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Host families needed for exchange students
The Advocate
MHCC will have 10 students arriving late this month from Japan’s Ryukoku University, taking English classes and going on field trips while living with their American host families.
The Japanese exchange students will visit MHCC for the first time Jan. 28, 6:30 to 8 p.m., for student and host family orientation. After orientation, the Japanese students will return to Japan but will be back in America Feb. 20 to live with their American host families for three weeks.
Yoko Sato, a Japanese language instructor and the on-site director, counselor and home-stay coordinator at MHCC, said these Japanese students come to MHCC to better understand American culture and the English language.
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“They (the Japanese students) basically want to learn English. They have been learning English there (at Ryukoku University) but they want to see how much their English works; and they want to improve their English, experience American culture, talk to American people, exchange some ideas, (and experience) cultural exchange,” said Sato.
This year, because there are 10 Japanese students, 10 host families are needed, one for each foreign exchange student. In addition to host families, MHCC staff and faculty will also help make the Japanese students feel welcome in America.
“Ten families and a lot of Mt. Hood Community College staff and faculty are helping out; a lot of them (MHCC staff and faculty) are hosting students. It’s great,” said Sato. “Professor Doug McCarty is doing the planetarium show for the Ryukoku students March 5, at 1 p.m., this year. Bryan Anaclerio has invited the Ryukoku group to rock climbing.
According to Sato’s flyer, the criteria for host families to participate in the Ryukoku @ MHCC Winter Program is to provide a guest room and a private or shared bathroom, breakfast and dinner each day, and transportation, if needed, to get to their MHCC English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classes and field trips.
Host families will also need to “speak in English while the guest student is present,” and “more than one family member living in the household is preferred.” In addition for hosting the guest student, a “stipend” (a monetary amount) will be provided for financial support of the student.
The criterion for the visiting Japanese students is an interest in learning English as a second language and studying American culture.
“Most of their (the Japanese students) majors are intercultural communications. They come here and take English as a foreign language course. It’s a three-week course, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.,” said Sato.
Among the 10 students, six are female and four are male between the ages of 18 to 23. According to Sato, the Japanese students have many hobbies: two of the male students are athletes (one of them plays American football), one male student plays violin and guitar, and a female student plays cello.
The program has been on and off for many years but has been steady for four years. In Sato’s four-year experience with the program, generally female students are more common than male students.
However, this year there are more male students in the program than past experience.
“In the past, there (were) only a few boys; (being) 10 percent or less, sometimes 20 percent for male students. So this is very new that we have more male students,” said Sato.
Right now Sato can’t confirm exactly how many host families she has but is seeking two families for two male Japanese students. For anyone interested in being a host family, Sato can be reached at [email protected] or (503) 775-5615.
The Japanese students will be arriving for a welcome party at MHCC Feb. 20 at 10 a.m., and will stay in America until March 14 after their farewell party.
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