How to Host a Student From a Spanish-Speaking Country
- 1). Search for exchange programs and sign up. There are many different programs that bring students into your home. You can find these through your local schools, church groups, universities or independent programs. Once you find one that is locally available and suited to your family's needs, you may sign up and specifically request students from Spanish-speaking countries. You may need to undergo an interview process and background check before your family is approved to host foreign students. Shortly after this is done, you will be able to welcome your first foreign exchange student and receive the weekly or monthly stipend corresponding to the host family.
- 2). Welcome your exchange student as warmly as possible, or better yet, the way you would like your child to be welcomed abroad. Most foreign exchange students initially feel uncomfortable because of the different food, the foreign language being spoken, and the distance from their families. Try to put the student at ease by offering to cook his or her traditional food, or perhaps asking to teach you how to do it, creating a bonding experience. Speak slowly and clearly at first, adding in a few words in their language if you know any, and make sure they have access to phones or the Internet to contact their families easily .
- 3). Foster bonding situations. Help the foreign student feel more at home by creating special occasions for your family to bond with him or her. This can include playing games together, cooking, making arts and crafts, having a movie night, going to a local amusement park, and so on. Make the student feel involved by asking about his or her family, traditions and culture, so that the student may cement a link with your family faster. This will allow communication to flow easier. Once the student feels comfortable and at home, he or she should open up, and you will be able to experience all the positive aspects of having a native Spanish speaker living in your home.
- 4). Expect difficulties. Not everything is easy when hosting a foreign exchange student. He or she can have different cultural values that may conflict with yours. For example, the student might be messy, slow to warm up, distant or even have different hygiene routines. The best solution is to be as patient, understanding and flexible as possible, addressing each situation with tact and diplomacy.
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