UWEC Host Family Program: Organization and Benefits

1
UWEC Host Family Program Organization and
Benefits

• Helaine K. MinkusAssoc. 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 students102 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, students 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 EducationResponsibilitie
s

• 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
  N125
• Interviews
• 11 Host families
• 30 International students

14
Survey of Midwestern Colleges and Universities

• Wisconsin Yes NoSmall 3 private 1
  privateMedium 6 public 1 public
• 1 private
• MichiganSmall 2 private 2 private
• Medium 1 publicLarge 1 public
  2 public

15

• IllinoisSmall 2 private 3 privateMedium
  1 public 1 private
• MinnesotaSmall 2 private 2
  privateMedium 1 public
• Large 1 public 18 Yes 15 No only
  UWEC has initial home stay

16
Questionnaire data

• Frequency of contactOnce or twice per
  week 23Once or twice per month 42Once or
  twice per semester 17Rarely 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