OPEN YOUR HOME TO AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOLAR
Have you ever dreamed of traveling the world, meeting people from places you only see on the Travel Channel or read about in the news? Do you have the desire to impact the world by volunteering in your community?
Spring International Language Center at the University of Arkansas has an exciting opportunity for you to make a difference from the comfort of your own home. We need families to share their homes and their culture with students and scholars from around the world. Your contribution could help shape the mind and heart of an emerging world leader.
Can anyone host international students?
People often think they cannot host a student because they aren’t the stereotypical American family with a white picket fence. Don’t sell yourself short! Our host families are as diverse as our students: Some families are large with many children while others are single parents, retirees or individuals. Our hosts are also diverse in origin and ethnicity.
What does SILC seek in a host family?
- An Open Mind. Students come from a variety of countries with different cultures, religions and backgrounds.
- A spare bedroom.
- The ability to transport students to and from school.
- Time to spend talking with students and sharing cultures.
- The ability to provide breakfast and dinner each day.
- Families are compensated for their expenses.
Who are the students?
Students who attend SILC are both male and female and range in age from 18 to 60 years old. (Typically students who request host families are younger than 30 years old.)
Our students and scholars come from more than 40 different countries in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America.
Types of SILC Student Hosting:
- Weekend Homestays: Students from all over the world spend one weekend with an American family to experience American culture. (Students are typically International Ford Fellowship scholars)
- Three-week programs: Students stay with American families for three weekswhile they participate in a language and American culture immersion program. Students are usually from universities in Japan or Korea.
- Nine-Week (Full-term) Students: Full-term students attend SILC with intentions of completing multiple levels of the program. They come from all over the world and stay from 9 weeks to a little over a year.
Dates of Upcoming Host Family Opportunities:
Weekend Hosting Opportunities
Nine-week Opportunities
- Spring 1, 2010 — January 14 - March 19
- Spring 2, 2010 — March 29 - May 28
- Summer, 2010 — June 7 - August 6
- Fall 1, 2010 — August 23 - October 21
- Fall 2, 2010 — October 25 - December 22
Special One-Day Hosting Opportunity!
This is not an overnight opportunity, but rather a one-day program that Spring International has participated in for several years. We need families who are willing to share their Thanksgiving Day with one or two international students. For many international students, Thanksgiving break can be very lonely. The break is too short to do any real traveling or to go back home, and unfortunately for the students left behind, most campus services are closed at Thanksgiving. It means a lot to an international student on campus to feel like a part of a family for a day.
Please contact:
Jimmy Bowie
Student Services Coordinator
Spring International Language Center
University of Arkansas
300 Hotz Hall
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Office: (479) 575-7600
Fax: (479) 575-7673
E-mail: jbowie@uark.edu
