The Heart of Homestay
Creating Meaningful Connections When Hosting International Students
Bring the world to your family.
Every year, thousands of students travel abroad for immersive educational experiences. Helping them to get the most of their overseas adventure are the homestay families who open their hearts and homes. But beyond the usual tips, what does it take to be a successful homestay family?
In The Heart of Homestay, Jennifer Robin Wilson draws on her decades of personal and professional experience with homestay, combined with original research, to provide an honest portrayal of the experience. She takes you on the journey of hosting, from arrival through departure, providing dozens of examples of folks who embrace their work as hosts. From first impressions and settling in, to navigating cultural differences with compassion, to communicating through language barriers, Wilson shows you how to enhance your experience. When you embark on this journey of intercultural exchange, this book will help you find a way to nurture the seed of discovery between you and your students, and watch it grow into something beautiful.
Reviews
“This book gave me hope for a better world—one built on curiosity, kindness, and respect for human diversity and dignity.”
“Jennifer Robin Wilson’s understanding of cross-cultural competency is nuanced and deep, making this a great guide for how to live and work with anyone.”
“Connections between communities and countries are built through people-to-people exchanges across kitchen tables, not by politicians. When we listen to different cultures, histories, and points of view, we create the ties that build coherence and tolerance in communities to tackle the most critical challenges. This book is a road map to a better future.”
$24.95 CAD • $19.95 USD
Published February 18, 2025
paperback, ebook, audiobook