Instructions

• 1). Make sure you can handle the cost. Foreign exchange students, like any teenagers, eat a lot and have basic needs like a cell phone and a computer with Internet. Host families can sometimes expect a stipend, depending on the program, but it often isn't enough to cover outside activities, food and school fees. Plan to be generous to your student. He won't return home with nice stories of a good experience if you feed him Ramen noodles flavored with ketchup.
  
  
• 2). Contact a student exchange organization, such as AFS-USA (formerly American Field Service). The AFS has a series of forms to fill out, beginning with the Host Family Interest Form. Other organizations can be found through the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel. Complete the application, and wait to be matched with your student.
  
  
• 3). Create a comfortable atmosphere for your foreign exchange student. While she will want to experience American culture and learn English, eating German food or living with a family who knows a little German will make her feel more comfortable. Contact the exchange program and make note of any orientation meetings she will need to attend. Many exchange programs offer duty officers or supervising representatives who can guide you and provide assistance throughout the process.
  
  
• 4). Let your exchange student settle in. The transatlantic flight can be a jarring experience, especially this is the first time he has flown out of the country. Set aside a few hours (or a day) to let your exchange student acclimate to his surroundings. Have a phone ready so he can call home. Provide a few toiletries in case your student forgot his at home, and show where other basic necessities are located around your house.
  
  
• 5). Talk about the rules of your house. In some cases, your rules may be different from what your student is used to (the drinking age, for example). Have a discussion about what you expect from her and what she expects from you. This can include curfews, chores and the consequences if she makes a mistake. Making contact with her parents can help.
  
  
• 6). Plan a series of activities that will introduce your exchange student to American culture. Go to a movie. Visit the zoo or a national forest. Attend a baseball or an American football game. Find out what interests him, and design activities based on those interests.
  
  
• 7). Arrange a list of meals that show off the smorgasbord of American cooking. Try localizing it based on your location in the United States---grits, beans and greens cooked in pork fat if you're in the South; a Midwestern casserole; or Texas barbecue. Your exchange student may not like everything you cook; don't take it to heart.