Hosting Foreign Students Q&A

Q: HOW CAN MY FAMILY PARTICIPATE IN THE PASSPORT EXCHANGE STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM?

Call 978-475-5487 and arrangements will be made for a host-family coordinator to make an appointment with you and your family.

Q: WHO WILL BE MY GUEST?

Your guest will be a student from Spain, France or Italy. You may select a boy or girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen; and you might want to choose a young person who likes to participate in activities similar to those that your own family enjoys.

Q: WILL THIS STUDENT SPEAK ENGLISH?

Yes. Most students have had at least three to four years of classes in English and many are extremely fluent. If a student does not converse readily at first, be patient; it takes a while to become adjusted to hearing and speaking a foreign language twenty four hours a day.

Q: WHEN WILL MY GUEST ARRIVE?

Students will arrive in Andover at the end of the first week of July. Andover and surrounding towns will be their "home town" where they will visit for about four weeks. Some students may by special arrangement stay with their host families away at their camp or at the beach on family vacation.

Q: WHAT ACCOMMODATIONS SHOULD I PROVIDE?

A warm, friendly home. Your guest will appreciate being in a home that is comfortable, interesting, and gracious. Of course, you will need an extra bed, but this need not be in a separate room. Your European student will enjoy sharing space and facilities with your own children; and interaction between family members is an important part of the exchange program.

Q: WILL MY GUEST LIKE AMERICAN FOOD?

The diet of most Spanish, French, and Italian young people is much like that of American teenagers. However, peanut butter is not high on their list of favorites. Naturally, there are some cultural preferences, but the best approach is to serve meals that your family enjoys. Your student will have likes and dislikes, and if the situation is approached in a positive manner, both you and your guest will enjoy talking about each other's culinary preferences.

Q: HOW DOES MY GUEST SPEND THE DAY?

Students attend English tutorials and activities at Beaven & Associates. Full-day excursions are scheduled two days a week. Each day the student leaves home about 8:30 a.m. and arrives back in time for the evening meal with the host family. Since many families plan weekend activities, the schedule allows your guest to be free at noon on Friday, allowing time for extended family trips or get-togethers. Working families find this activity program ideal; for even though the student is occupied away from home during the day, there is plenty of time in the evenings and on weekends for families and their guests to plan activities and become good friends.

SIGHTSEEING IN NEW ENGLAND

Exchange students, will enjoy train, bus, or minivan excursions to nearby points of interest:

• • Harvard Square
• • New England Aquarium
• • Museum of Science
• • Quincy Market
• • Canobie Lake
• • Hampton Beach

Host family members are invited to go on as many excursions as possible provided that advanced planning allows for space and ticketing for transportation. As a family, you will want to introduce your guest to other areas of interest, too. Since many historical sites require the student to listen carefully to a guide, it is recommended that families plan these trips themselves so that a conversational interchange can be carried on in a more informal manner.

European young people are interested in United States history, but keep in mind that their culture is far older than ours, and what seems like fascinating history to us, often is merely a few hundred years old. European architecture and ruins date back to Roman and pro-Roman times - this makes Sturbridge Village seem like a small modern town. If you are interested in hosting an international student during the summer months, please call the office for more information.