Establishing an IEP Monthly Weekend Homestay

Abstract

Guidelines and materials used at Iowa Wesleyan College (IWC) to plan homestay weekends for foreign students are presented. The IWC program is designed to help international students develop English listening and speaking skills, have students experience American home life, and promote intercultural communication and understanding. The materials include: a program outline to inform prospective host families; an application form for American hosts; a contract between American hosts and the IWC department of English as a Second Language (ESL); a host family notification letter; guidelines for speaking with limited-English-proficient (LEP) students; information sent to hosts concerning general and course-specific topics for discussion; a form for use by students in evaluating their homestay experiences; program information for prospective students; a student notification form; a student homestay application; a student homestay contract; a finalizing letter to hosts; and an end-of-year followup letter to hosts. (MSE)