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Share
your home for a
year, enjoy a friendship
for a lifetime.
When you host a
foreign exchange
student, your entire
family will discover
a world of fun and
enlightening adventure.
Simply by sharing
your home for just
a school year (or
perhaps a shorter
term), you will
be giving an exceptional
young person from
another country
the opportunity
of a lifetime–to
live with your family
and experience the
language, customs
and culture of our
country. In return,
your exchange student
will bring to your
family a bit of
his or her homeland.
Students come from
Europe, Asia/Pacific,
the Americas and
South Africa. Each
year, ASSE and its
affiliates place
several thousand
students, ages 15
to 18, in host families
like yours throughout
the world. ASSE
International Student
Exchange Programs
invites you and
your family to join
all the families
in our country and
throughout the world
in this memorable
and valued cultural
experience.
Welcome
a Lifelong Friend
Having an exchange
student in your
home is much like
having an adopted
teenage son or daughter
from overseas. ASSE
students do their
share of the family
chores and are eager
to participate in
your family's leisure
activities. Your
ASSE student doesn't
expect red-carpet
treatment; he or
she wants to learn
about our country
by living as a "native"
rather than as a
guest. And as your
student experiences
and responds to
the new surroundings
and day-to-day activities
of your family and
community, you will
find a new way of
looking at those
things you often
considered commonplace.
Your family will
also receive a fascinating
cultural education
about everyday life
in your student's
home country. In
fact, the rewards
are far-reaching–your
student's classmates,
instructors and
entire community
will be enriched
by interacting with
your ASSE exchange
student. As the
school year progresses,
your family will
grow close to this
new family member,
developing a bond
that will endure
thousands of miles
and last a lifetime.
A tearful goodbye
will come all too
quickly, but you
and your exchange
student are sure
to keep in touch.
Some day, your entire
family may even
visit your foreign
friend in his or
her home country.
Fine
Young Citizens
Before a student
is considered for
the ASSE program,
he or she must exhibit
exceptional qualities.
Students are selected
on the basis of
their academic standing,
fine character and
proven ability to
get along with others.
This is determined
through interviews,
written recommendations
and academic records–so
you may be sure
the student who
comes to your home
is a bright, exemplary
citizen. When you
and your student
meet face to face
for the first time,
ASSE doesn't want
you to feel like
strangers. That's
why your family
will be involved
in the selection
process; you'll
see a photo collage
of your student
in his or her home
environment among
family members and
friends, and you'll
read an autobiographical
essay or "Dear
Host Family"
letter by your student.
In addition, to
get a head start
on cultivating your
friendship, you'll
have an opportunity
to correspond with
each other before
your student's arrival.
Recruitment for
ASSE host families
takes place in the
spring and early
summer months. Once
your student arrives,
your ASSE community
representative will
be available during
the entire stay
to answer any questions
and discuss any
concerns you may
have. In the event
of a real emergency,
you may contact
one of ASSE's emergency
numbers 24 hours
a day - (714)472-1515.
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Language-Learning
Adventure
Of course, one of
the primary objectives
of your foreign
exchange student
is to learn your
language in the
manner that you
speak it. However,
ASSE students are
at least conversant
in the language
of their host country
before their arrival,
having studied it
for a minimum of
three years. In
fact, many have
studied the language
for six or seven
years. So your exchange
student will be
able to communicate
with you and your
family in your language
with his or her
own charming accent.
By the end of the
year, your student
will be speaking
your language fluently,
and your family
will probably be
speaking some of
your student's native
language as well.
How
to Become a Host
Family
Although you may
have children of
the same age, it
is not required
that ASSE host families
have children living
at home. In fact,
couples without
children, single-parent
families and senior
citizens may qualify.
Furthermore, ASSE
does not discriminate
on the basis of
age, ethnic background,
race or religious
affiliation. To
help you embark
on this unique experience,
you should contact
ASSE to meet with
an ASSE representative.
You will also be
asked for character
references from
such persons as
employers, members
of the clergy, and
prominent members
of your community
or social, civic
or collegial organizations.
Begin
Your Lifelong Friendship
Today.
To
begin your exciting
cultural adventure
and make a special
friend for life,
or to find out more
about exchange opportunities
for your high school
age child, simply,
apply online.
Your family will
soon discover that
the exchange lasting
just a school year,
semester or even
a few weeks (shorter
term programs) will
bring rewards lasting
a lifetime.
A
Priceless Investment
If you are concerned
about the cost of
hosting an ASSE
exchange student,
rest assured; your
financial obligation
is minimal. You
merely furnish meals
and a room. In fact,
your student may
even share a room
with a child of
the same sex who
is close in age.
Although not a motive
to host, in some
countries you may
deduct a small part
of your taxable
income by hosting
an exchange student
(check with your
tax adviser). ASSE
students pay for
their own airfare
and provide their
own medical and
liability insurance.
Spending money is
the responsibility
of the student and
his or her natural
parents. Your most
important contribution
is far from monetary.
It comes from your
heart–a willingness
to welcome this
student to your
country and into
your home by making
him or her feel
like a true member
of the family.
Student
Exchange Opportunities
For Your Teenager
If you have a high
school age daughter
or son who might
like to spend a
few weeks or an
academic year living
abroad as an exchange
student, ASSE has
many caring families
available to host
students in each
of its participating
countries. These
families must meet
the same high standards
and make the same
heartfelt commitment
as your family.
Your child should
feel right at home
as many have children
with similar interests,
and generally at
least one family
member speaks some
English. Becoming
an exchange student
can bring to your
child a world of
opportunity, fascinating
cultural experiences
and a lifetime of
friendships. For
those students who
are 15 to 18 1/2
years of age upon
departure, ASSE
has a variety of
programs available.
ASSE's school
year program
includes a comprehensive
language orientation
camp (in non-English
speaking countries)
to expand or refine
your child's foreign
language skills
and help acquaint
him or her with
the customs and
culture of the host
country. ASSE also
offers four-week
language and
six-week
homestay summer
programs. ASSE's
"International
Teen Twin"
program is perfect
for students who
would like to gain
a "taste"
of another language
and culture. By
participating in
this unique, three-month
reciprocal exchange,
not only does your
son or daughter
benefit, but the
entire family enjoys
the rewards of an
international exchange
experience.
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