HOSTING AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT Thank you for your interest in becoming a host family. We hope that this booklet will provide you with a good idea of what benefits this experience can bring to you and your family. Once you have read this information, should you wish to apply to become a CISS host, please fill out our application form and return it back to the CISS Head Office. Contents: Host Family Expectations...3 Am I qualified to be a host family?...4 Benefits of being a host family...5 What our families have to say:...7 CISS Homestay Programmes...9 Summer Homestay Thornhill, Ontario...9 Teacher Homestay Programme GTA, Ontario...9 How do I apply to be a host family?...10 Frequently Asked Questions...11 CISS Contact Information...16 1
Hosting an International Student See the world from your own home The homestay experience provides a complete and ideal immersion setting for students coming to Canada to study English. Family interaction, cultural traditions and community living offer aspects of the experience that a residential or camp programme cannot provide. CISS is pleased to offer a variety of homestay programmes for students ranging in age from 14 years to adults. We employ many families in various communities in and around the Greater Toronto Area as hosts to our students. Where do the students come from? CISS is a leader in international programming, welcoming students from all over the globe for almost 30 years. Students attending CISS programmes are typically from South America, Mexico, Europe and Asia. Due to the nature of the homestay experience, the minimum age is set at 14 years but our maximum age is limitless, offering this experience to adults as well as teenagers. Programme durations vary from a minimum of a few days to a maximum of a full school year. 2
Host Family Expectations CISS holds a reputation for high quality programmes. People know us for our kind, caring and professional hosts. We therefore require host families to warmly welcome and include their student into their normal, everyday aspects of life. Hosts are expected to provide the student with: A private bedroom in the main part of the home (not in the basement), equipped with a bed, closet, chair, lighting and a desk or work area. If the desk or work area is not available in the room the student must be given access to a quiet study area in another room in the house. Three meals daily. Breakfast and dinner should be taken as a family when possible; lunches should be bagged so that the student takes them with him/her to the programme. An English speaking environment where English is the main language spoken in the home. The guarantee that they will be the only student of a particular language group in the home. Students come to Canada to learn and practise their English. CISS requires its host families to: Spend time with their student during their daily routines. The student must have ample opportunity to speak English in everyday situations. Share with the student the highlights of their community, town or city. Taking the student to local places of interest will make that student feel that he or she belongs in that community, and allows them to see the sites that make Canada special. 3
Am I qualified to be a host family? Accepting an international student into your home is a major decision that will not only change your family dynamic but will enrich the lives of all your family members. International students bring new perspectives, cultural traditions and added laughter to your home. They are, however, students, and they may not understand Canadian ways of life, may be used to different household routines, and may have a limited ability to communicate in English. CISS host families welcome the challenges and rewards of hosting such students. CISS enlists families from a variety of cultural backgrounds provided that English is the main language spoken in the home. Families with children in their teenage years are ideal due to the nature of our programmes, but CISS accepts families of all configurations, including single parents, retired and/or childless couples. The main expectation of a host family is that they welcome the student into their home and share their daily lives with the student. 4
Benefits of being a host family Cultural enrichment is the main factor that motivates our host families to welcome students every year. Photo albums full of photos and letters from past students adorn most of their bookshelves. For them, it is learning about various cultures, getting to know students from countries they have not yet visited, and forging friendships with the student and his or her natural family that are the benefits of this programme. For many families, the benefits extend beyond the adults and provide a global learning experience for their own children. They learn about cultural diversity, ethnic sensitivity and multiculturalism in their own home. As one host family has stated: my children have learned about the world from their own living room. 5
Benefits to the host family: Cultural enrichment Opportunity to meet interesting people from around the world Opportunity to keep children in your life Constant source of fun and learning Great opportunities for your children to learn about other countries Provide a wonderful experience for an international student learning English 6
What our families have to say: We have been hosting students for the CISS summer programme for about 3 years. Each year we wait with anticipation for the arrival of our new student and cry tears of sadness when the student must leave. Leaving is the hardest part of the hosting experience. Even though the students stay for a short time, they become a part of your family and it is difficult to let them go. We cannot imagine a summer without a student and we look forward to our next one. Adela and Robert Thornhill ESL Summer Homestay Programme I love the laughter and freshness that a student brings to our family. Each student comes with some cultural uniqueness. Sometimes, they do little things that are so different from what we are used to, we all just stop and have to laugh. The student laughs with us when we explain it. I am sure that the student must often laugh at our ways as well. Linda and Simon Maple ESL Summer Homestay Programme 7
My passion to learn about cultures and to meet new people has motivated me to open my house and join cultures with international students. We both learn from each other and exchange the experiences of our homelands. Every student that enters our home becomes a part of the family. My family and I love meeting new people, providing hospitality and showing enthusiasm in welcoming visitors from all over the world. All my hosting experiences have been wonderful. Every student that I have hosted has been very motivated and excited to be exposed to a new atmosphere and way of living. On some occasions, the student and my family would go on outings and share great times together. Some students insist on preparing traditional dishes for our family and we are very pleased to try them. Hosting international students has definitely enriched my family in many ways. Such experiences have allowed us to gain knowledge about different lifestyles, food, communication and traditions. We were thrilled to learn a few words from different languages try new foods and overall, be more informed about particular countries. Regardless of their departure home, we still continue to keep in touch with our students and the relationships continue to grow, despite the distances. Violet North York Teacher Homestay Programme 8
CISS Homestay Programmes Summer Homestay Thornhill, Ontario A summer programme designed for students aged 14 18 years, operated for 5 weeks during July. Students may choose session dates that range from 2 to 4 weeks. On weekdays, students attend morning language classes at a school facility located in Thornhill. Afternoons are spent participating in programme activities or excursions. Students typically return home for supper unless on excursion or participating in an evening activity. Weekends are spent together with the family so the student can learn about life in Canada. Host families who accept to host for this programme must be available during the summer months and be willing to potentially host more than one student over the 5 week duration. Daily transportation to and from the school is provided by CISS. CISS enlists families from: Vaughan, Thornhill, Richmond Hill and Maple Teacher Homestay Programme GTA, Ontario Teacher Homestay with Activities Programme GTA, Ontario A year-round adult programme, the Teacher Homestay Programme provides one-to-one ESL instruction in a licensed teacher s home. The student lives with the teacher host, and lessons (15 or 20 hours per week) are taught in the home using customized curriculum based on the student s outcome goals. Students are aged 18 years +, typically stay for 1 or 2 weeks (sometimes longer), and are almost exclusively from Japan. As a complement to the one-to-one Teacher Homestay Programme, CISS also offers a Teacher Homestay with Activities Programme. This programme combines 12 hours of ESL instruction per week, taught in the teacher host s home, with either Cooking or Gardening Training three afternoons per week. The Teacher Host must be able to provide instruction in both ESL as well as at minimum one of the activities offered. CISS will place students with hosts that match the student s activity choice. CISS enlists families from: the GTA including Toronto, Vaughan, Mississauga and Scarborough. 9
How do I apply to be a host family? If you wish to apply to be a host family for any of the CISS programmes, please contact CISS and/or fill out our application form. Upon receipt, CISS will review your application, and if you are an acceptable candidate, our Homestay Co-ordinator will arrange a home visit and inspection. Candidates applying to host for the Teacher Homestay programme MUST hold a valid teaching or TESL certificate. If accepted as a host family, CISS will also require the following: Welcome letter to a student introducing yourself and your family Recent family photograph* Recent photograph of the bedroom available for a student* Recent photograph of the outside of your home* Signed contractual agreement All family members over the age of 18 to complete a background police check. This will be required prior to the first student placement with your family. * photographs may be digital or print copies. Please indicate should you wish your printed photograph(s) to be returned to you 10
Frequently Asked Questions The following is a list of questions and the answers that provide the basis of the CISS Guidelines for hosting an international student. Q. Can my family speak a language other then English in our home? A. CISS expects that English is the only language of communication in the home while the student is staying with you. Students come to Canada to learn English, therefore, it is essential that it is the only language they hear while in the home. Q. What kind of food would I be expected to prepare for the student? A. CISS students are guaranteed three, well-balanced and nutritious meals each day. We recommend a variety in the meals, although we do not expect that you drastically change your daily routine. You will be expected to ensure that all meals, especially packed lunches, are as complete as possible (ie. beverage, sandwich, fruit, snack). Dinner/supper should be eaten as a family and always include a vegetable option. Occasionally, CISS receives special dietary requests from students such as vegetarian or Kosher diets. In this event, CISS will ask in advance if you as the family are comfortable or willing to prepare such meals. We understand that not every family is in a position to accept this request, and we ask for honesty when replying. Q. Would the student have to follow our house rules? A. Students are expected to follow your household rules. Your rules and expectations must be explained to the student on the day of or the first day after arrival. These should include: setting a curfew, how to lock and unlock the doors, how to use the laundry facilities, how to keep their room tidy, how to operate kitchen and bathroom equipment such as dishwashers or even the shower. Communication is key and even the obvious should be discussed. 11
Q. Would I be expected to allow the student to use our phone, computer and internet? A. All long distance phone calls should be made collect or with a phone card. Students are responsible for payment of any long distance calls during their stay. CISS will not be held responsible for any long distance calls. This policy should be made clear to the student prior to the first phone call. In this age of technology most students will request to use the computer for Internet and e-mail access. As a family this is your decision to make. An e-mail to friends and family back home may be less expensive than a phone call, but hours spent on the Internet may cause frustration. Should you choose to allow the student to use your family computer for e-mail or Internet use, please establish clear rules and timeframes for surfing, chatting or sending messages. CISS is not responsible for any reimbursement for internet use. Q. Should I give my student chores to do? A. When a student enters your home, he or she will become a member of your family and should be treated as you would treat your own children. If your family s routine includes dividing household duties among all its members, the student should be included. It is important that the student understands that he or she is acting as part of the family and that everyone has a chore to do. They should not be made to feel that they are being asked to perform duties because they are a new family member. In general, students are expected to keep their own room tidy and to help maintain the bathroom (especially if it is a private bathroom). Asking the student to assist with table setting or clearing during meals is acceptable. Q. Can my family take a holiday while a student is with us? A. In most programmes, the duration of the student s stay is short. You will, therefore, be expected to remain in town for the duration of the student s stay. Weekends away to a place of interest or a family cottage are certainly acceptable, provided that the student does not miss any class time. Students must not be moved to a friend s or relative s home in order to allow the host family time away. 12
Q. How many students can I host at one time? A. CISS prefers to place no more than two (2) international students in a family home at the same time. Both students must be of the same gender and of different nationality / language. Each student must have his or her own room (with the exception of specific requests). Should you accept to host a student from another agency, you will be expected to inform the CISS Homestay Co-ordinator immediately to confirm the gender, age, language and length of stay of the other student. We ask this to ensure that it does not compromise guarantees we made to the student or his/her natural family. CISS will advise the student s natural family of this other student. Q. Are students allowed to smoke? A. CISS advises all its students that smoking and drinking are illegal in Canada if under the age of 19. Many of our students, however, come from countries where smoking is permitted at any age and many come to Canada already in the habit. If you accept a student who smokes, you have the right to allow it in your house or ask the student to smoke outside. CISS must know your preference in advance so we can include it on your profile. If you do not wish to host a student who smokes, please indicate this on your application form. Your rules should also be firmly established when the student arrives. Under no circumstances are you expected to supply an underage student with cigarettes. Canadian and Ontario laws should also be explained to the student upon arrival. Q. Can I be specific about the kind of student I d like to host? A. CISS tries to make the best possible matches between the student and the host family by reviewing the requests of both. CISS allows for requests only for certain conditions which include: Gender: we understand the some families may feel more comfortable hosting either a girl or a boy due to the genders of their own children. Smoking or non-smoking students 13
Q. How much time are my family and I expected to spend with the student? A. CISS realizes that a family cannot spend every moment with their student. We will, however, expect that the student be included in daily family activities and some time spent showing the student the sites that make your community or city special, especially on weekends when the student has no classes. The student is, after all, visiting our country as a guest. When possible, meals should be taken together as a family to allow for conversation. Families should make all efforts to include the student in conversations or debates, as this will assist the fluency and accuracy of the student s English abilities. Q. What if I feel there is conflict with my student? A. Although hosting an international student is an excellent cultural experience, the fact is that despite the best efforts sometimes the placement proves to be a bad match. This can be due to personality conflicts, lack of respect on the part of either party, or personal crises. Should you sense a conflict between you and your student, you will be expected to speak first with your student to see if a solution can be found. Often, conflicts occur because of misunderstandings or lack of communication. If a solution is not possible and the problem is significant enough to continue to cause friction within your family, CISS will assess the situation, will visit you and your student (together or alone), and will determine if a move is required. Note: requesting to move a student to allow for a different student to enter your home is not acceptable. Q. Does CISS provide remuneration to host families? A. All CISS host families are remunerated for hosting CISS students. Once you are accepted as a host family, CISS will be happy to discuss these details with you. 14
Q. Am I, or members of my family, required to undergo a background check? A. As with most homestay organizations, CISS requires family members over the age of 18 to submit to a background police check. This procedure is strictly to ensure the safety and protection of our students and families. Some countries require a copy of this police check prior to sending students for a homestay programme. Q. Does CISS provide an emergency contact? During office hours, a Head Office coordinator will be available to assist you with an emergency. Outside of office hours, CISS will provide a toll-free, customer service number. 15
CISS Contact Information Office hours: Monday to Friday 08:30 5:00 Head Office 439 University Avenue, suite 2110 Toronto, Ontario M5G 1Y8 Tel: 416-646-5400 (during office hours) Fax: 416-646-5403 Email: ciss@cisscanada.com Website: 16