Becoming A Host Family

By now you’ve probably seen some interesting information about some of the students and are thinking about hosting!  At this point, please feel no pressure to say yes, but we can tell you from experience that it’s one of the most rewarding adventures our family has ever undertaken and has sometimes developed into having a lifelong foreign friend.  Here are the steps to hosting a student, in case you do choose to have a foreign adventure for yourself.

  1. Take a look at the information you have on the students, and with your representative find one or two students that would fit with your family’s goals and lifestyles.
  2. At this point it’s very helpful to fill out an application on the TDLVA website so that the representative can effectively help match a student to your family’s interests. Completing an application DOES NOT EVER commit you to hosting.  It’s just a very helpful tool for the representative in her attempt to match you with the right student.
  3. If your family DOES decide to host and
    a. a family /student match has been found
    b. your application to host has been submitted to the representative
    the representative will contact the three references you listed via phone or e-mail.  Your representative will also arrange to visit your family in your home to meet you personally, look over the accommodations you’ll have for your student and answer any questions you might have.
  4. The director will then notify France, Spain or Germany of the match and unless the country’s representatives have any reservations of the match (.1% chance of that!), the student is now yours and you can begin the communication process. You will also receive your student’s profile from the State Representative along with a photo and letter from your student.  If you haven’t already, you will receive a Host Family Handbook to help prepare your family for your student’s arrival
  5. Lastly the TDLVA representative will coordinate with you the transportation details to and from the airport for your student. We encourage all host families to meet your student at the airport if you live within a 100 mile radius, but will arrange a pick-up point when necessary if for some reason that’s not possible.

YOUR ROLE AS A TERRE DES LANGUES VA HOST FAMILY

  • Welcome the exchange student into your home as a member of your family, providing your student with room (only needs his/her own bed), board and loving companionship.
  • Spend time getting to know your student and involving your student in family activities.
  • Acquaint your student with others in the community, especially American teens.  Neighbors, relatives, friends and language students will often be thrilled to spend some time with your student.
  • Exchange views and ideas, enjoying both the similarities and differences you will find as you grow in learning and discovering each other’s culture.
  • Talk with your TERRE DES LANGUES VA representative to discuss any questions or concerns, big or small.

Terre des Langues VA wants each participant to grow in understanding themselves and the world around them through the exchange experience.