How to Host a Foreign Student: 6 Key Steps for a Successful Experience
Hosting a foreign student in your home is an enriching experience that fosters cultural exchange and the creation of lifelong connections. However, for the experience to be positive for both the family and the student, proper preparation is essential. Here are six basic steps to achieve this, starting with a crucial one: establishing prior contact.
1. Get to Know the Person Coming to Your Home
The first step for a successful experience is establishing prior contact with the student or athlete. Platforms like Via Families make this connection easier with filters for shared interests, common values, and specific needs, ensuring both parties find the ideal match. This process allows you to thoroughly understand the person before their arrival, building trust and clarifying mutual expectations. Taking the time to choose and connect beforehand is essential to creating a harmonious living arrangement and ensuring the experience is enriching for everyone.
2. Prepare your home for their arrival
Ensure that the student has their own space where they can feel comfortable and secure. This includes a clean bedroom, a proper bed, storage space for their belongings, and a place to study. It’s also important to provide basic information about your home, such as meal schedules, use of common areas, and basic house rules.
Consider adding small touches to make the student feel welcome, such as a welcome sign, a local guide, or even a small gift that reflects your country’s culture.
3. Encourage open and ongoing communication
Communication is the foundation of any successful relationship. From the start, establish open channels so the student feels comfortable expressing their needs, concerns, or questions. Hold regular family meetings to discuss how the experience is going, and don’t hesitate to ask how they feel. Keep in mind that language may be a barrier initially, so be patient and look for creative ways to communicate if needed.
4. Help them adapt to the local culture
One of the biggest challenges for a foreign student is adapting to a new culture. Help them understand the customs, traditions, and social norms of your country. This might include explaining eating habits or accompanying them during their first days at school or local activities.
Invite them to participate in family events and social activities to help them integrate more easily. You can also take this opportunity to learn about their culture, enriching the experience for the entire family.
5. Provide emotional support
Living far from home can be an emotional challenge for any student. They may experience homesickness, anxiety, or insecurity, especially in the early days. Be understanding and show them they have your support. Sometimes, simple gestures like inviting them to talk or involving them in family decisions can make a big difference.
If you notice they’re facing significant difficulties, don’t hesitate to seek additional support, such as a tutor, a school counselor, or the platform that facilitated the exchange.
6. Promote independence and mutual respect
While providing support is important, fostering the student’s independence is equally essential. Encourage them to explore the city, manage their own schedule, and make decisions. At the same time, set clear boundaries and foster mutual respect within the home. This will help create a healthy balance between their independence and their integration into the family dynamic.
Conclusion
Hosting a foreign student is a transformative experience that requires preparation, empathy, and a willingness to learn. By following these six steps, you’ll not only help the student feel at home but also enrich your household with a new cultural perspective. If you haven’t considered this experience yet, platforms like Via Families are an excellent starting point to find the ideal student and begin an unforgettable adventure.
