Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Michelle McCann & Rebecca Oudman: Canadian Homestay Network
Topic: Canadian Homestay Network Hosting Programs
The Canada Homestay Network specializes in providing
top-quality homestay experiences to four types of international students.
Groups
•Teenaged students ages 14–17 and teachers / chaperones ages 30–40
•Program commitment usually 2–4 weeks, occasionally 2–3 months
•Typically June and July
•Students from China, Colombia, Japan and Spain
•Great program for new hosts and hosts interested in a "tour
guide" role
CHN groups, just like their students, come from all over the
world. Groups are often high-school age, but can also be adults or working
professionals. They may be placed in homes as singles, pairs, or sometimes even
triples. The daily remuneration varies with every group, depending on several
factors.
The common theme among all of their groups is that they are short in duration (most range from two to four weeks, though some last several months). While most students attend school or another organized program every weekday, the focus is on the homestay experience and integration into Canadian culture rather than on academics.
Hosting a group is a fantastic start for a new host, or if your schedule or lifestyle is not conducive to a long-term student. It's a fun way to get to know your own community again, as you often get to play "tourist" with your student(s).
Speaker Bios:
Michelle
McCann
Michelle joined the CHN team as Interviewer & Relationship Manager Support in March of 2017. She lives in Lethbridge, Alberta near her family and friends and is actively involved in her community both professionally and socially. Michelle is a compassionate and dedicated individual who has enjoyed a successful career in event coordinating, media marketing, staffing & recruitment, and most recently, volunteer coordinating and life coaching.
Michelle has played an active role in hosting homestay students and looks forward to contributing to the success of CHN as an insider!
Rebecca Oudman
Rebecca joined the CHN team in 2018 as a Relationship Manager in Lethbridge, Alberta. Prior to working with CHN Rebecca worked in community development in Guatemala, where she directed an education program for underprivileged youth and children. She enjoys learning about different cultures and baking in her spare time.