What is a Host Family?

A Host Family is a family or individual who opens their home to an international student. Hosts provide comfortable accommodations, meals and introduce foreign students to the American way of life.

Why be a Host Family?

Hosting an international student is a great way to learn about another culture. Our students are eager to share their food, customs and culture with their Host Family.

  • Your children will enjoy having a new housemate and making an international friend.
  • Hosting can be mentioned on resumes or in college admissions essays, to demonstrate intercultural experience.
  • Many families maintain unique friendships with former students in Paris or Tokyo!
  • You will experience the satisfaction of helping an international student in the challenging process of adapting to life in a new country.
  • You can make your own contribution to international understanding and bridging different cultures.

What Families are Saying

The Gonzalez Family: meeting new friends, learning new cultures

Meeting new friends, learning new cultures and bringing our family closer are just some of the benefits we have experienced as a host family...

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By: Gonzalez Family


Dona Tittle about hosting students from China and Japan

As a Host Family I have been able to experience different cultures, share our home and lifestyle, and introduce students to new experiences...

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By: Dona Tittle


Jeff about hosting Cristian and Jorge for the month of July

I wanted to let you know how much my family enjoyed having Cristian and Jorge for the month of July...

[more]

By: Jeff


Who can Become a Host Family?

There is no such thing as a typical host family. FLS Host Families include "traditional" two parent homes with children, single parents, retirees, couples with grown children, and even single people.

Our coordinators will match our incoming students with the best possible family. Our families represent the variety of ethnic and cultural diversity in the United States. However, since the primary goal of our students is to learn English, we ask that English be the primary language spoken in the home when the family is with the student.