Bring the World to Your Community

The Laurasian Institution (TLI) has designed the Academic Year Program (AYP) to build greater cultural understanding between America and communities of Asia and Europe.

Exchange students live with a volunteer host family and attend an American high school for one academic year (August-May). At school, students attend classes with their American peers and participate in sports, clubs, and extracurricular activities after school. Many students also share their language and culture with American students by volunteering in the Chinese or Japanese language class if their host school offers classes in their native language. Students become a member of their host family and participate in a cultural exchange that builds lifelong friendships. Students are also encouraged to share their country’s culture and traditions with their host community by giving presentations and joining community events.

Hosting an exchange student is a wonderful opportunity to bring another culture into your home. Host families and exchange students are supported by Local Coordinators who serve as a valuable resource throughout the academic year. Exchange students attend an intensive orientation program prior to their arrival in their host community and have health insurance for the duration of the program. TLI also offers a 24-hour toll free emergency hotline for host families and students.

Host Families for Exchange Students

We are looking for Host Families to host high school exchange students from Asia for an academic year or semester. Host Families provide room, board and TLC.

As the Host Family, you are an integral part of helping exchange students achieve familiarity with life in the U.S. and develop a better understanding of American culture.

Host Families come in all shapes and sizes. Single parents, retirees, "empty nesters," young couples with small children, as well as more traditional two parent families with teenagers - all are currently sharing and enjoying the exchange experience.

What our Host Families have in common:

They are curious about other countries. They take pride in their own communities and would like to share what they value with others. They have open minds and generous hearts.

What does your commitment to being a host family mean in practical terms?

Host Families provide housing for the exchange students. All participants will be high school students between 15 and 18 years of age. Though exact arrangements will vary from family to family, here are some basic expectations:

A. Room and Board

Housing and three meals a day are to be provided for the duration of the commitment made to the program (one semester or academic year). The exchange student can be given a room of his or her own, or share a room with a host sibling of the same gender and similar age.

B. Companionship and Outings

Living in a foreign country can initially be a lonely and frightening experience. Spending quality time wuth the host family will help the student overcome homesickness and more quickly adapt to American life. A host family becomes a true second family to the student and they look forward to being included in family activities.

C. Transportation

All exchange students will need transportation between the Host Family's home and the host school.

D. Language

English must be the primary language spoken in the home.

E. Double Placement

An exchange student may be placed in a home hosting a second student of a different nationality.