The United States of America Department of State has a long history of supporting cultural exchange programs, including Student Exchange Programs. The Exchange Visitor Program fosters global understanding through educational and cultural exchanges. All exchange visitors are expected to return to their home country upon completion of their program in order to share their exchange experiences.
Changing Lives – How the Exchange Student Program Redefines the USA
Secondary school students travel to the United States to study at an accredited public or private high school and live with an American host family or at an accredited boarding school.
International Student Exchange (ISE) is a leading not-for-profit sponsor of J-1 exchange students and has been finding homes for international and American exchange students for over 30 years. ISE places students from over 40 countries for semester-long and academic year-long programs. ISE is currently seeking host families for the 2019/2020 school year.
There’s no typical host family, our host families reflect the wide diversity of families in the USA (e.g. two-parent, single-parent, same-sex couples, etc.).
The students that participate in the ISE program have their own insurance, bring their own spending money, and speak English. They are between 15 and 18 years old and wish to attend a local high school in order to make friends, learn more about American culture, participate in sports, student activities, volunteer in the local community, and most of all – become a lasting member of your family.
The importance of students in the schools works both ways not only for the exchange student but for the American students as well. Foreign exchange students experience the American culture (many of which are unique to the USA), and American students benefit from learning personally about the culture of another country. The student exchange program has often been described as an “enhanced learning experience with new friends.”
The ISE Longhorn Region (DFW and surrounding areas) already has students waiting for placement at local high schools for the next academic school year. For information on how to become a host family, please reach out to James Nunn, Area Representative for International Student Exchange at james@hostastudent.net.
