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UWEC Host Family Program: Organization and Benefits

History of Program. Began 1960s. Majority of families were university faculty. Staff picked up student. Introduced to host family after semester started.About 1986 Initial home stay added. Host family picks up student who stays for 2-3 days. Family takes student to the dorm.. Current Numbers. 129

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UWEC Host Family Program: Organization and Benefits

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    1. UWEC Host Family Program: Organization and Benefits Helaine K. Minkus Assoc. Professor, Anthropology UWEC

    2. History of Program Began 1960s. Majority of families were university faculty. Staff picked up student. Introduced to host family after semester started. About 1986 Initial home stay added. Host family picks up student who stays for 2-3 days. Family takes student to the dorm.

    3. Current Numbers 129 international students 102 have host families About 70 additional reserve host families

    4. Organization of Program Student informed about Host Family Program after accepted. If chooses to participate, fills in Student Profile: age, gender, country, interests, smoking and pet preferences, household size preference

    5. Hosts fill out Host Profile: information on family, occupations, hobbies, if preference for country or language Asked for Social Security Number and birthdates so can complete criminal background check

    6. Matching Host Family coordinator matches students and families based on similar interests, country preference, student’s interest in type of family Student and family given information about each other and encouraged to contact each other

    7. Recruitment of Host Families The Host Family Coordinator places an article in the university bulletin, and sends notices to churches and schools. Many families are recruited by current host families Coordinator interviews prospective families and checks references

    8. Host Responsibilities During initial stay, help student with banking Expected to maintain at least monthly contact with the student Encouraged to introduce student to everyday activities

    9. Center for International Education Responsibilities Provide activities: Potluck dinner and Reception each semester Give orientation materials to hosts and send lists of suggested activities Trouble shoot if either student or family reports a problem

    10. Staff time About 10 hours per week when matching students and families About 6 hours per week to maintain program

    11. Potential problems Hosts not contacting students Students not returning Host calls Inappropriate behavior by either student or host: asking to lend money, asking to babysit, odd behavior

    12. UWEC Host Family Program Is it really valuable for international students? Is it unusual?

    13. Research methods Email surveys Questionnaires to international students N=125 Interviews 11 Host families 30 International students

    14. Survey of Midwestern Colleges and Universities Wisconsin Yes No Small 3 private 1 private Medium 6 public 1 public + 1 private Michigan Small 2 private 2 private Medium 1 public Large 1 public 2 public

    15. Illinois Small 2 private 3 private Medium 1 public 1 private Minnesota Small 2 private 2 private Medium 1 public Large 1 public 18 Yes 15 No only UWEC has initial home stay

    16. Questionnaire data Frequency of contact Once or twice per week 23% Once or twice per month 42% Once or twice per semester 17% Rarely or never 17% Newly arrived students visited more often.

    17. Questionnaire data Emotional relation with host family Not at all close 18% Somewhat close 36% Very close 39% Degree students closest, then year, then semester.

    18. Questionnaire data Has the relationship with your host family been helpful to you? Not at all helpful 10% Somewhat helpful 17% Very helpful 71%

    19. Benefits to family “Fun” enjoy spending time with student Enjoy being useful to the student and serving as a guide to American culture Way for them and their children to learn about another culture Want to dispel negative images about Americans

    20. Benefits to student Feel more secure when they first arrive and throughout their stay Can practice speaking English with people with the patience to listen Learn about American life by directly experiencing life with an American family

    21. Able to relax away from the dorms Have someone to listen when they are homesick, have problems Practical help: borrow things, place to stay and store things during breaks, transportation, advice Can talk about own family and culture

    22. Benefits provided by students Teach families about their culture and enable them to gain a broader perspective on the world. Cook for them, give them presents from their country and allow them to feel part of a broader world.

    23. International Education Of 11 host families interviewed, 8 had not traveled abroad before hosting a student. After hosting students, 7 of the 8 traveled abroad. The families spoke positively about discussing the students’ home countries and thinking about world events from the students’ perspective.

    24. A very useful site .http://people.emich.edu/ssohn2/mysite2/index.htm

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