HOST FAMILY OVERVIEW
Host Families play a vital role in the success of an assignment. Volunteer host families gain friendship, understanding, knowledge and a connection to the world. They will experience new tastes and customs, and have the chance to practice their participant's language. Their children will learn about different parts of the world from the participant, and may receive extra help with their own language studies.
Long-lasting relationships that may develop between the family and participant can lead to an ongoing exchange of friendship and hospitality. Children may also benefit from having an international friend and a foreign pen pal. Learning about another culture may create new interests in travel and international issues. Hosts may also gain a new perspective of Americans and American culture as seen through the Intern's eyes leading perhaps to broadening their own opinions, beliefs and values
Host Families play a vital role in the success of an assignment. Volunteer host families gain friendship, understanding, knowledge and a connection to the world. They will experience new tastes and customs, and have the chance to practice their participant's language. Their children will learn about different parts of the world from the participant, and may receive extra help with their own language studies.
Long-lasting relationships that may develop between the family and participant can lead to an ongoing exchange of friendship and hospitality. Children may also benefit from having an international friend and a foreign pen pal. Learning about another culture may create new interests in travel and international issues. Hosts may also gain a new perspective of Americans and American culture as seen through the Intern's eyes leading perhaps to broadening their own opinions, beliefs and values
What is the Amity Institute?
Amity is a nonprofit organization and designated J-1 visa sponsor. Founded in 1962, the Amity programs were based on the belief that language learning and cultural exchange are essential to building international friendship within our global community. This philosophy is still at the core of the organization
Who are Cultural Exchange participants?
Participants in this program are students or recent graduates of institutions of higher education in their home countries. Some of them have teaching experience or have worked with youth. The personal qualities we seek in Interns are friendliness, openness, maturity, adaptability, motivation and enthusiasm.
Why are Cultural Exchange participants here?
Participants are here to also represent their language, culture and country, share their knowledge and ideas at an American school. They want to learn first-hand about American culture and improve their English. Participants engage and motivate American students and leave them with new confidence in their ability to communicate across borders. They inform and inspire, helping students better understand other parts of the world. They will shape your community's perspective on their country, its culture and people.
How long will a participant stay with our family?
Participants will stay with a Host Family for a minimum of eight weeks. They can stay longer and Host Family assignments vary from school to school.
Are Host Families paid?
Host Families are volunteers and provide free room and board to the Intern.
Has my participant had a security or police background check?
Yes. All participants have a clean police record in their home country
What should we expect of the participant?
They will participate in a cross-cultural exchange that will be a challenging and educational experience for all involved. The participant and members of the Host Family must work to understand and communicate with each other. Hosts should remember that participants have placed themselves in a foreign environment for the purpose expanding their own knowledge of education and culture. Their highest priority is the assignment at school. Both the Host Family and the participant will have their own initial expectations of what the experience will be like and should communicate openly.
What are the Host Family's responsibilities?
The Host Family is the participant's substitute family and an essential part of his/her assignment. Particularly in the early weeks, the Host will help the participant feel at home and soothe any feelings of anxiety, insecurity or homesickness. Most Interns look forward to a genuine family living experience; they want to be included in family life and feel that you take interest in them.
Host Families provide:
• Free room and board for the participant should be arranged with an American Host Family/individual
in the community or on-campus housing
• Participants must have a private room
• The Host Family provides all meals, including a sack lunch on school days
• Participants can live with multiple families, but each family must host for a minimum of eight weeks
Amity is a nonprofit organization and designated J-1 visa sponsor. Founded in 1962, the Amity programs were based on the belief that language learning and cultural exchange are essential to building international friendship within our global community. This philosophy is still at the core of the organization
Who are Cultural Exchange participants?
Participants in this program are students or recent graduates of institutions of higher education in their home countries. Some of them have teaching experience or have worked with youth. The personal qualities we seek in Interns are friendliness, openness, maturity, adaptability, motivation and enthusiasm.
Why are Cultural Exchange participants here?
Participants are here to also represent their language, culture and country, share their knowledge and ideas at an American school. They want to learn first-hand about American culture and improve their English. Participants engage and motivate American students and leave them with new confidence in their ability to communicate across borders. They inform and inspire, helping students better understand other parts of the world. They will shape your community's perspective on their country, its culture and people.
How long will a participant stay with our family?
Participants will stay with a Host Family for a minimum of eight weeks. They can stay longer and Host Family assignments vary from school to school.
Are Host Families paid?
Host Families are volunteers and provide free room and board to the Intern.
Has my participant had a security or police background check?
Yes. All participants have a clean police record in their home country
What should we expect of the participant?
They will participate in a cross-cultural exchange that will be a challenging and educational experience for all involved. The participant and members of the Host Family must work to understand and communicate with each other. Hosts should remember that participants have placed themselves in a foreign environment for the purpose expanding their own knowledge of education and culture. Their highest priority is the assignment at school. Both the Host Family and the participant will have their own initial expectations of what the experience will be like and should communicate openly.
What are the Host Family's responsibilities?
The Host Family is the participant's substitute family and an essential part of his/her assignment. Particularly in the early weeks, the Host will help the participant feel at home and soothe any feelings of anxiety, insecurity or homesickness. Most Interns look forward to a genuine family living experience; they want to be included in family life and feel that you take interest in them.
Host Families provide:
• Free room and board for the participant should be arranged with an American Host Family/individual
in the community or on-campus housing
• Participants must have a private room
• The Host Family provides all meals, including a sack lunch on school days
• Participants can live with multiple families, but each family must host for a minimum of eight weeks
HOST FAMILY INFORMATION
Participants are at least 20 years old. They are students or recent graduates of institutions of higher education in their home countries preparing for a career in education. Many are involved in the field of languages or are preparing to teach English as a Foreign Language. They often have some teaching experience or have worked with youth.
The personal qualities we seek in applicants are friendliness, openness, maturity, adaptability, motivation and enthusiasm. Amity participants are here to represent their language, culture and country and share their knowledge and ideas. They also gain teaching skills through their assignment. They want to learn first-hand about American culture and improve their English. A participant's first obligation is to completing their assignment at the Host School. They are volunteers who are role models, ambassadors of good will, active community participants, and integrated members of their Host Family or school living environment.
Amity is very different from a high school exchange. The participant is an adult, not a teenager and should be treated appropriately. Participants will need to know and follow the general rules of the host's home but should be afforded some independence and discretion in decision-making and conduct.
Participants are at least 20 years old. They are students or recent graduates of institutions of higher education in their home countries preparing for a career in education. Many are involved in the field of languages or are preparing to teach English as a Foreign Language. They often have some teaching experience or have worked with youth.
The personal qualities we seek in applicants are friendliness, openness, maturity, adaptability, motivation and enthusiasm. Amity participants are here to represent their language, culture and country and share their knowledge and ideas. They also gain teaching skills through their assignment. They want to learn first-hand about American culture and improve their English. A participant's first obligation is to completing their assignment at the Host School. They are volunteers who are role models, ambassadors of good will, active community participants, and integrated members of their Host Family or school living environment.
Amity is very different from a high school exchange. The participant is an adult, not a teenager and should be treated appropriately. Participants will need to know and follow the general rules of the host's home but should be afforded some independence and discretion in decision-making and conduct.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Amity Institute?
Who are Cultural Exchange participants?
Why are Cultural Exchange participants here?
How long will a participant stay with our family?
Are Host Families paid?
Has the participant had a security or police background check?
What should we expect of the participant?
What are the Host Family's responsibilities?
What is the participant's role at the school?
What happens if a participant gets sick?
Can the participant act as a babysitter?
Can the participant use the family car?
If the participant gets homesick or suffers from culture shock, how should I handle it?
Who can I contact if there is a problem?
What can I do to make sure that our experience is successful?
What should we do if the participant asks us to help him/her to stay longer in the US?
What are the benefits to hosting a Cultural Exchange participants?
What is the Amity Institute?
Who are Cultural Exchange participants?
Why are Cultural Exchange participants here?
How long will a participant stay with our family?
Are Host Families paid?
Has the participant had a security or police background check?
What should we expect of the participant?
What are the Host Family's responsibilities?
What is the participant's role at the school?
What happens if a participant gets sick?
Can the participant act as a babysitter?
Can the participant use the family car?
If the participant gets homesick or suffers from culture shock, how should I handle it?
Who can I contact if there is a problem?
What can I do to make sure that our experience is successful?
What should we do if the participant asks us to help him/her to stay longer in the US?
What are the benefits to hosting a Cultural Exchange participants?
The School Coordinator must visit each prospective home to discuss arrangements, clarify
expectations and confirm living conditions.
What happens if the participant gets sick?
Each participant must have sickness/accident insurance throughout the entire time they are in the U.S. Many use an insurance policy recommended by Amity. If participants get sick or need medical attention, they should go to a local doctor, medical/emergency center or the emergency room at a local hospital that takes their insurance. The participant may have to pay out-of-pocket to cover some initial expenses. They will need to find out the exact procedure in regards to how to use their insurance and should follow instructions provided by their insurance carrier in order to receive reimbursement.
Can the participant act as a babysitter?
Like any family member, participants are expected to help out around the house. Participants are not live-in babysitters and should not be expected to perform the duties appropriate for an au pair, such as childcare, house sitting or housework beyond that of other family members.
Can the participant use the family car?
Participants are permitted to drive only if they hold a valid driver's license. Participant s may not drive their Host Family's car, unless a prior written agreement has been signed between the parties, including insurance issues and potential damages.
Who can I contact if there is a problem?
Amity Program Counselors are available by phone or email. Program Counselors work directly withparticipants, Host Schools and Host Families to facilitate the Intern's assignment.
What should we do if the participant asks us to help him/her to stay longer in the U.S.?
The Cultural Exchange Program is limited to 12 months and all participants have to return home at the end of their assignment. We do not extend programs beyond the original term.
What happens if the participant gets sick?
Each participant must have sickness/accident insurance throughout the entire time they are in the U.S. Many use an insurance policy recommended by Amity. If participants get sick or need medical attention, they should go to a local doctor, medical/emergency center or the emergency room at a local hospital that takes their insurance. The participant may have to pay out-of-pocket to cover some initial expenses. They will need to find out the exact procedure in regards to how to use their insurance and should follow instructions provided by their insurance carrier in order to receive reimbursement.
Can the participant act as a babysitter?
Like any family member, participants are expected to help out around the house. Participants are not live-in babysitters and should not be expected to perform the duties appropriate for an au pair, such as childcare, house sitting or housework beyond that of other family members.
Can the participant use the family car?
Participants are permitted to drive only if they hold a valid driver's license. Participant s may not drive their Host Family's car, unless a prior written agreement has been signed between the parties, including insurance issues and potential damages.
Who can I contact if there is a problem?
Amity Program Counselors are available by phone or email. Program Counselors work directly withparticipants, Host Schools and Host Families to facilitate the Intern's assignment.
What should we do if the participant asks us to help him/her to stay longer in the U.S.?
The Cultural Exchange Program is limited to 12 months and all participants have to return home at the end of their assignment. We do not extend programs beyond the original term.
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