5 tips to become an excellent host family

1. Involve the student in family activities

Encourage the international student to participate in family activities. This way, he or she will feel that you are doing your best to integrate him or her into the family, create bonds and build trust; this will undoubtedly make the experience that much better.

These activities can range from participating in family parties such as birthdays, graduations and even going to church if you share the same beliefs or sports activities. It is also an option to ask them to join in the preparation of special meals or encourage them to participate in simple daily routines such as washing the dishes or clearing the table after meals.

2. Ask if they have favourite foods or which ones are not to their liking

We all have favourite foods and others not so much… As a host family, you are able to inquire into the tastes of the hosted student, so you can take that into consideration with the food you purchase or take a special day to prepare their favourite dishes. This way you can also encourage them to prepare foods representative of their home country together.

3. Let them know the rules of the house

We know that every home has its own rules and it is important that the hosted students know them; compliance with them will help to make coexistence much more pleasant. It is essential that they are clear and respected, whether it is bedtime, cell phone use during mealtimes, perhaps inviting friends or the time of arrival after an outing.

4. Respect the differences that may exist

We must understand the differences that exist between the home of origin and now, the host home. It may not be easy at first; however, through respect and tolerance, it is possible to learn from these differences and make them a positive part of the experience. In this aspect, communication is essential, whether to talk about flaws, congratulate or thank.

5. Communication is the key

As we closed the previous section, communication is key to becoming an excellent host family and the cornerstone of all the other tips. Allow yourselves to know beyond the basics, if the student likes animals, what his favourite animal is or if he has a pet at home. It is also nice to ask them how their day has gone, provide emotional support or thank them if they have helped out with any activity at home.

We hope you find these tips helpful in making your host family experience an excellent one. If this is part of your research about the process, we invite you to learn more about what it means to be a Red Leaf host family in Canada.