{"id":27786,"date":"2026-04-03T12:23:42","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T12:23:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/preprod.sts-education.com\/?page_id=27786"},"modified":"2026-05-04T10:20:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T08:20:51","slug":"why-you-should-be-a-host-family","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.sts-education.com\/en-nz\/host-family\/why-you-should-be-a-host-family\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Should Be A Host Family"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Why you should be a host family<\/h1>\n

Welcoming an exchange student from abroad doesn\u2019t just give you a new family member. You will also learn about a different culture, and see your town, way of life, and values through new eyes. By becoming a host parent or host family for 3-10 months to an international exchange student between the ages of 14\u201318, your family will gain not just a friend and an extra international sibling; you will also create lots of wonderful memories together. For the student, staying in your home country will involve lots of different daily adventures and as a host family, you will be a big part of the student\u2019s experience.<\/p>\n

For many families, it\u2019s also a wonderful opportunity to prepare for their child\u2019s upcoming year abroad, and you will also have the chance to take advantage of our Host & Go<\/a> discount. Enrich your daily life and open your home to one of our exchange students from all over the world!<\/p>\n

6 reasons why your family should be a host family<\/h2>\n
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  1. You want to get to know a young person from another country<\/li>\n
  2. You want to learn more about other cultures<\/li>\n
  3. You want to learn more about the world and gain a new perspective<\/li>\n
  4. You are interested in other languages<\/li>\n
  5. You want to know more about what a year abroad entails<\/li>\n
  6. You want to help and see how another person grows as an individual during their year abroad<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    In both fall and spring, new students come to New Zealand from the US, Norway, Japan, Germany, Sweden, Italy and more. Of course, as a host family, you get to choose which student to invite into your home, so take the chance to read more and get to know the students<\/a> to see if any of them might be a good fit for your family! You can also read our frequently asked questions<\/a> and about our previous host families\u2019 experiences<\/a> of their year with an exchange student at home.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n