Preparation

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Host Family Guide →日本語
Table of contents
Introduction | Preparation | Homestay | About Ikata | Conversational Japanese

Contents 1 Preparing to host a visitor 1.1 Ground rules 1.1.1 Initial correspondence 2 The daily schedule 3 On language 4 Helpful materials

Preparing to host a visitor

Ground rules

Though the person you host is a "visitor," you need not treat him or her like a guest. There is no need to modify your home, buy additional furniture, or worry about pets. However, one important thing you can do beforehand to make the experience go smoothly is to learn a little about your visitor's country, as well as your own.

Another way to make you and your visitor more comfortable is to begin correspondence, by letters or email, before your visitor arrives. Knowing a little bit about your visitor before you meet for the first time goes a long way toward breaking the ice.

Remember, your visitor is a member of your family.

Initial correspondence

These are the kinds of things you should share with your visitor before they come.

Host family

• Members of the family: their ages, jobs, and hobbies
• The home: general layout and the visitor's private space
• Daily routine
• Language ability
• Pets: what kind and how many

Visitor

• Name, sex, age, nationality, birthday
• Job, hobbies
• Language ability
• Religion
• Food preferences (vegetarian?)
• Allergies

• If your visitor's birthday falls within the homestay period, throw him or her a party!

Have your visitor experience normal, daily life in America.

The daily schedule

• Don't let having a visitor get in the way of your life
• You needn't go out all the time; staying in is just as important an experience for your visitor
• Try to include your visitor when making plans
• Don't always bow to the wishes of your visitor. Sometimes the answer has to be "no;" in those cases, try to explain why.
• Cooking together is always a fun time
• When something urgent comes up, do your best to explain the situation to your visitor
• Don't dote on your visitor too much. He or she is probably at an age where part of the appeal of a homestay is independence and responsibility.

Don't try to cram too much into your schedule. Take it easy.

On language

You needn't start studying away trying to be fluent in your visitor's language, but there is a chance your visitor won't know much English. By learning some simple phrases in his or her language, like "thank you" and "hello," you can make your visitor feel more at home. The rest you can get across with gestures and by drawing pictures.

Also be sure to teach your visitor new English words. Your "lessons" will probably be far more memorable than any textbook.

• Be bold and don't hesitate to talk with your visitor regardless of his or her English ability
  • Spoken words are just a small part of communication
  • Try writing down what you want to say
  • Use pictures and drawings, gestures and acting
• If at first they don't understand, try, try again
  • Be as clear and direct as possible
  • Even if your visitor nods, don't assume he or she understood you perfectly
  • Always keep pen and paper at the ready

Helpful materials

You and your visitor might find these kinds of materials useful during the homestay.

• Pamphlets about Minnesota
• Maps of Minnesota and other areas
• Pamphlets about Red Wing
• Dictionaries

Host Family Guide →日本語
Table of contents
Introduction | Preparation | Homestay | About Ikata | Conversational Japanese