This is an exciting opportunity for everyone involved. It gives us all the chance to learn about another way of life and point of view; to make new friends and to have fun!
Our Acadmeic Year Programs and High School Groups also celebrate our community, our schools, our student's talents and our natural hospitality. Finally, programs such as these provide important revenues for our schools, which would be unavailable without such homestays.

Who all is involved?

Our programs are managed by many various stakeholders, depending on the program. They may include School Boards, Private Language Schools, local and overseas Agents and other community groups who participate in different ways, and Canada Homestay International (CHI).

Some programs also invite local student buddies to accompany the international students during their time with us at school.

When can we host?

There are many different opportunities for hosting. Depending on where you live, we may have Academic Year Program students who stay for one or two semesters of the regular high school year. We also have Groups that last from 2 days to 2 months, arriving throughout the year. In Victoria and Vancouver, we work with adult independent language schools. These schools accept students to ESL programs every month all year round. The peak season for all programs and groups is in the summer months.

I do not speak (Japanese/Spanish/German/other language). How are we prepared and supported?

Each host family will be interviewed beforehand and provided appropriate cultural orientation and linguistic support, including twenty-four hour support in the event of an emergency.

Each host receives a homestay Host Guide, and in some cases, a short description of the country and culture and (to help you get started!).

How do you select the student that you introduce to us?

Even in a short-term program, whenever possible, CHN matches the personalities and experience of each homestay host with the interests of each international student and (in the case of older students, here in Canada for longer periods), their lifestyles and educational requirements.

To do so, we require each student and host to complete profiles of themselves, designed to make a homestay successful for both students and hosts. We then notify each student and host of the match that we have made, in advance.

In addition:

1. CHN counselors are available to meet with students in person, to discuss their questions or concerns and if necessary, introduce them to one of our cultural and linguistic counselors;
2. CHN invites each student to evaluate their homestay experience.

Our successful experience in arranging suitable matches benefits students and hosts:

1. we provide students with confidence before their departure and after their arrival. Before their departure, we provide them with a written description of their hosts and their accommodation. After their arrival, we meet with their counselors (and each of them in person, if necessary), to help them further adjust to Canadian culture and make their homestay experience successful.
2. With agencies in thirty-five countries and long standing relationships with leading independent schools and School Boards, we provide our hosts with access to a wide variety of students. At the same time, our experience over the years helps us to give our hosts the perspective, resources and support required to make their homestay experience successful. As part of this support, we schedule periodic workshops with hosts, to update homestay program requirements and improve our collective capabilities.

What happens if we are uncomfortable with a student, or the student is uncomfortable with us?

Although we have placed almost ten thousand students over the years with thousands of hosts, if a student or host considers our match inappropriate, we are quite prepared to arrange a different homestay, immediately.

Equally, we are available to help you clarify any misunderstandings, if and when they arise: as we tell our students, please do not fail to speak to us! There is no need to suffer in silence; it's not good for you, or your student, or us. If you are worried, we are worried! In some cultures it is impolite to talk about personal feelings or frustrations, for fear of loosing face; not so in Canada, or with us! Please tell us how you feel, good or bad! You can be candid and considerate at the same time! You don't need to break eggs with a hammer, but it's just as bad to say nothing.

What if I must cancel?

Yikes!! Hosts rarely cancel a reservation and if they do, only for exceptional circumstances, like a sudden illness.

As you can imagine, it is unsettling for a student to have changes in their homestay even before arrive!

I have questions about the food that my students like (or don't), access to the bathroom, curfews, overnight guests and so on!

A Homestay Host Guide is available for prospective hosts on our Hosts Portal, to discuss hosting as well as your interests and the sort of student that you would prefer. The contents of this Guide include:
* your role as a homestay host;
* greetings and orientation of your student on their arrival (including how to make your student feel at home, as well as the use of your appliances and tips to help them in case of an emergency);
* emergency protocols, including our twenty-four hour contact numbers;
* household routines, ÒrulesÓ or guidelines, including curfews, and so on;
* tips for making conversation with your student;
* resolving problems with your student (if there are any; there may well be none);
* meals, which are very important (one of the key adjustments to a strange place, as you may well imagine);
8 safekeeping of student valuables;
* tips on local transportation;
* the use of the phone (including international calls);
* medical insurance; and
* our policy on the internet; overnight visitors; and travel out of town.

Similar Guides are provided to your students.

We understand that hosts are paid. How much is it?

The homestay fees paid to our hosts are confirmed when we meet each host in person and they are accepted in our program. These fees vary with each group or program, but they are competetive and tend to follow generally accepted standards for payment in your community.

I'm interested! What next?

If you are interested, you may:
1. complete an online application form (see the link at the left side of this website, under "Hosts")
2. register for our Hosts Portal for more information and access to resources for prospective and registered hosts.