French Exchange Students Need Host Families

Would you consider opening your home to a French foreign exchange student?

Two local women, Laurie Inglese and Leslie Caulfield, are looking for local families to host students from April 22 to May 2, 2012 for a "short immersion" program, or from July 8 to August 2 for a longer immersion program.

This is a great opportunity for your family to learn more about French culture while you show a French teenager what it is like to be American.

The commitment is modest: provide breakfasts and dinners, rides to local pick-up and drop-off points, a place to sleep and a desire to learn more about a foreign culture.

Many Millburn-Short Hills families have been involved in the program over the past several years and have found it to be gratifying and fun, said Inglese.

The French students all attend high school in the town of Hyeres, a town on the Riviera between Nice and Marseilles. Last year's group was serendipitously featured on an NBC news program looking for new characters for "Glee" (see photo).

The students are all proficient in English, have their itineraries planned in advance and are chaperoned on all their tours.  During the time the students are not on group tours, they are free to spend time with you as you and your family would spend it; going to or participating in sporting events, seeing the local attractions and/or participating in religious activities. They are here to absorb as much American culture as they can, and one of the best ways they can do that is through experiencing life with an American family.

Once you agree to host a student, you and the local coordinator will talk about the attributes you would like in your student guest.  Students and hosts will be appropriately matched, and you will be provided with a profile and photos of the student. You can then email, Facebook or skype with your student so that you are familiar with each other in April.

If you are interested in hosting a French student, please call Laurie Inglese at 973-868-9022 or Leslie Caulfield at 973-376-4016 for more information.