Where should we host an exchange student from?

Is any member of your family interested in learning a specific foreign language or a foreign culture? If your daughter is taking French, then I would suggest hosting a student from a French-speaking country. If a member of your family is interested in learning more about South America, then host a student from that region. It depends on your interests, but the study abroad agency is usually the one that matches its students with families that share their religion, lifestyle, values and interests. When I was in high school, we hosted a student from Australia mainly because she was interested in going to medical school and my parents are physicians. That was the main criteria.

This is a question that only you can answer. Since we don’t know you, no one up here should presume to pick for you.

The first thing to examine is your motives for hosting. Is it because you have an interest in a specific culture or language? Is it because of your heritage? Then there is your answer. Pick a student that matches.

If your reason is for truly broadening your horizons, pick a student from a totally opposite culture from your own. So, if you are a typical western-European based American family, choose an Asian student. However, if you are worried that the student will have difficulties fitting in, pick a culture closer to your own such as Nordic or Western Europe.

Be aware that the Nordic and Dutch students will have much better English skills than the others, followed by other Western European countries. If that is an issue, look there.

However, if you have no particular preferences — then pick by the student and not by the nationality. Your representative should have student profiles and letters for you to look at. Pick a student who interests you and who you feel you would like to have in your home.