Family Stay
For five to eight days students participate in the everyday life of another culture, connecting on a personal level with the host family and new friends. This is an ideal opportunity for speaking the language in real-life situations and developing a deeper understanding of the culture.
The Family Stay experience is the heart of ISE’s mission.
ISE study materials and our Teacher Workshop help teachers prepare their students for the family stay with necessary skills and realistic expectations. Thoughtful preparation is the foundation of a successful, life-changing experience.
ISE host families are volunteers. They have a desire to share their culture with students and to learn more about American culture. ISE places one student per family to facilitate a true immersion experience. Host families are expected to speak in their native language and include our students in their daily routines like mealtimes, family, school and community activities.
ISE family stay coordinators are volunteers who promote the opportunity to host an American student within their communities. They facilitate the application process, screen host families, match students with families, and prepare the volunteer host families for the students’ visit. These coordinators are often current or retired teachers and active members of their communities.
While it’s normal for students to be anxious about the family stay before they go, the vast majority of returning students describe the family stay as their favorite part of the ISE program.
