The document provides information about hosting a foreign exchange student through CIEE, including the benefits of hosting, requirements for host families, support provided by CIEE, and testimonials from past host families and students. Some key points are: Hosting provides the opportunity to learn about other cultures firsthand while giving a student experience with American culture. CIEE screens students and supports both the student and host family throughout the exchange. Many families find hosting rewarding and say it provides lasting memories and a new family member.

1. Open Your Home and Your Heart

2. What it means to be a Host Family A high school exchange student comes to live with your family for a semester or academic school year. They attend your public high school and involve themselves in activities. They make themselves a part a part of your family and work their way into your heart.

3. Benefits of Hosting Learn about other cultures Give and Exchange student the opportunity to experience American culture Bridge the gap of understanding between countries Create a curiosity in your family and community for global awareness

4. What’s required A bedroom or shared bedroom with a same sex sibling in the same age group Meals Open heart, open mind and love

5. What can you expect from your student To take part in your family activities To arrive with at least an intermediate level of English To fill the academic requirements and take their studies seriously To have their own spending money ($150- 200 per month)

6. How are students are screened Initial Screening by CIEE’s established partners in students home country High Academics Intermediate Level of English Adaptability Genuine Interest in American culture Application review by CIEE Boston staff

7. What kind of support can you expect from CIEE A Local Coordinator Living in Your Area A Host Family Orientation At Least Monthly Contact By the Local Coordinator With the Student and Host family Support From Your LC and National Support Staff 24 Hour Emergency Service

8. Where are our students from? 55 countries Brazil, Germany, Korea, Thailand, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Australia, Italy, Spain, Vietnam, China, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Russia, Khazakstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Yemen, Egypt, Azerbajan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, and more

9. What Our Students Say

10. I think that is so great. I hope that I have already changed and people that are from different cultures. I hope that I'll leave my host family and my American friends as rich with good experiences achieved a little bit more respect and understanding among as they'll leave me. -Anne, Germany

11. “ Thank you very much!” for everything you did for us. We spent a wonderful year in the United States. Thank you so much for everything. The memories we made in the US are etched in our hearts Iryna, Ukraine

12. It's been such a great year, such a grand experience, the experience of our lifetime. I can tell by the impact it had on me. -Valentina, Germany

13. My journey to the unknown came out as a big success, and I know I made the right decision Marina, Germany A year that will forever stay with me I just wanted to quickly express my abundant gratitude for what you have done for me during the past year and a half. this year was definitely the most extreme ever- a marvel. it was so intense, different, simultaneously easy and difficult, long and short, in retrospect just wonderful. Benjamin, Germany

14. It’s not important where on earth you are, but we can save the lives of people, to make them sincerely happy and to unite the world. Elmira, Uzbekistan

15. Last but not least, there is my host family, my “mom and dad”, a brother (I have never had one before) and two sisters. If they hadn’t provided the love and care of a real family and hadn’t opened their door to a “new” family member in such an unselfish way, it would have been impossible for me to make it this far. David, Germany

16. This is great with the capital G and I’m happy that there are such things like exchange programs. They help as for a particular student to find his or her way through life, as for the whole world communications and collaborations. It brings understanding between the countries. Tatyana, Turkmenistan

17. What our host families say…

18. As they say, "it is a small world", but sometimes communication is inadequate even when it is small. By sharing one’s intimate family life with another, one is bound to break down barriers, which may only be barriers because of a perception of the unknown. Until one experiences life in another culture, it is difficult to release preconceived notions about what it is like. Exchanges provide the opportunity to dispel some of the preconceptions. McDonnell Family, ME

19. Having any stranger in one’s home, whether he/she is from our hometown or from another country, helps us all to be more sensitive to others needs and desires. Sharing is a critical aspect of the global community and allowing our children and ourselves this opportunity will hopefully make us all better citizens of the world. McDonnell Family, ME

20. I believe that friendship, not technology, is the only thing capable of showing us the enormity of the world.” Haas Family, Idaho

21. "It's a fabulous experience. Her family is coming here to visit, and we're going there.“ Zeigler Family, IL

22. First, thank you for entrusting your son to us. We feel very lucky to have Ben living with us. He is such a nice young man. He works hard on his school work, practices with the schools soccer team several hours a week, attends church and youth group with us on Sundays, and still finds time to play guitar. He tries everything we ask him to and eats everything we put in front of him. He has shared his gummy bears and his Nutella. He smiles and he laughs with us. We will cherish him and his time here. Miller Family, NC

23. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to be a host family. We love having Benny as a new son. This has been a great learning experience for all of us. -Fogner family, SC

24. "She's just like a daughter to us, and it's going to be so hard when she leaves at the end of the (school) year." Thomas Family, TX

25. What our schools say about us..

26. Working with CIEE has been a rewarding experience as a public school administrator. The LC’s & RD’s have taught me so much about how “exchange programs” work in the United States. They have been my resource for establishing our own exchange student guidelines. Tara Brown, Student Placement Specialist, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools

27. Our student has been an absolute joy to have in our school. He not only completed his work well but helped other students in his classes. I have been working with foreign students for years and I would have to say he is the best person we have received. We were lucky to have him join us and are sorry to see him leave. Scarlett Coapstick, Science Hill High School, TN

28. From a school perspective, it is invaluable for students, both exchange and local, to have an opportunity like this to interact with one another and make life long friendships. -Brenda McNaughton, Counseling Center, Clear Creek High School, League City, TX

29. As the coordinator for the Foreign Exchange Program at Westfield High School, I have had the pleasure of working with numerous exchange students through CIEE during the past five years. I have had a wonderful experience with CIEE. Our CIEE exchange students come to us well prepared for a year in the United States. They are wonderful young people who bring many talents and gifts to share with our school and community. We are fortunate to work with CIEE and hope to continue to do so in the years to come! Kellie Stewart, Director of Guidance, Westfield High School, Westfield, Indiana

30. Questions to ask yourself in selecting a student Is there a particular nationality I am interested in? What are the interest of my family (sports, arts, music, etc) What is the culture of my family? (Are we on the go? Laid back? Conservative? Liberal?) Do we prefer a male or female? Do we have pets (some students have allergies)

31. Other CIEE Opportunities Local Coordinator Role Outbound High School Program CB Scholarship Program GAP year

32. I want to host…what is the next step? I will send you some profiles You complete the application We check references and background check Once a student is selected and the reference check and CBC are complete you are encouraged to contact your new son or daughter.

33. Do you know other families? We are always looking for good host families for our students. If you refer a host family to us who ends up hosting we will pay you a referral or donate it to the charity of your choice.

34. Questions ???

35. Internationalize Your Home

36. CIEE www.ciee.org/hostfamily 1-800-448-9944