The International Student Program at the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board attracts students from places like China, Korea, Germany, and Brazil to study at the schools here in Laval. This presents new opportunities for families in our community to have a cultural experience right in their own homes.

The students’ primary goal is to improve their language skills (English and French), and what better way to do that than to share in the daily lives of a local family and learn about the culture through them?

Lee and Chantal Daniel are a host family in Laval, who are currently hosting three Korean students for two months. We asked them a few questions about their decision to host these students.

1) Why did you decide to become a host family?

We love to travel and felt this would be a great way for our children to experience other cultures without leaving the country. We also have some extra space in our home and thought it would be fun to try.

2) What do you enjoy the most about hosting these international students?

We like to meet new people, so we've enjoyed getting to know the students and their families. The students were shy at first but soon settled in. It’s a lot of fun seeing them develop their English and express themselves.

3) How have your children adapted to having new people in the house?

Our kids are very flexible and welcomed our house guests with open arms. They’ve had fun playing hide and seek together and trying to say a few things in Korean. We are sure our children will miss them a lot when they leave.

Elizabeth Thibault, ISP Officer at the SWLSB says, "we are receiving more and more applications from students who want to come and study here, and so we have a need now for more families that would like to enrich their lives with cultural exchanges like this. We have partnered with Canada Homestay International, in the recruitment of host families for our program."

Canada Homestay International is a professional independent Homestay management network that arranges the home stays for the students. Their careful matching process takes into account various preferences such as lifestyle, interests and hobbies of both parties, to ensure a successful match.

Host families are expected to provide a warm welcome to Canadian culture, and care for the student as a member of their own family. As a host, the family will enjoy gaining knowledge about different cultures, languages and people, and children in the home learn about leadership, empathy, and make a friend for life.

Hosts also provide a furnished room for the student, and three meals a day – in return for which they receive a monthly payment to offset these costs.

Canada Homestay International provides all the help and support you need before the student arrives and while the student is here.

If you are interested in becoming a host family, and would like to learn more about this opportunity, please call Shalini Dowlani at 514 907-0028 x. 2052, or visit the website and sign up as a host;

www.canadahomestayinternational.com/becomingahost.html

For more information about the International Student Program offered by the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board, contact Elizabeth Thibault at (450) 621-5600 ext. 1426 or visit; http;//www.swlauriersb.qc.ca/?page=isp