Host an International Student in Okotoks

There is a need for host families in Okotoks and area

MLI Homestay are welcoming a group of Japanese students who will be attending a program at Foothills Centennial Centre in Okotoks this summer.

Students will arrive on July 9th and depart on July 20th, 2017.

Each student will stay with one family in single placement to fully immerse into the Canadian family culture. We are looking for homes for students aged 16-17 years old. The students will be in classes from 9am to 4pm on week days.

Compensation is provided to families for hosting a student.

This is an amazing opportunity for students and host families alike. If you or someone you know is able to host, please contact me for more details at okotoks@mlihomestay.com or 403-710-4843.

Here are just some remarks from past host families in Okotoks and area:

“We hosted 2 Japanese girls from Japan for one week. It was our first time hosting international students and we enjoyed it thoroughly. We had a great experience with MLI Homestay. The girls were delightful and we enjoyed showing them our city, entertaining them and helping them learn English. Although their English speaking may have been basic, they seemed to understand the language and we were aided by Google Translator if we were stuck. They brought lovely gifts and cooked a fantastic Japanese meal for us with many ingredients that they brought from home as well as some local items that we purchased at the grocery store! It was great having 2 students as that was helpful in overcoming shyness, they could entertain themselves at times, and helped each other when stuck for English words!” – Elizabeth L.

“I loved our experience. I am so glad we had this opportunity, these students are awesome. As they learned about our culture, traditions and way of living, we learned about theirs. We made friends for life, they will always be a part of our family, since we keep in contact. Our home will stay open for the students we welcomed in the past and for the ones in the future.” – Jutta S.

“We thoroughly enjoyed our week with the student from Japan. It was an interesting challenge since her command of English was very basic but with a delightful combination of charades and Google translate, we did just fine. It was really fascinating learning cultural differences (and similarities), it was also a great exercise to come up with things to do that would give our visitor a lasting and favourable impression of Canadians.” – Christopher S.

Becoming a Host Family

Guests are looking forward to experiencing life in Canada and being welcomed into their home away from home. During their stay, host families are asked to provide:

A warm, caring environment
An English only (for ESL students) or French only (for FSL students) environment
A comfortable private bedroom (some groups will permit 2 students from the same program to stay in the same room if 2 beds are available)
3 nutritious meals a day and healthy snacks
Support and guidance for the student as they get used to the community
Access to a washroom and laundry facilities
An invitation to join in the family life and daily activities

Your family will be able to participate in an unforgettable experience by becoming a host family. You will be able to

“Travel” without leaving home! Learning about your guest’s culture, customs, language and foods.
Make a difference in the life of someone who will remember your kindness forever.
Create a network of friends and new “family members” across the world. Some of our favourite stories are of host families going to visit their guests in their home countries.
Teach your children about respect, empathy, and cultural understanding as they accept host brothers and sisters into their home and daily life

What is Homestay?

At MLI Homestay, we believe that international homestay experiences allow participants to emerge more knowledgeable and understanding about life abroad, and more confident of their own abilities and achievements.

Participants will have an experience that will be one of the most valuable in their lives and return home with memories that last a lifetime.

MLI Homestay has placed thousands of students with caring host families across Canada. We love working with international visitors and host families to create an unforgettable experience.