Frequently Asked Questions
What are the expectations for summer host families?
A family motivated to share the community, their family activities, and interests with a new family member.
The student’s expectation is that they will spend their time interacting with their host family, improving their English, and gain friends for life.
- Involve student into the family, giving guidelines as you would your own children.
- Speaking English in the home is a requirement.
- A room with an exit window, their own bed. Students may share a room with a host sibling - same gender and within a few years of age.
- Students arrive with their own spending money and comprehensive travel and health insurance. Additionally, the students have a signed temporary guardianship and permission form.
What are the benefits of hosting?
Opening your home to a new family member is a rich and rewarding experience! You will make a new longtime friend and learn about their culture. Many families report that, through hosting, they grow closer as a family as they participate in fun activities together and earn new methods of communication. Having these students in our homes is a far better education than what is learned in the classroom about the world..
Will my student speak English?
English skills vary with each student, although they have studied English in school for at least three years. Learning our slang is always fun at first as we do not speak textbook English. The most enjoyable part of hosting is learning new ways to communicate! As they engage with native speakers it allows them to embrace the language as it’s authentically spoken.
We have a family trip planned during the summer, can we take the student with us?
Yes! As long as we are aware where you are and how to reach you in case of an emergency, our families are welcome to include the students. The students have a sense of adventure and truly love to see as much as they can.
Our family is very active in our church. Will the student attend services and Family activities?
Students have been encouraged to attend services and church activities. They have been screened to be open and adaptive to families, learning about their community, and the culture and expect to be a part of the family. We do ask the students in their application if they are open to attending services with their host families. We do not require them to if they are not comfortable.
What support can I expect from My Experience?
We have coordinators in the community who will be available for all questions you have.
We will be planning a fun activity near the end of their program dates. Additionally, we have a 24/7 emergency number in the event of an emergency.
What does my family need to do to apply to host?
We have an online link to the application. Once the application is complete and the photo album submitted, we will schedule a time for our coordinator to visit and determine that the program is the best fit for the family and student. We ask for references of colleagues or friends.
Our coordinator’s visit will prepare your family for a positive experience, also tips for hosting and assisting with student guidelines and expectations.
How do we greet the students?
Once you have completed the application process, we will connect you with your chosen student to build a bond and plan for summer. The students will arrive as individuals or in a group. We will also be there to introduce ourselves to the students. Meeting the students at the airport is expected. Making a welcome sign is always a fun task for your own children to create and present when they arrive. We will keep you updated on the arrival times.