Foreign exchange students’ families are needed for the students for the 2024-2025 school year. Both ISE (International Student Exchange) and AYA (Academic Year in America) are looking for host families. 

To become a host family, there is a vetting process. In this process, there’s an application, some personal references, a home interview, and a criminal background check.

“[A requirement for host families is that they] try to give students new experiences, helping them while away from their families, and making sure they are comfortable and welcomed into the family,” said Karen Hamilton, ISE Area Representative of 17 years.

With hosting, families can be a welcome family with a two-month commitment, a semester host family with a five-month commitment, or a host for a full academic year. Students usually apply the year before they actually come over to the schools. 

The exchange students get together every month in the ISE program to do activities in the area. This organization has opportunities for American students to study abroad as well.

“I have five students here currently, in most years it is about eight to ten,” Hamilton said.

The deadline for ISE, to place any exchange students, is August 31. The organization works to make sure every student who applies is placed.

“[Hosting] is a very rewarding experience for both the students and the families,” Hamilton said.

“I was nervous about getting an exchange student while having young children at home, 3, 8, 11, but she was amazing with them all,” said Christine Hunter, foreign exchange student host. “Don’t let having young kids hold you back from experiencing this adventure.”

With the AYA organization, the hosting process is an application to be filled out and then the coordinator will get in touch. The coordinator will do an in-home visit call the references listed and finally select a student to host.

“The students get to experience everything you do in the U.S.,” said Regenia Spoerndle, Local Coordinator for AYA and host mom.

The AYA program goes all across the United States. Every state in interest has a coordinator to help future hosts and students.

The host has to be at least twenty-five years old to register for AYA’s program.

“The concept of cultural exchange is about getting average people together to make friendships and be all over the world,” Spoerndle said.

 If interested in hosting for ISE, contact Hamilton at [email protected] or 330-328-9943 or visit ISEUSA.org for more details or to receive an application to host. Make sure to mention The Bruin if you decide to host, and help support Wadsworth High School.

If interested in hosting for AYA, contact Spoerndle at 330-701-4440, or visit the AYA website at academicyear.org. The host has to be at least twenty-five years old to register for AYA’s program.