--- title: Can Homeschoolers Host Exchange Students? description: Homeschooling and hosting exchange students go hand in hand. Learn some of the reasons it's such a great fit! image: https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/homeschool%20dad%20and%20son.jpg --- [![ices@2x](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/ICES_Logo_%20sm_wht.png?width=77&name=ICES_Logo_%20sm_wht.png)](https://www.icesusa.org/)   - [INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS](https://www.icesusa.org/international-student-exchange-programs/) - [HOST A STUDENT](https://www.icesusa.org/host-a-student-overview/) - [AMERICAN STUDENTS](https://www.icesusa.org/american-student-exchange-programs/) - [WORK WITH US](https://www.icesusa.org/student-exchange-careers-and-partnerships/) - [ABOUT US](https://www.icesusa.org/about-us-overview/) - [CONTACT US](https://www.icesusa.org/contact-ices/) - [BLOG](https://blog.icesusa.org) [Let's Talk](https://blog.icesusa.org/contact)subscribe ### I’d like to learn more about Campaign Creators! read # Can Homeschoolers Host Exchange Students? By [Kari Owens](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/kari-owens) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/homeschool%20dad%20and%20son.jpg) Are you a homeschool parent looking for fun and unique ways to enhance your kids' learning? Imagine supplementing your home school with something that would help your kids: - Be fascinated about the world and its people, past and present - Enjoy learning around-the-clock, not just in designated “school hours” - Internalize what they learn instead of memorizing data that will be quickly forgotten after taking a test - Grow into compassionate adults who genuinely care for people of all walks - Learn strong interpersonal skills that will benefit them in their career, family life, and friendships Would you be surprised to hear that [hosting an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/8-reasons-i-love-being-a-host-mom) checks all those boxes? ![young girl and mom with globe](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jul-21-2023-01-38-41-1841-PM.png?width=658&height=477&name=image-png-Jul-21-2023-01-38-41-1841-PM.png) As a veteran homeschool mom of over 25 years, I have plenty of advice to offer, and could easily share stories about mistakes I’ve made and things I’d do differently. But one thing we got right was [hosting  foreign exchange students](https://blog.icesusa.org/how-to-become-a-host-family-step-by-step-guide). Welcoming exchange students into our family each year created endless opportunities for [learning](https://www.thethinkingkid.org/post/the-importance-of-hands-on-learning) history, geography, culture, current events, and [so much more](https://blog.icesusa.org/culture-in-the-kitchen-spanish-omelette)!  The entire family (not just the kids!) [learned in such a natural way](https://teachbesideme.com/homeschool-methods-natural-learning-approach/) that it felt like play. ![family laughing on the couch](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jul-21-2023-01-43-09-9930-PM.png?width=645&height=439&name=image-png-Jul-21-2023-01-43-09-9930-PM.png) We learned things you’d expect to learn, like how to say “Guten tag” and [how to make bulgoki](https://blog.icesusa.org/make-a-friend-in-korea).  But the learning went way beyond that.   We learned that communication is much deeper than words.  And that [gratitude can be expressed](https://blog.icesusa.org/teaching-gratitude-american-style)--and received--in very different ways.  I was even able to guide my kids through some healthy ways to approach conflict resolution on the rare occasions when [cultures clashed](https://blog.icesusa.org/learning-culture-from-the-front-seat). My kids (and I) learned a lot about our own culture too.  Teaching our exchange students the ins and outs of American culture--and the specific culture of our home--was better than any book report or project I could have assigned.   ![boy eating a hot dog](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jul-21-2023-01-49-29-7248-PM.png?width=665&height=458&name=image-png-Jul-21-2023-01-49-29-7248-PM.png)   I must admit that I enjoyed being an [international ambassador of the homeschooling](https://howdoihomeschool.com/homeschool-legal-illegal/) concept.  It was rewarding to explain homeschooling to an international teen who had never heard of it, or at least had never met anyone in real life who did it.   And then to have an exchange student say, *"But your kids are so normal.  And they are smart!*"  Mission accomplished. As a homeschool mom, the immense amount of learning was wonderful. But I have to be honest and admit that the greatest motivation to host came from the fact that [hosting is fun](https://blog.icesusa.org/host-families-have-more-fun).  Really fun!  So much fun that we did it 15 times! ![famliy hugging on the beach](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jul-21-2023-01-41-42-6994-PM.png?width=634&height=449&name=image-png-Jul-21-2023-01-41-42-6994-PM.png) Our exchange students did everything with us:  play games, go for hikes, clean house, visit the grandparents, cook, go to church. . .  They were never a boarder, but were--ARE--part of the family. My kids now have siblings all over the world.  They gained so much valuable insight, and it was one more way of growing intelligent, well-rounded adults. ![young woman waving to phone and smiling](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jul-21-2023-01-46-59-7994-PM.png?width=608&height=410&name=image-png-Jul-21-2023-01-46-59-7994-PM.png) A new school year is just around the corner.  Make this one the best ever by adding an exchange student into the mix. Can't host all year?  No problem.  You can host for a semester, or even for a few weeks as a [welcome family](https://blog.icesusa.org/welcome-family). A world of learning is waiting for YOU!   [![Learn more about hosting an exchange student!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5594019/dfbf95c7-8cc6-4419-9379-053019a12dc8.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5594019/dfbf95c7-8cc6-4419-9379-053019a12dc8)       Tags: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Host an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student), [Homeschooling](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/homeschooling) ### Related Articles ## [Why January Is the Best Time to Say Yes to Hosting](https://blog.icesusa.org/why-january-is-the-best-time-to-say-yes-to-hosting) *( read )* Topics: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Host an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student), [Homeschooling](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/homeschooling) ## [Our Best Blog Posts to Help You Start Your Hosting Experience Right](https://blog.icesusa.org/our-best-blog-posts-to-help-you-start-your-hosting-experience-right) *( read )* Topics: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Host an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student), [Homeschooling](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/homeschooling) ## [It’s Not Too Late to Say Yes: Why Families Are Still Signing Up to Host](https://blog.icesusa.org/its-not-too-late-to-say-yes-why-families-are-still-signing-up-to-host) *( read )* Topics: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Host an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student), [Homeschooling](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/homeschooling) ### Subscribe to The Chronicles of Marketing Newsletter ### Posts by Tag - [Cultural Exchange (141)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange) - [Exchange Student (106)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student) - [Host Families (97)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families) - [Host an exchange student (78)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student) - [Youth Exchange (68)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/youth-exchange) ## Subscribe to Our Blog Today! ![Boris_ICES_Ads](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Boris_ICES_Ads.png?width=749&height=698&name=Boris_ICES_Ads.png) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Kari Owens", "url" : "https://blog.icesusa.org/author/kari-owens" }, "dateModified" : "2023-07-21T15:32:59.196Z", "datePublished" : "2023-07-21T15:32:59.000Z", "headline" : "Can Homeschoolers Host Exchange Students?", "image" : [ "https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/homeschool%20dad%20and%20son.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.icesusa.org/can-homeschoolers-host-exchange-students", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject" }, "name" : "International Cultural Exchange Services" } } ```