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.
Authentic Language Immersion with Family Stay Programs
Share 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
- An understanding of the local culture
- A greater awareness of different perspectives
- A sense of increased independence, self-sufficiency, and cultural competence
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 volunteers and not financially motivated. Most families do receive a small stipend to offset the costs of meals.
- Students share meals and family routines in the target language
- Families and students explore differences and similarities in culture and tradition
Our Programs
Argentina en mi Corazón
Aventuras Andinas
Mi Querido Ecuador
Me Encanta Costa Rica
¡Hola Arenal!
Aventuras Ticas
Bonjour Paris
La Provence, c'est Magnifique
Guten Tag, München!
¡Descubramos Andalucía!
Hola Madrid
Aventura Andaluza
Es Lebe Berlin
Custom Programs
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 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
Experiential Learning
Fully Supported Programs
Real-World Immersion
Hear From Other Teachers and Students
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!
The first day, I immediately went up in a restaurant and ordered my food in full German. That confidence and encouragement from the restaurant staff set me up to feel confident in my skills and I was extremely proud of myself! Be open to new experiences. It’s a whole new culture and way of life, so if you seclude yourself from really cool opportunities, you won’t get as much out of everything!
Immersing students in the language and culture are keys to a successful trip overseas with students, and I can always count on our in-country Xperitas guides to communicate exclusively in the target language with our students while showing them a new culture.
It was really amazing. I got to hang out with my friends and classmates while touring Berlin and then I got to experience German life with my host family. Spending time with my classmates from America in the German school also made it more fun, since I could still hangout with friends and make new ones in a different language. I saw beautiful sights and ate wonderful food and got to see a sliver of German life and a little bit of the world too.
Plan Your Program with Confidence
Xperitas supports teachers at every stage, with a dedicated program manager, trusted local partners abroad, and 24/7 emergency support throughout the program.