In a previous blog, I explored the
benefits of hosting an international college student via a homestay; however, in this blog, I would like to discuss whether or not hosting is for you. Perhaps
you are interested in hosting an international college student, but you
are unsure it is for you. How do you know hosting is for you?
5 Key Factors to Consider:
1). Accommodation: Do
you have the basic necessities to host a student? A homestay
arrangement requires you have the following: private furnished room,
including bed, study area (inside room or in house), dresser or closet,
private or shared bath, internet access (Wifi)
2) Location: Are
you located in close proximity to a language school, college, or
university? In Atlanta, transportation is crucial for our international
students. We are looking for host at least 35 minutes or less to their
desired location.
3) Interest in Cultural Exchange? Are
you genuinely interested in learning about other cultures? At it's
core, homestay is about cultural exchange. We offer host compensation to
our guests, but if this is your only motivating reason you may not be
ready to host.
4) Flexibility: Welcoming a guest from
another culture, you will become keenly aware of your "American habits"
or perhaps personal ones; you will need to be flexible when you
encounter international students with different cultural habits and be
open to change! This is the fun part about hosting.
5) Safety: You will need to pass a national criminal background check.
On my website, I explore several
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about hosting: Below, I address some of those in relation to our topic--is hosting for you?
Who can Host? Our
host "families" reflect America's rich diversity. Host families can be
singles, married couples, families with our without children, retirees,
different races and nationalities.
How long? 2
weeks, 2 months, or 2 years--there are many ways to host a student.
Homestay duration depends on your preferene and availability as well as
on the student's program or
purpose of visit . Many of our student guests request at least a
semester
(4-6 months) to one-year homestay. However, we do have shorter programs
ranging from 2 weeks to 4 months. Regardless, hosts can choose their
homestay duration based on their preference and availability. Of course,
the more available you are for long-term hosting (6 months-1 year), the
more likely MH can place a student with you due to the strong student
demand for longer stays. You can give it a trail run and see if its for
you or not!
Who are the students? The majority of Mark’s Homestay (MH) guests are
college students studying English at local language schools, colleges,
or universities. Students choose homestay to improve their language
skills and experience American culture. However, some of our guests
already speak English fluently and simply want to live with an American
family in a nice community while others use our service to secure safe,
short-term housing during their program.
How old are homestay participants? Currently, Mark’s Homestay (MH) is only taking applications for
international college students or visitors over the age of 18 on student
or tourist/business visas. MH verifies the identity, age, and
immigration status of each guest by reviewing his or her passport and
immigration documents upon arrival.
Learn more about hosting online:
www.markshomestay.com/host
If you are on the fence, contact me. I can provide you references for our hosts and answer any more questions about hosting.
Who is Mark? Mark
Leech, owner, is an international educator with five plus years of
experience advising international students at several universities. He
has traveled extensively, participated in homestays worldwide, and
started his company in 2012 to provide students with quality homestays
and unique opportunities to experience American culture.
