HOMESTAY PROGRAM
Vital Vistas offers student visitors to the U.S. the unique opportunity to experience American life and culture from the inside out.
You will live with an American family to develop the kind of true mutual understanding and appreciation that can only come from daily interactions and communication.
You can build lifelong personal relationships in this ever-shrinking world, and who knows what benefits could result from that!
OUR HOST FAMILIES AND STAFF
Our host families are carefully selected for their enthusiastic support of the program and their attention to the international travelers in their care.
They recognize that it is their privilege and responsibility to be the prime representative to you of the American culture, people and of Vital Vistas’ quality programs.
Your host family is open-minded and enjoys learning about other cultures, typically opening their homes to program participants year after year.
Your host family will provide you with your room and board , 3 meals a day, and contact with Vital Vistas’ staff for ongoing support. The families look forward to welcoming you to their homes and providing a safe and nurturing cultural immersion experience.
Our teachers and guides are specially chosen for their patience, responsibility, experience and their excitement about sharing learnings and understandings.
They are well-trained, caring and always available to help the students with whatever is necessary to make their experience a wonderfully memorable one.
THE PROGRAM
Our educational program is usually 2 to 4 weeks for group homestays. This program is ideal for students as young as 14 years of age through the college years. Vital Vistas arranges a full schedule of activities for students which may include for example:
Ø3-hour language class per day focusing on improving students' conversational skills as well as better communicating with host families; Classes will also touch American holidays, customs, fashion, youth culture, family values, and etc.
ØOff-campus excursions, such as San Francisco, Monterrey and its aquarium, the heart of Silicon Valley, the Gold Country and an Old West town, etc.
ØAfter-class activities such as campus tour, museum visits, group meeting with local students, visit to local high school, movies, sports, arts and crafts, a talent show and more.
ØWeekends are generally free time to spend with host families.
Students arrive with spending money for gifts and entertainment. The students are generally very considerate and appreciative of their situation here and participate as much as possible in host family activities.
STUDENT
Chinese students are selected by Vital Vistas' representatives in China according to academic ability, English language skill, adaptability and maturity.
Vital Vistas ask the students to:
Øcommunicate openly with you
Øparticipate in your family activities
Øask host family before doing something unfamiliar
Øobey the rules laid out in Homestay Program Student Handbook ( download )
Øbe respectful of host family
Ønot to damage host family property or goods
