, but it’s not weird at all. She feels like she really is part of our family.”
– Emily, age 11

Are you ready to jump in? Connect with us to learn more.

Add a little GERMAN to your family! WHY? We’re glad you asked!

#1 – LEARN how to make a truly fantastic schnitzel! (Martha Stewart, eat your heart out!)

#2 – EXPAND your vocabulary!   Before you know it, you’ll be greeting friends with “Guten tag!” and asking them to check out your brand new Lederhosen! (I’d say that’s pretty wunderbar!) Just watch out for false cognates! (Did you know you should NEVER give a “Gift” to a German – because in German, “gift” actually means “poison”!!)

#3 – REDISCOVER the magic! If your excitement for your hometown has fizzled, just wait until you get to play tour guide to a student from halfway around the world. As they light up with every hokey tradition and neighborhood Taco Bell, you’ll start to see your life through their eyes and you’ll remember: even the mundane is actually SPECTACULAR.

#4 – LAUGH! Integrating isn’t always easy, so you can be assured you’ll be at the forefront of some brilliant inside jokes and hilarious snafus. 🙂

#5 – GROW! Your student will be experiencing personal growth like crazy, but YOU may find you emerge from the experience as a better person too! Hosting = free personal development, with a huge side of FUN. Host sister Julie from Coopersville, MI says, “The exchange student comes here to learn, but we end up learning so much more!”

# 6 – GIVE a gift worth giving! Did you know that students plan for years before finally stepping on a plane to come to America? WHAT on earth are they dreaming they’ll find when they land? With any luck at all, they’ll find YOU!

Anne Czarnecki, a German staff member, loves to call each German student to tell him/her when there is a host family waiting for them! She shares, “Every day the first thing I do is check how many students got placed during the night. In the afternoon I can’t wait to call those students! Usually they don’t expect this call, and it makes them feel speechless, excited, overwhelmed! Some kids just yell because they are so excited. 🙂 Some don’t speak at all because they don’t know what to say. Then I tell them something about their families and this is the point where they realize: I have a second family who wants to host ME!!”

#7 – GAIN a friend for life! (We’re not kidding!) We love hearing story after story of the life-long bonds formed during exchange. But don’t take our word for it when you can listen to our host families!

What do you think? Ready to HOST A GERMAN?

Begin your journey, apply to host!

So you’ve been considering hosting a high school exchange student, but have some questions regarding the process. Don’t worry! We’ve gathered the top 9 frequently asked questions about hosting an exchange student:

1. What does our commitment require? Will hosting disrupt our family life?
Hosting an international student through iE means opening your home and your heart. It does not mean changing your routines. Your exchange student is coming to share the way YOU live. Learning to adapt is an important ingredient in his or her personal growth. When your student first arrives, you will spend some time helping him or her adjust to your family and household rules. We will have a pre-arrival orientation to give you some suggestions and tips on making this transition easier. Communicating clear expectations and showing patience will help him or her learn your ways.

2. How are iE exchange students chosen? How can we be sure this “stranger” is OK?
We use a very careful process of selection to ensure our students are well qualified and prepared to live and study abroad. In addition to school and teacher references, we conduct a lengthy interview in the student’s home, which includes his or her natural parents. Only when we are satisfied that the student is an excellent candidate for participation will we accept him or her into the program. We also observe our students during an orientation weekend held in his or her home country before they depart for America. Naturally, should any concerns arise during the exchange program, your iE-USA Local Coordinator will be on hand to assist you and facilitate resolution.

3. Realistically, what is our financial commitment?
Host families provide their student a bed of his or her own (but not necessarily a private room) and meals. There are always other small costs, but how much you spend is up to you. Your only required out-of-pocket expense is providing meals. Your student will have about $200 – $300 per month to cover personal expenses. You are not obliged to cover incidental costs for your student.

A Note about Family Outings: It is anticipated that host families pay for the student when the entire family goes out together, as for dinner at a restaurant or family trip to the movies. However, the student pays for any personal or social entertainment. If your family plans a trip away from home while your student is here, you may choose to take him or her along at your expense, or ask that the natural parents pay the student’s share of the expenses. If neither is feasible, you may talk to your Local Coordinator to help find another family for the student to stay with while you are away.

4. Is there a language requirement for participants? Will we be able to communicate?
We conduct part of our exchange student’s in-home interview in English to make an early assessment of their English capabilities. Each student takes an English proficiency test so that we have a well-rounded understanding of his or her comprehension and English speaking skills. Students who do not do well on this test must either withdraw from the program or undertake extra tutoring before leaving for America. There may be a few weeks at the beginning of the iE-USA.org exchange program when it seems difficult for a student to communicate. Remember that he or she is working very hard at listening to a foreign language, translating it in his or her head back into the native language, formulating an answer, translating that answer into English, and then trying to speak it to you. Even if someone in your household speaks the student’s native language, we ask that host parents do not speak it with him or her. Students are here to learn English, and the best way to do that is to speak English. After a few weeks, your student’s command of the language should improve greatly and communication will improve. When he or she starts dreaming in English, you will both know that the immersion has worked!

5. What kind of support does iE-USA provide to us? What happens if there are problems?
Each host family has a local coordinator living in their community. This person is there to assist you, the student and the school throughout the year. Don’t hesitate to contact your coordinator whenever you have any questions or problems. We like to deal with small problems right away rather than problems that have been allowed to grow into big ones. Should you need assistance and your coordinator is not available, iE- USA maintains a 24-hour toll-free number where you can call and reach a live person. If there is an emergency that cannot wait until regular business hours, call 1- 866-794-4629.

6. When can I talk to my student once a placement is made?
Once a student placement is complete, the host family has the opportunity to connect with the student online prior to arrival. Many families and students begin an “online” relationship where-in they are able to get to know one another before the exchange officially begins. This is a wonderful time of bonding that can foster positive relationships before the student even arrives.

7. Our family is “unconventional” – Can we still host?
Families of all shapes and sizes make terrific hosts. The key component of a great host family is the willingness to welcome a student into their daily routines as a member of the family. Among our treasured host families are single parents, empty-nesters, young married couples without children, couples in a domestic partnership, and families with children of all ages.

8. We are just too busy to host an exchange student. How can we help?
Many families say something like this: “We’d love to host, but we’re just so busy. We would never have time for the student!” Most of the time, this “busy” family lifestyle is exactly the kind of environment where an active student will thrive. We will work with you to find the best possible match in terms of student hobbies and interests.

9. Can I host more than one student at a time?
Yes! A host family may host two students in their home at the same time, which is called a double placement. The students must be from different countries and speak different native languages. Some host families who do not have children of their own prefer hosting two students because it creates an instant sense of “family” and provides each student with a peer in the home.

The double placement was definitely the right way to go for us. Since we don’t have any kids of our own, it was like creating an instant family, complete with siblings! Plus, the students leaned on each other at school and had a buddy in the house on the rare occasion that we both worked late. It was a blast.” – Host mom Vicki from Michigan

Q: What IS a “double placement?”

Just what it sounds like: hosting two students at the same time!

Q: How can I tell if a double placement might be right for my family?

Anybody can host a double placement! We’ve found that many host families choose a double placement for one of the following reasons:

• Single adults or couples without children enjoy the “instant family” dynamic
• Empty-nesters enjoy filling their homes with children again
• Hosts with two children (example: 1 boy and 1 girl) enjoy “doubling” their family by allowing each child to choose 1 host sibling
• Families with large homes love putting the space to good use!

Q: Are there any special requirements for double placements?

The students must come from countries that do not share the same native language. (Example: You may host a student from Germany and a student from Spain, but you may NOT host a student from Germany and a student from Switzerland, since both students speak German.)

Q: If I host two students, does each student need his/her own bedroom?

NO. Students may share a bedroom, but they do need to have their own bed.

Q: What are some advantages of hosting a double placement?

Our host families who choose double placements have shared many advantages with us! Here are just a few:

• Students have a host sibling even when there are no other children in the host family
• Students can keep one another entertained after school or during hours when the host parents are unavailable
• Students can “lock arms” and tackle the new school experience together

Q: Won’t it be more difficult to have two students in the home instead of just one?

While it’s true that a double placement will come with 2 sets of plans and priorities, most families find that the benefits outweigh the added logistical concerns. Students often learn to share rides and work together when coordinating activities.

Q: I think I’d like to host a double placement, but I’m not sure it’s right for me. Who can help me figure this out?

Drop a question in the comments below! We’ll help you sort it out so you can decide what’s best for you.

We love sharing the adventure of student exchange! But what if a family can’t host for the full school year? Easy! They can help as a welcome family!

What is a “welcome family?”

A welcome family hosts a student on a short-term basis at the beginning of the school year.

Why are welcome families important?

Welcome families fill an important role by allowing a student to come to the U.S. and begin the exchange year! Welcome families offer the warmth and support of family while we secure a permanent placement. All students must be placed in a host home by August 31, so we work with welcome families to help ensure we can meet that deadline for every student in our program.  With the support of our schools and communities, we work hard to make sure “no child is left behind!”

“We loved the idea of helping an exchange student, but we just couldn’t commit to the timeframe. When we heard there was a short-term option, we jumped at the chance to be a welcome family!” – Maria Jones, KY

What benefits can a welcome family expect?

Welcome families, like permanent families, enjoy the opportunity to connect with a high school student from another country. The shorter time commitment allows nearly any family the opportunity to host a student!

How long does a welcome family typically host?

We work with our families to establish their preference and availability, but the average welcome family placement lasts between 3-6 weeks.

How does a welcome family become approved to host?

Welcome families complete the same application process as permanent host families, including an online application, criminal background check, in-home interview, and character references.

Who is a good candidate to become a welcome family?

Anyone who genuinely wants to serve a student but is not able to host long-term should consider hosting as a welcome family!

Ready to begin? Visit IE-USA.org to view profiles of students!

From the outside looking in, a family’s decision to host an exchange student may seem like a logistical mystery. Most families in our culture would say they feel busy, or at the very least “full,” with their own schedules and their own children… so what on earth motivates them to add yet another person to the mix? Host families say “yes” to room and board, “yes” to extra trips in the car, “yes” to misunderstandings, homesickness, adjustment. They say “yes” to an extra teen who eats all the cereal, “yes” to a boy who forgets to take out the trash, “yes” to a girl taking an impossibly long time in the bathroom to primp for a dance.

And WHY?

Perhaps the answer lies in all the OTHER things a host family says “yes” to. All those “things” which aren’t things, but which are priceless none-the-less:

• “Yes” to relationship
• “Yes” to connection
• “Yes” to purpose, meaning, and service
• “Yes” to cultural awareness
• “Yes” to inspiration for their children
• “Yes” to broadening horizons
• “Yes” to lifelong family in another country
• “Yes” to an open door
• “Yes” to seeing everything with fresh eyes
• “Yes” to forever memories
• “Yes” to hilarious moments
• “Yes” to heartfelt gratitude

And the list could go on and on (and on…)

Every year, we hear stories of host families who feel they’ve gained the world by hosting.

Often, it’s the small, insignificant every-day details of daily life that grip them by the heart and won’t let go. Chuckling at his first English joke. Watching as proud parents at her first soccer game. Smiling in delight when he sees his first snow-fall. Teasing around the dinner table.

“We are better people because of the time with our student in our family. If you like kids, consider hosting. You’re making a difference in someone’s life. Just be warned – they’re going to get under your skin and attached to your heartstrings.” – Host Mom Kelly Feulner.

 

These are the things that parents of our past students say will stay with them always.

These are the things that prompt so many to jump in and do it again.

And these are the things that you won’t possibly see from the outside looking in… but mark my words, they’re there, and they’re the unstoppable, powerful, life-changing force behind this work we do call student exchange.

If you’re considering hosting, I’d encourage you to look deep enough to see what’s really happening in these special relationships. I’d encourage you to ask yourself if you’re ready to say “yes” to that list above… and if so, I’d encourage you to JUMP IN. You’ll make an enormous difference in a student’s life, and you might just find YOUR life will never be the same again.

Everyone seems to agree: hosting an exchange student is enriching, rewarding, and so very fun!  So why do so many people push the pause button?

Like anything else, hosting an exchange student comes with a common list of assumptions and misconceptions. But these “reasons” not to host are not only misguided, they just might be holding you back from the experience of a lifetime!

Let us demystify the hosting experience by debunking some common myths! Do you find yourself saying, “We’d love to host an exchange student BUT….

1) “We can’t afford it!”

Teen activities can get expensive!! (Right?) But what if your new international son or daughter actually paid for themselves? (Whew!!) 

Exchange students come with their own spending money and medical insurance, meaning all those sports fees, school supplies, clothes, souvenirs, travel expenses, sprained ankles, allergy medicines, cups of coffee and trips to the movies are NOT your concern. Host families provide “room and board,” help with transportation, and the support of a family – so aside from a slight hike in your grocery bill and a little more gas in the tank, most families find the extra expense is negligible.

And let’s look at this another way…

When weighing the invaluable gains your family will receive from hosting (cultural connection, awareness, personal development, growth, change, laughs, memories), what other experience could hope to compare while simultaneously being nearly FREE?

2) “We plan to travel this year, so we can’t host! What would we do with the student?”

These days, just about everyone is traveling on a semi-regular basis, but that doesn’t have to derail your plans to host!

Option A: Take them with you! Many students are able to pay for their own airfare and share in the cost of the hotel, and what an amazing opportunity for them to see more of the country!

Option B: Let us help! What if the student could stay with a friend or another host family while you are away? And what if we could help coordinate those details? You’ll have a dedicated local coordinator for this very reason.

Bottom line: there’s no reason to let a few weeks of travel disrupt an amazing opportunity.

3) “What if there are problems, like the student not understanding our family’s rules about curfews, dating, or expectations about chores and homework? 

Well, in our experience, insurmountable problems are absolutely the exception, not the rule.

This is kind of like saying, “I’d love to let my athletically gifted son play football, but I hear he could get injured!” With any adventure there is always a certain amount of risk, but there is also the opportunity for massive reward. You pick! 🙂

But seriously… what if you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation? What if there are issues with adjusting? What if there are behavioral challenges? That’s what the exchange program is for! That’s why you have an on-the-ground local coordinator ready to chat any day of the week, and why you have the support of an entire team of problem-solvers at your disposal.

We take your partnership seriously, and we have extremely high standards for our students… backed by a disciplinary plan and a support staff that won’t let problems go unresolved. We’ll help guide you through the minor bumps you may face along the way, and we have a tried-and-true system for navigating larger issues as well. As a last resort, as a volunteer host family, you DO have the opportunity to say “this just isn’t working for us.” If working through roadblocks with your local coordinator’s support just isn’t cutting it, we can move the student to a new home.

4) “Our home is too small!” or “We live in an apartment!”

Many of our students are from countries where tighter living spaces are expected. Have you ever been to Europe? Apartments are the norm for many families!

When it comes to your home, size is not important. (Truly!) And if you’d like to host but are short on bedrooms, your student can even share a bunk-bed with one of your own children. Just be sure their roommate is of the same gender and is relatively close in age!

5) “We don’t have any kids of our own! Won’t the student be lonely?”

Exchange students need the support of a FAMILY – whether that’s one person, two people, or the Brady Bunch.

How many people are in your family? It truly doesn’t matter… because numbers don’t matter as much as heart. Your student doesn’t need a budding social life right in their own living room. (They’ll meet friends at school and can stay plenty busy with extracurricular activities.) What they DO need is someone, even just one person, to say “I’m here for you, we’re in this together.”

Just remember, not all exchange students are extroverted social butterflies! Some will actually PREFER a quiet home. (And we can help match you with that student!) 

Still thinking it’d be nice to give your student a built-in wing-man? Consider hosting two at the same time!

Exchange students who share a “double placement” in the same home love having a peer to lock arms with, and YOU’LL love the “instant family” vibe that’s created when two teens walk through the door.

6) “We don’t have the time or the patience to try to figure out the language barrier!”

Good news! All our students have a tested level of English proficiency before coming on exchange, and many of them are fluent (or getting there). Want to know the even BETTER news? With apps like Google Translator and Babblefish, you’ll never be left guessing. (Technology for the win!) 

And, let’s look at this “problem” from another angle! When there IS a language barrier, when you DO struggle to understand one another (because those moments will happen!) – what if you embraced it as a profound opportunity for growth? Your whole family will learn patience, empathy, and stronger communication skills. What a gift!

7) “We’ve got some home remodeling going on right now, so we’ll have to put it off for later! We wouldn’t want our guest to have to live in the mess!”

Ok. If you’ve gutted the kitchen and bath and are camping in the backyard, then yes, this could be an issue. But if you’re just updating the living room, swapping paint colors, fixing the roof, adding some landscaping, doing some drywall… no problem!

You might be gawking at the screen right now: “REALLY? You want me to host a guest while our house is torn up in remodel?”

The key thing to realize here is that hosting a student isn’t really the same as hosting a GUEST – it’s more like adopting another family member for a year! So WHATEVER your family has planned, whether it’s remodeling or traveling or community service or just chilling on the couch… your student wants to be included in that. It’s all part of their unique, real-life immersion experience! (And BONUS, maybe they’ll learn a thing or two right along with you! Pictured here: two students help the Upchurch family with their roofing project; a fun family bonding activity!) 

8) “Our kids are very young! Shouldn’t I wait to host until they’re older?”

This is perhaps the most common misconception kicked around by potential host families, and it’s tragic… because they are MISSING OUT!!

Do you take your younger children on trips, enroll them in ballet or karate lessons, or teach them a musical instrument? If you’re excited about engaging your young kids in those enriching activities, just apply that same perspective to hosting a student, and you’ll get it!

Hosting an exchange student when your own children are young comes with so many advantages. For starters, you’ll expose them to another culture and language at an early age, when they’re still soaking up life like a sponge. Their view of the world will become so much bigger as a result of their new sibling, who they’ll likely view as a role model.

And what’s more, hosting when your children are younger will naturally dodge some common issues with jealousy and sibling rivalry that can pop up with older children  –  things like competition over grades, social status, sports ranking, and so on.  There’s no wrong time to host; and when your children are young is actually one of the BEST times to say yes to this formative experience.

9) “We are SO busy! We will never have time for the student!”

You’re one of those really busy families? PERFECT!

Most of the time, this “busy” family lifestyle is exactly the kind of environment where an active student will THRIVE! A student who is BUSY is far less likely to become homesick, and families who are on-the-go tend to naturally build a close family bond and a positive rapport.

The trick is to find the right student for your family – someone who is interested in the activities you’re doing anyway!

Find yourself constantly at the soccer field? Great, let’s find you a soccer player! Marching band competitions every weekend? Awesome, let’s find you a musician! It may sound a little “braggy,” but the truth is we’re experts at finding just the right student who will adore the chance to slide right into your version of “busy.” Whatever you have going on, it’s an absolute dream come true for SOMEONE.

Sound too perfect? Ok, you’re right, sometimes your schedules may not gel exactly as planned… but when there ARE scheduling conflicts, don’t worry!

Carpooling, riding the bus, or getting a ride from a friend are simple solutions and 100% OK for your student as well. And they’ll learn valuable lessons in planning and independence in the process!

10) “We’re not a traditional family – so a student might not be comfortable in our home.”

Is there even such a thing as a “traditional” family these days? Aren’t we all incredibly unique? We’ve placed thousands of students with thousands of families, and we can confidently tell you: you are the PERFECT host family for SOMEONE. 

We tend to think exchange students are all cut from the same cloth, but that’s simply not true. Students are just as diverse as host families, and there is a student out there waiting and hoping for a host home just like yours. We have had amazing experiences with families of all shapes and sizes, including singles, couples without kids, empty-nesters or retirees, same-sex partners, single parent families, home-school families, as well as “traditional” public school families with children of all ages.

Just think about it. If we found the right student who would LOVE what YOU bring to the table… would you want to meet them? If you’re interested in a sneak peak, check out our student finder at iE-USA.org!

So, what do you think? Do these reasons resonate with you?

If you’ve been peeking at the idea of hosting an exchange student but you’ve been camping out in one or more of the above “reasons not to host,” I want to encourage you to stop focusing on what won’t work for you and start dreaming about what will. What could YOUR family gain from hosting a student? With the right match and some experienced support, THOSE are the reasons that will lead you into the experience of a lifetime… and all of these logistical concerns will start to melt away.

Are you ready to talk to a local coordinator? Are you ready to envision YOUR experience? Connect with us!