1. Sites for Learning: Families, Communities, Cities Learning from Hosts Jesse DeLaughter jesse@ihp.edu Alison Swartz aliswartz@gmail.com aliswartz@gmail.com

2. Study Rationale Homestays are central component of many study abroad programs Students report that homestays are a major part of their learning We do not know enough about what students are learning from hosts and vice versa Homestay hosts are an important resource for academic and cultural learning and feedback about our programs and students

3. Study Objectives 1. Learn more about host family expectations and experiences 2. Explore impacts of hosting students on individuals and communities 3.Inquire into the nature of relationships between hosts and students and identify the types of learning that do and do not occur in homestays 4. Strengthen IHP programs by identifying possible ways to integrate homestays into the learning objectives of each program

4. IHP Health and Community Two programs in spring semester  Switzerland, India, China and South Africa  DC, South Africa, Vietnam, Brazil Approx. 35 students on each Homestays from one to three weeks

5. Description of Research Sites Country and CityUrban/Rural Hosts Class/ Occupation Brazil, Sao PauloUrbanMiddle/upper middle India, BangaloreUrbanMiddle/upper middle China, ChangshaUrbanMiddle/upper Vietnam, HanoiUrbanMiddle/upper South Africa, Zwelethemba Peri-urbanLower/high unemployment South Africa, Bushbuckridge RuralLower/ subsistence farmers South Africa, Bo KaapUrbanMiddle/lower/hosting students as a business

6. Methodology We used a variety of methods in 7 different sites With Hosts: – mixed quantitative and qualitative surveys (India, China, Vietnam and Brazil) – in-depth interviews (South Africa and India) – participant observation in 3 different places in South Africa (Bushbuckridge, Zwelethemba and Bo Kaap) With Students: – questionnaires about their expectations and experiences – discussion sessions – ongoing engagement with students by faculty members and fellows

7. Why do families choose to host? Cultural exchange / learning something new “Communication between the two countries” Sharing things about own country Opportunity for self and children to practice English Connection to coordinating team Learning with the students Financial reasons

8. What did hosts learn from students? Hosts learned more about students’ families and lives rather than about what it means to them to live in America Students spoke about differences in religion, food and ways families interact Students spoke about/ asked questions related to their studies Hosting challenged stereotyped ideas about Americans Hosts gained new perspective on their surroundings through the eyes of students

9. How does hosting impact the way hosts see the places where they live? “… many of us tend to see São Paulo as an unattractive and dangerous city in an “underdeveloped" country. It was great seeing the pictures the girls took in São Paulo and the beauty we fail to notice in our everyday lives but which they managed to find. On the other hand, as they had to use public transportation, it was also embarrassing to notice how bad it is and that we, citizens from São Paulo, as well as the public agents do not care enough about it and do not demand better public transportation for all.”

10. What is the impact on host communities? Impact of students’ presence extended into the wider community Group meals were very important Few found students only interacted with the host family Financial impact

11. What did students learn from homestays? More similar to life at home than they would have thought (though some looked more at differences) Being away from their own families made them appreciate them more Increased awareness/ sensitivity about the ways they think/speak about difference Value of really listening to what others say, even if they may not agree Learned a lot about themselves through negotiating some challenging situations

12. What did hosts think students learned? Language, religion and food Cooking of traditional foods, and talk of importance of various ritual practices/ daily ways of life Info about local health systems and practices Students learned more about hosts’ culture than vice versa

13. What were some barriers to learning? Location, duration of stay and point during the program Language “Business” of hosting First-time hosts being unable to voice difficulties / questions Sometimes hosts or students feel uncomfortable asking personal questions

14. Some Conclusions Very positive experiences of homestays with few exceptions Sharing of personal stories and anecdotes about family and personal interests/ likes/ dislikes Religion and food appeared to play an important role Many factors impacted students’ and hosts’ experiences of homestays Hosts generally open to students’ questions about personal topics related to the academic theme, but the amount students asked varied

15. Possible ways to promote learning Develop assignments that encourage or require students to use their hosts as resources for learning (surveys, interviews, etc.) Invite hosts to participate in site visits, serve as guest lecturers, etc. Encourage dialogue between hosts and students about academics and culture Reach out to hosts and obtain their input on the program- “What do you think is important for students to learn about your country/city/community?”

16. For Discussion How can homestays be more actively incorporated into the academic components of study abroad programs? Ethical issues with student research centered on homestay families? What have you learned from homestay hosts? How is it possible to collect representative information about hosts’ and students’ experiences? (What are the challenges of collecting information via survey, interviews, participant observaction…?