Homestay Craze: Worth the Money?

Homestay Craze: Worth the Money?

I am writing concerning the June 4 article titled The Homestay
Craze: Worth the Money? in The Jakarta Post. On behalf of the
Educational Advising Service of the American-Indonesian Exchange
Foundation, I would like to set the record straight by stating
the following:

* Homestay programs offer unique English language study and
improvement possibilities, new cultural and travel experiences
and the opportunity to develop new and lasting friendships.

* Before filing an application for a Homestay program, do some
research. Compare the program offerings: duration, cost,
requirements, location, host details, travel and excursion
options, etc. Find out if the Homestay organizations are a member
of the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel.

* Students who participate in homestay programs must keep in
mind that they are going to a foreign country to discover the
culture of the country and must be willing to adapt fully to the
lifestyles of their host family. In the United States there are
families of many different backgrounds, but all are equally
Americans.

* There are hundreds of educational institutions (colleges and
universities) in the U.S. and AMINEF can readily provide
accreditation information on them all.

* Educational institutions (colleges and universities) and
educational organizations (homestay programs, placement services,
etc.) should not be confused as the same.

ARDYTHE HUBER-FENWICK

AMINEF/Educational Advising

Service

Jakarta