Be a host family to a high school exchange studentÑAcademic Year in America

Join thousands of families across the United States who want to make the dream of an international student come true, make special friends for life and bring more international understanding to our world.

AYA host families are special people who volunteer to host an international student for five or 10 months. They have a desire to share their culture and have the ability to provide a safe, comfortable and loving home for the international student.

Just as there is no typical American family, there is no typical host family. Retirees, single parents and young couples are all able to give an international student a good home. Some host families may not even have children of their own. Host families come from many walks of life and represent different generations. Host families come from all over the U.S. Some host families live in small towns, while others live in cities. Still others live in rural areas or on farms.

A host family is responsible for providing their student with a bed of his or her own, a place to study, breakfast and dinner, but their commitment to AYA and their new "son" or "daughter" goes well beyond that.

Here's what host families say about the experience.

The dream | how you can host