What to Expect as an AYA Host Family

There is nothing quite like the excitement of meeting a foreign exchange student who is about to become a part of your household! You become surrogate parents and gain a “new” son or daughter when you participate in cultural exchange through hosting with AYA.

Expectant host families have so many heartwarming and enriching memories and experiences to look forward to. AYA students are high school students visiting the U.S. from more than 50 countries. As a host family, you can select a student based on criteria that you think will match well with your lifestyle.

All AYA students have good academic records with at least three years of English-language study and are 15–18 years of age. You’ll find AYA students have varied interests and life goals; they’re extroverts, introverts, sporty kids, theater kids, musicians, outdoor enthusiasts and much more. AYA students are as diverse as the host families across America that volunteer to host them.

The length of time for which you host is determined by the program you choose. It may be a 5-month fall semester program, a 5-month spring semester program or a 10-month full academic year program. Students arrive in August for both the fall semester and full academic year programs; students arrive in January for the spring semester program.

AYA students have medical insurance and pocket money for personal expenses like school lunches, supplies, clothes and entertainment. When you welcome a student into your home as a member of the family, your responsibilities as a host family include providing a safe and caring home, 3 nourishing meals each day and the support and understanding a high school student needs for a successful academic and social experience.

You can count on plenty of support and guidance from AYA and your Local Coordinator along the way. If you are interested in hosting an exchange student or learning more about this special opportunity for cultural exchange, please visit www.academicyear.org.