Host Families Needed for Foreign Exchange Students

“Help make the world a better place”, “give your family the gift that keeps on giving, “experience student exchange without leaving home”; these wonderful slogans are written to inspire and recruit potential host families for foreign exchange students. Hosting an exchange student can be a wonderful and endearing experience, or, it can be your families’ worst nightmare.

While building my business, I subbed (as a substitute teacher) for many years to supplement my income. It was during this time that I became interested in foreign exchange. A student exchange program was recruiting a “community or local coordinator” so I went for the job. Soon I found out that although it was touted as a “volunteer position” there was some money to be made. In addition, there were trip and prize incentives which added to the package. I decided to give it a try and see if it could replace the income I was making as a substitute teacher.

Initially getting started was difficult. I was given a stack of “student profiles” and told to come up with idea/potential families for 3-4 students. For example, if a student expressed a strong passion for figure skating, I would contact the families of students who were also avid skaters. Or, if a student expressed strong religious views, I would contact someone from a local synagogue, church or mosque to see if I might be able to post that students profile in an organizational newsletter or bulletin. Then I would leave my phone number for potential families to contact me.