Do you want to host an exchange student from Japan?

The following is the information I got from the English school in Provo that is in need of host families for Japanese junior high school students who are coming next month. Please contact Ellen Townsend (Host Family Coordinator) LN_at_home@yahoo.com 801-756-2292.

Those that become host families will get 40 points of extra credit after writing a report about their experience living with a Japanese person.

Selnate English School

Thank you for your consideration to host a student from Japan or China for a week or more. There are many blessing that come your way when you open your home and heart to these international friends.

What you give:

American family atmosphere (dinner chit-chat, chores, grocery shopping, homework, games...)

Two meals a day (lunch is provided for them by their program)

Rides to Provo on week days (carpooling with neighbors, students meet buses for sight-seeing)

Private bedroom, shared bathroom (nothing luxurious, just the basics; must be clean)

Weekend and evenings involving a guest, sharing whatever it is your family regularly does.

What you receive:

Personal experience with a student (or teacher if you choose) from another country.

Learn about their famiy and customs. Try eating new foods they may want to share.

A look into your own family, your habits and traditions, get to share what is special to your family.

A life-long friend (they are great to email!)

Children learn to accept others who are different. (Kids are so great! They have few fears.)

New activities or games they bring from home to teach about their culture.

Language barrier is minimal compared to what they are able to learn from you! And you from them!

Financial compensation for meals, transportation, and activities.

Our family has had four wonderful experiences with this program and we look forward to the next time we can share our home with a student who is far away from their own.

Once you have applied to be a host family, and are approved by the Selnate School, you will receive emails of all the opportunities they have for you. There are opportunities to have foreign students several times a year, or just once in a while. You are free to pick and choose what dates will work for your schedule.

For example, the last week of October there will be a group of Japanese boys, ages 14-15, coming for eight days; in February there will be some high school girls coming for ten days; in March a group of college-age girls will need host families for a couple of weeks. All of these groups will also have needs for placing the teachers that travel with the students.

To host a boy, you must have a son in the home, age 5-17. To host a girl, you must have a daughter in the home, age 5-17. Empty nesters may welcome teachers for a peaceful adult experience.

Again, thank you for looking into this opportunity. Please let me know if I can answer any questions.

Ellen Townsend Host Family Coordinator LN_at_home@yahoo.com 801-756-2292