The financial benefits to becoming a homestay host are somewhat obvious. However there are a whole range of other tangible reasons as to why hosting foreign students is a win all around.
To illustrate, we’ll hear from Lingoo host family the Alberts, who have warmly welcomed language students into their home and shared their experiences with us.
Why Become a Host Family – Besides the Earning Potential?
1. Hosting Brings the World to Your Doorstep
Of course, many people would love the ability to travel when they pleased. But the reality for most families is that with commitments such as schooling and work, it’s just not always feasible.
And so one of the most significant benefits of being a host family is that you are able to have completely new and unique experiences without even stepping out of your front door.
“Each student we've hosted has brought a unique perspective and vibrant culture into our home. These moments reminded us of the beauty of diversity and encouraged us to embrace different perspectives in our everyday lives.”
Becoming a host family for foreign students means the whole family gets the special opportunity to embrace new cultures and perspectives, right there in the home.
2. Host Families Build Meaningful Connections
Unless we travel often ourselves, many of our social circles are naturally formed from people we live near, work with and go to school with. But through being a host family you can quite literally make friends all over the globe.
“The connections we’ve formed through hosting have been remarkable. We’ve stayed in touch with all our students and their families, exchanging updates, holiday wishes, and even plans to visit one another in the future.”
Many families also find the shared experience of hosting strengthens their family bonds too.
“Hosting language students has enriched our family dynamics in wonderful ways. It has created opportunities for us to work as a team, ensuring every student feels at home.”
3. Hosting Improves Your Communication Skills
When you have someone staying with you who doesn’t share the same first language, you instinctively become more intentional with your words and phrases.
And so it is also a common experience that becoming a host family for foreign students sharpens communication skills not only with others but with one another.
“Mealtimes are especially memorable, as they often turn into cultural exchanges where we share recipes, stories, and laughter. These experiences have brought us closer together as a family and given our children a more global perspective, teaching them tolerance, curiosity, and the value of human connection.”
It also makes language learning a fun family activity. And has a real world way of demonstrating first hand, to children in particular, how useful and impactful learning another language can be.
4. Exposure to New Ideas and Interests
Another reason to become a host family is to discover new interests and hobbies that you may have never even heard of before. Having cultural exchanges that broaden your horizons actually come to you can feel like such a privilege.
But the beauty of it is that it works both ways as you get to share your interests with your guest, enriching everyone’s world view – right there in the home.
Read Next: What Makes a Good Language Homestay Host?
5. Promoting Tolerance and Understanding
Once you get to know people on an individual level during a homestay, oftentimes things you assumed about a particular culture are challenged. So it is frequently the case that one of the most impactful benefits of being a host family is that it breaks down stereotypes.
“Our children, in particular, have gained confidence in communicating with people from diverse backgrounds, a skill that will serve them well in life.”
The experience fosters empathy and understanding within and outside of family. That then translates into kinder and more meaningful interactions with school friends and work colleagues.
6. Being a Homestay Host Enriches Your Community
Even if you live in a multicultural area, and especially if you don’t, the opportunity to have truly meaningful exchanges with people from different cultures can be a rarity.
“The impact of being a homestay host extends beyond our home. The students' presence sparks curiosity and fosters cross-cultural understanding within our community. Whether it’s introducing them to local businesses, such as markets or cafes, or taking them to community events, these interactions help bridge cultural gaps and showcase the warmth of our town.”
The opportunity to learn about and connect with other cultures can also inspire your neighbours who may have never previously heard of or considered hosting before to participate.
Why Becoming a Lingoo Host Family is a Unique Opportunity
There is currently a rising demand for English language hosts in particular. But why become a host family with Lingoo? Maybe we should let one of our host families tell you?
“We are incredibly grateful to Lingoo for giving us the opportunity to both teach and learn from these incredible students. The platform has made it easy for us to connect with bright, curious individuals from around the world, and we can’t wait to host our next students this year. Each experience reminds us of the power of cultural exchange to foster understanding, respect, and lasting friendships.”
Our platform has a vast network of language students, an excellent track record of supporting both host families and students and allows you to take a totally flexible approach.
Start Your Lingoo Adventure Today!
To get started on your hosting journey, you’re only a couple of clicks away. Simply sign up here for free, verify your email and get started on setting your profile up right away.
If you need any further advice, just get in touch; we’re more than happy to help!
Special thanks to the Alberts Family for contributing their time and words to this blog post.