The Mutual Benefits of Hosting an Exchange Student: Learn and Grow Together

Hosting an exchange student can be both exciting and nerve-wracking all at once. This might be a new experience for both of you– and that's a good thing! Whether this is your first or tenth time hosting, rest assured that you and your exchange student have lots to learn from each other. Here's a closer look at how this experience can help you learn and grow together.

Expand Cultural Awareness and Open-Mindedness

Connecting with someone from another culture will help you develop patience, compassion, and curiosity. If you have children, having a host sibling can encourage them to grow up with an open mind and teach them lessons beyond what's taught in the classroom.

You’ll have the opportunity to cook traditional foods for each other and celebrate each other’s holidays. Through this, you’ll develop a greater appreciation for cultural differences. After this exchange of cultures, you and your exchange student will feel empowered to connect meaningfully with people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and identities. 

Develop Appreciation for Different Ways of Life

You and your exchange student likely have different lifestyles and worldviews. Sharing your traditions, culture, and perspectives will help you both develop a deeper understanding of each other's way of life. Together, you can identify similarities or unique differences between your lifestyles and cultures.

Understanding these differences allows you to put yourself in their shoes and vice versa. Sharing your cultures and perspectives with each other will expand your worldviews and help you gain a greater appreciation for different ways of life.

Improve Communication Skills

Language barriers and cultural differences can make communication challenging for you and your exchange student. Since hosting requires communicating clearly and effectively, it will teach you how to navigate these communication challenges together. This will enhance your listening skills and help you to express yourselves more clearly. You’ll improve your cross-cultural communication skills in the process. Bonus points if you learn some basic vocabulary in your exchange student’s language!

See Daily Life with Fresh Eyes

Daily life can sometimes feel like a blur in the hustle of our jam-packed schedules. It's easy to get stuck in a routine. Hosting an exchange student will provide you with an opportunity to "stop and smell the roses." You and your exchange student will begin seeing your daily lives with new eyes as you create new routines together and develop a greater appreciation for your surroundings. 

Gain a New Family Member(s) for Life

You and your exchange student will get a chance to develop a close and loving relationship. By the time you drop them off at the airport, it might feel like your exchange student has truly become a part of your family. During the exchange, you'll form lasting memories and become an important part of each other's lives. This connection often lasts long after the exchange is over. Chances are you'll be planning visits to each other's families sometime in the near future!

These are just some of the ways that hosting can enrich both your and your exchange student's lives. You'll laugh together, cry together, and create lifelong memories. Making such a close connection with someone from across the world is deeply rewarding and can be a transformative experience for everyone involved. Happy hosting!