Nowadays, a lot of exchange students and international students live with a host family. Staying with a host family abroad is a popular option for international students. Each year, thousands of U.S. families open their homes and hearts to visitors from all over the world. In a home family, students can observe, learn and experience a new lifestyle and culture, while practicing their English skills.
A host family is a family consisting of at least one parent and one child under the age of 18 that invites a student from a foreign country for a specified period of time. Staying with a host family is a great way to emerge foreign students in the culture and language of the country. The host family is a kind of different experience for foreign students. The cost of a host family is $600 each month on average. On school days, students usually eat breakfast and dinner by themselves. “ Our host family often cooks for us in the morning and evening, but they do not eat with us. We often have lunch at school.” said Eason Du, a Chinese Student from Harding Academy who has stayed with a host family for 2 years. “We have to buy food for ourselves if we want to cook and the kitchen is allowed to use every Tuesday and Saturday.” However, staying in a host family doesn’t mean English will be improved a lot. Eason said host family helps a little bit of his English, and he thinks going to school is the best way to improve English skills. John, another Chinese student who stays in the same host family with Eason said different people will have different situations. If your host parents are outgoing and love to talk to people, your English can improve more quickly. Because of the different culture, and different living style, some students don’t feel satisfy with the host family, such as food. “I think host family is more strict and less freedom than at school dorm or at home, and also my host family is far from the school. ” said Eason. Not too many foreign students have their own room while staying with a host family. In general, there are 3 or 4 students in one room and often there are more than 2 students in one host family. How do students get to school in the morning is a very popular question. Walking, sending by host parents and riding the bike are the three main ways. Eason said he usually walks to school and it takes about 40 mins. Sometimes he has to get up very early and goes with his host mother because she is working at Harding Academy. Staying with a host family also can teach the students to become independent. “It is an advantage cooking by myself sometimes and doing my own laundry, not feeling like a burden to someone.” Eason said.
Students who stay with a host family can immerse to the local culture and learn more about the local traditions. By living like a local, foreign students completely soak up the culture without even stepping out of the house. There are a lot of different things appearing in daily life while living overseas, it is still a very significant and meaningful experience for foreign students.
