B. How to Host an Exchange Student

Hosting a student is a life changing experience that promotes a positive environment for cultural understanding. By hosting a student you gain perspective on the world and open your eyes to things you never thought possible. Here are some helpful things to remember when embarking on this cultural adventure.

a) Prepare a room for them. Your student will feel more comfortable in your house with their own room. (However, exchange students can share a room with a resident child of the same gender and approximate age.)

b) Learn about them. Try to obtain their e-mail address, so you can begin communicating with them. The sooner, the better. If you are working with an upstanding agency, you will be provided this information from the student application.

c) Firstly, ask yourself why you want to undertake this step. If your purpose is uniquely to learn a certain foreign language, you could sign up for a foreign language class. You must understand that being abroad has much more to do with culture and experience than simply language skills. However, learning the language is also a very good benefit that the exchange experience can bring.

d) Try to make them feel welcome. When you see a group of friends, introduce your student to them and let them get to know each other. Try and say their name with their native accent in mind, or if they go by something else that they prefer, call them by that. (For example, many Asian students know an 'American name' and in some cases, they will request to be called that.)

e) Look for people that had had this experience before and ask them general questions about it. You should make sure that you ask them: why they decided to be exchange students; where and when they travelled; how they got involved to the exchange process / through which organization; what were the biggest benefits they got after the exchange program conclusion.

f) Different countries have different options open to high school and college students to study and live abroad. Think about which countries you would like to live in, but remember that ANY COUNTRY and ANY CULTURE is amazing. The exchange experience is not limited by countries. Be sure that any place can bring you an amazing experience.

g) Find out which options you would be fit for and what criteria they have for students.

h) Don't try and do too much. In most cases, many things in their country are the same as they are in your country. Don't point out every tiny detail you see because it will annoy them.

i) Find out what the cost is and whether scholarships are possible. And check the internet for private student exchange as a low-cost alternative.

j) Be polite and mind your manners. However, politeness and manners differ from culture to culture. Try to learn about the exchange student's culture beforehand. Discussing these differences in manner can be an important way to share knowledge of each other's cultures.

k) Spend time with them. Chances are they won't be able to visit you for a long time, if they do visit you again. Take them to the beach and teach them games that don't exist in their culture like sand-style hopscotch. Hosting an exchange student is something you will remember for the rest of your life, and hopefully you will remain lifelong friends. There are many different cultures all over the world. Keep an open mind, even if your Mexican exchange students appear similar to your friend's Japanese exchange students. Remember, they do not all look the same. Appearances can vary from region to region.

l) Think about the possible countries and do some work on the cultures, languages and education there.

m) Make them part of the family. If you have chores or simple tasks in your households let them be a part of it too. Chores could include dishes, taking out the trash, or even walking the dog. It may sound a little harsh or out of the ordinary but, it will definitely make things more comfortable. Include them in conversation with your parents. If you have to ask your parents if you can go out or take out the car have the exchange student with you. Everyone is human!

n) It would help if you were be able to locate a penfriend from that country.

o) If you can’t speak a language of the country you are going to, learn at least the basic things of the language. Buy a dictionary of whatever country you are going to.

p) Avoid stereotypes! This can easily lead to awkward or rude moments between you and the exchange student. For example, if they are from an Asian country, don't assume that they can’t dislike anime.

Дата добавления: 2015-08-09