BE A HOST FAMILY
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Introduction
O'Neill Language Academy, Inc. provides the unique opportunity of hosting an exchange student from Spain, France, or Germany who is similar in age to one of your children PLUS we provide bilingual summer camps so that your child and your exchange student can attend camp together! (For ages 12-17)
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| TO MINNESOTA | ||
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By sharing your home for just two, three, or four weeks this summer, you will be giving an exceptional student from another country the opportunity of a lifetime; to live with an American family and experience the language and culture of our country. In return, your exchange student will share a bit of the Spanish, French or German language and their historically rich culture with your family and friends. It will be at time of education, adventure and fun for all!
Benefits of Hosting & Bilingual Summer Camps
| Be a Host Family | Bilingual Summer Camps |
| Hosting a foreign student is a wonderful way to share your language & culture with others. In return, your exchange student will share their language and culture with you! Our host family program is unique in that: | Give your child the exciting opportunity to attend a bilingual summer camp in the Twin Cities with your exchange student! We offer three camps; Spanish, French and German. Our local camps are unique in that: |
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Be a Host Family
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Hosting a foreign student is a wonderful way to share your language and culture with others. In return, your exchange student will bring a bit of their language and culture to your family. Everyone who meets your exchange student; your family, friends and neighbors will discover a world of educational fun and adventure!
Two,three or four weeks is a short time to welcome someone into to your home, especially someone who will be close in age and most likely share interests with one of your children. We do our best to match children of similar interests so they enjoy spending time with each other. On weekdays they can attend a bilingual immersion camp together where they share and learn about each others’ language and culture.
Making the Best Match!
We carefully select students who participate in our exchange programs. We look for good academic standing, fine character and ability to get along well with others. These qualities are determined through interviews, written recommendations and academic records.
We carefully select host families for our exchange students. Exchange students want to be assured they are placed with a kind, loving family who will take good care of them and welcome them as one of their own. In addition to filling out an application, we ask host parents for character references from such persons as employers, members of the clergy and prominent members of the community or social, civic or collegial organizations.
As part of the application process exchange students and host families fill out an interest survey. This helps us match students and families with similar likes and interests. In addition we insure that exchange students are of a similar age to host family children. This way your child will have a Spanish, French or German friend with similar age-related interests right from the start, making the transition for all easier and the entire experience more fun.
As soon as we find a well-matched exchange student for your family we will contact you. Prior to the exchange students’ arrival, host families will attend an informational meeting and receive a Host Family Guide Book. In addition, our staff is available to answer questions and provide support before and during and after your exchange student’s stay.
Use of English vs. Spanish, French, German
The main goal of visiting students is to practice and improve their English skills. This happens naturally by living with host families. We ask host families to encourage and help their exchange student to express themselves in English whenever possible. If host families would like to practice the language of their exchange student, we ask that they limit that time to an hour a day.
Financial Responsibilities of Host Family
The financial obligation of the host family is minimal. Families furnish meals, laundry and a bedroom. It is optional for families to pay for their exchange student when dining out or visiting sites that require a fee such as a museum. It would be a nice gesture but bare in mind that exchange students bring their own spending money. In addition, exchange students pay for their own airfare and medial and liability insurance.
If you host a student, your most important contribution is far from monetary. It comes from your heart-a willingness to welcome a child from Spain, France or Germany into your home, making him or her feel like a member of your family. Simply treat your exchange student with the same kindness that you would want a host family to treat your child.
Host families do not receive compensation for hosting a student however they do receive a 10% discount on summer camp tuition for their own children.
Details of Hosting
1. Arrival
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Host families are expected to greet their exchange student at the airport. From the moment they arrive your goal should be to welcome them as a member of your family. Our staff will also be at the airport to meet and greet the exchange students.
2. Meals
Host families are responsible for providing breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack each day. During the week host families pack a lunch for their exchange student and their children to take to camp.
3. Accommodations
Exchange students can share a bedroom with a child of the same gender and similar age or have their own bedroom. They must have their own bed and be given a place to keep their belongings.
4. Family Rules
Exchange students are expected to follow the rules and expectations of the host family. Before arriving to the United States they will attend a cultural awareness training and receive a handbook about American family life and general expectations of their host family. They will be instructed to make their bed everyday and keep their room clean and organized. They should be in charge of simple chores around the house such as setting or clearing the table or other duties that the host family expects their own children to do. By involving them in this way they will feel more a part of your family.
5. Laundry
Host families are expected to take care of the exchange student’s laundry insuring they have clean clothes, bed linens, bath towels, etc. during the length of their stay.
6. Transportation
Host families are responsible for providing transportation for their exchange student to and from the airport and to and from Summer Camp each day along with their own children, if they attend the camp too. Camp begins at 9:00am and ends at 3:00pm. The location is to be determined but will be near downtown St. Paul, MN.
Dates for Hosting: Summer 2011
Exchange students have the option to choose a two, three or four week family stay and bilingual summer camp. (See the dates below.) If your family is open to all three lengths of stay options, please indicate this on your application.
| Length of Stay | Dates | Application Deadline |
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| 2 Weeks | July 1-16, 2011 | May 15th, 2011 |
| 3 Weeks | July 1-23, 2011 | May 15th, 2011 |
| 4 Weeks | July 1-30, 2011 | May 15th, 2011 |
Be a Host Family Application
If you would like to host a student from Spain, France or Germany, please fill out the Be a Host Family
Application and Family Interest Survey Form and email, mail or fax them to O’Neill Language Academy.
Email: director@oneilllanguage.com
Address: 131 Crestview Drive North, Maplewood, MN 55119
Fax: 651.264.0505
Be a Host Family Application(Link to PDF of application)
Family Interest Survey Form (Link to PDF of Family Interest Survey)
OLA staff will contact you as soon as we receive both forms and as soon as we find a well-matched exchange student for your family! If you have any questions, please call OLA at 651.264.0404 or email us at: director@oneilllanguage.com
Bilingual Summer Camps (Ages 12-17)
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