Have you ever thought about hosting a foreign exchange student? It's a great cultural experience and can provide wonderful education for your family, particularly if they're studying a foreign language.
Each fall, nearly 30,000 high school exchange students come to the United States to live as an American teen. The EF Foundation for Foreign Study is currently getting the word out about host family opportunities for the 2011-12 school year! For more than 30 years, EF Foundation has been committed to promoting international understanding and global awareness. Since 1979, they've matched over 100,000 students from around the world with host families across the United States.
Being a host family can be a challenge - finding space and adjusting your routine - but most host families I've known have had a wonderful experience. EF places student from 25 countries, including Germany, Australia, and China. Language is typically not a huge barrier, as students need to have enough English to survive in school. And they make every effort to place a student with you who shares your interests and values. You can select students based on age, home country, gender and hobbies. And you don't need to have a teen at home to be a host family.
According to the Department of State, you can't be paid for hosting a student. You need to bear the extra cost of food and utilities yourself, although students are expected to pay for clothing and recreational costs. EF Foundation also offers a Host Family Perks program with access to more than 250,000 discounts and savings in their local communities, online and at the grocery store.
To hear some sound bites from foreign exchange students, you can view this video:
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