Host Family Decisions: Choosing a Student
The “matching” of an exchange student with his or her host family is a key factor in the likely success of student’s exchange year in the U.S., and program coordinators around the country take the process seriously. This isn’t a 2-3 week vacation visitor, after all. It’s a person who will live in your home for […]
Direct Placements for Exchange Students: Plan in Advance!
A few years back, I did a blog post on the pros and cons of direct placements. These are exchange student placements in which the student or his/her family back home knows the host family in the host country, and they request that the student be placed in that family. Today’s post is a companion […]
We Had a Bad Hosting Experience . . . Why Should We Host Again?
From an email we received during the last school year: We are currently hosting an exchange student. We are not enjoying it. The student is not as she described herself in her application. Our student is lazy, grumpy, and moody. Our home has felt awkward for months and we are anxious for her to leave. […]
Deciding on a Host Student: Let’s Wave a Magic Wand!
The “matching” of an exchange student with his or her host family is a key factor in the likely success of student’s exchange year in the U.S. How does that process actually work? Can we make it work in a better way? The “matching” we are talking about is the process in which host families […]
Schools: The Remaining Piece of the Exchange Placement Puzzle
High school exchange is like a jigsaw puzzle: many pieces must fall into place in order for an exchange year to happen. Even more pieces have to come together for the exchange experience to be successful over the course of a semester or academic year and for it to be a positive experience for all […]