The Family Stay Experience®

 

The Family Stay Experience®

 

The Family Stay Experience® focuses on authentic language and cultural immersion. It is the cornerstone of our language immersion programs. For over 50 years, our participants have increased their language skills and cultural awareness through this unique immersion program.

Authentic Language Immersion

Within culture, community & family

At Xperitas, we work with teachers to provide their students with outstanding language and cultural immersion experiences. We believe that when students have an authentic experience outside of the classroom, using their language skills in a different culture, they make a deeper cultural connection. Our programs are designed to inspire students to make personal connections with communities worldwide and gain greater cultural awareness. Benefits reported to us by teachers, parents and the students themselves are as follows: 

  • A better understanding of language and the nuance of dialect 
  • An understanding of language within the context of the culture 
  • A greater awareness of different perspectives  
  • A sense of increased independence, self-sufficiency, and cultural competence 
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Because language is the primary vehicle for expressing cultural perspectives and participating in social practices, the study of a language provides opportunities for students to develop insights in a culture that are available in no other way.

Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century

Host Family with Student
Host Family with Student
Student with Host Family

How are Host Families chosen?

Since 1972, we have carefully selected families who volunteer to share their home, language, and culture with our student travelers. Students live with a local host family while abroad on their language immersion program, creating an authentic language and cultural immersion experience, unmatched by other cross-cultural programs. No Family Stay Experience is “typical”; every one is as unique as the families that host.

  • Families are volunteer, not a paid service
  • Students share meals and family routines in the target language
  • Families and students explore differences and similarities in culture and tradition

These connections can last a lifetime! Many students and host families stay in touch for years afterward.

The success of our Family Stay Experience® is due to our network of of dedicated Family Stay Coordinators around the world, who work tirelessly to ensure a safe and enjoyable hosting experience.

  • Xperitas Family Stay Coordinators are local to the host communities
  • Recruit and screen families in their own networks and match them to Xperitas participants
  • Are on call 24/7 during the program to address any issues that arise
Student with host family

Family Cultural Immersion

Full Cultural Immersion Makes a Difference!

Learn how spending time with a family, speaking their language, and participating in their customs can accelerate language learning.

Ask Our Alumni Travelers

Quality

The partners in Costa Rica are fabulous! Everything was well-organized, and kids were always engaged. Our guide, Jimmy, truly is an educator and ambassador of his country. All of the students and leaders really enjoyed his personality, love of his country and knowledge. The Family Stay Experience was also very wonderful!

Jennifer E, Costa Rica Program
Spanish Teacher
Sharing

I hope we can get back to filling our lives and our student’s lives with beautiful meaningful immersive experiences again soon! Yes, culture shock is such a great thing.

Beth L, Germany Program
German Teacher
Lifelong Value

Know that your child will grow in so many ways from this experience. The program has just the right amount of structure and freedom for the kids to explore in a safe and enjoyable manner. The family stay, while intimidating at first glance, is a unique and amazing opportunity for the kids to really experience the culture that they are being immersed in.

Karen J, Spain Program
Spanish Parent
Direction

I think it was a confidence booster and the experience was so awesome for her and I know we will be lifelong friends with her host family. She already misses Germany and wants to look into studying abroad there or somewhere else and I know doing this program helped her make that decision. She is really looking forward to her senior year taking another year of German and possibly learning another language in college.

Julie B, Germany Program
German Parent