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High School Homestay Programs Abroad

If you get embarrassed of your parents in public or feel that you’re ready to move out of the house, a homestay will be a great remedy (without creating dramatic stand-offs or running away from home). When you come back, your Dad’s jokes and your Mom’s “mom-jeans” will seem mild compared to the quirky family traits you witnessed abroad, and you’ll gain enough maturity to laugh politely at them. That’s not to mention the independence, global perspective, cultural knowledge, language skills, and really spiffy transcript you will have gained, too. Ready to experience hospitality like never before in a homestay abroad?

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243 Homestays Programs for High School Students

Arcos Journeys Abroad
9.783 reviews

Arcos Journeys Abroad

Spanish Language & Mexican Culture

Travel to the enchanting colonial city of Oaxaca, Mexico for an u...

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AFS-USA
8.710 reviews

AFS-USA

AFS Intercultural Programs: High School Abroad in France

Develop fluency in the French language and culture by living with...

See All 39 Programs
CIEE High School Abroad
9.229 reviews

CIEE High School Abroad

CIEE High School Semester/Year Abroad in Spain

Grow your Spanish language skills by studying and living in Spain...

See All 40 Programs
Travel For Teens
103 reviews

Travel For Teens

Travel For Teens: Peru Service

Peru Service is one of our most spectacular trips for teens finis...

GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization
9.333 reviews

GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization

Costa Rica - Teaching and Social Work in San Jose

Make a positive impact by assisting disadvantaged communities in ...

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MAXIMO NIVEL
00 reviews

MAXIMO NIVEL

Summer Camp in Costa Rica - Spanish Camp!

Develop your Spanish skills in Costa Rica with the Maximo Nivel S...

Greenheart Travel
9.2512 reviews

Greenheart Travel

Teen Summer Language Camp in Japan

Learn and improve your Japanese skills through full language and ...

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Seville Abroad
9.7431 reviews

Seville Abroad

High School Program in Spain with Seville Abroad

Spend time in Spain and get ready for an experience you won’t for...

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LanguBridge Education Centre
9.65 reviews

LanguBridge Education Centre

Summer Korean Immersion Program at Seoul

The Seoul summer program of LanguBridge provides students an unfo...

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Global Works - Travel with Purpose
9.710 reviews

Global Works - Travel with Purpose

Costa Rica: Summer Service Adventures

Global Works specializes in service trips and educational experie...

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Study Abroad Campus Education
92 reviews

Study Abroad Campus Education

High School Cultural Experience in France

BONJOUR France, experience living with an amazing family while at...

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Go Abroad China Ltd.
9.5737 reviews

Go Abroad China Ltd.

GAC Chinese Language Immersion Program

Go Abroad China (GAC) offers a world-class Chinese Language Progr...

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Rustic Pathways
9.8937 reviews

Rustic Pathways

Thailand Adventures and Service with Rustic Pathways

Play games with Asian elephants, snorkel in crystal blue waters, ...

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LITA
9.6913 reviews

LITA

LITA: A Unique Approach to Language Immersion in Spain

LITA is a full immersion program that offers high school students...

Putney Student Travel
8.717 reviews

Putney Student Travel

Ecuador & the Galápagos: Service & Spanish Immersion

On this Putney Student Travel program for students completing gra...

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Latest Program Reviews

Awesome Adventure with OGVO!

March 25, 2025by: Luke Brunton - United KingdomProgram: OGVO High School Trip Program in Ghana
10

OGVO did an incredible job planning the itinerary. It provided us with a very unique opportunity. We were able to see virtually every aspect of this beautiful country. Thanks so much for everything and all OGVO staff that made it possible for this memorable experience in Ghana. We would DEFINITELY recommend this program to other student group!!!

A Guide to Homestay Programs Abroad

Why Live in a Homestay Abroad

If you are considering a high school program abroad, make the most of your educational experience by living with a homestay family. Not only will you have someone to help you make the transition into a foreign country, but you will see the genuine beauty of the country and people, which will make the world seem much more inviting.

First, consider the depth of cultural immersion you will dive into. You’ll meet locals, taste home-cooked meals, and have an authentic experience of your new home country; tag along to exclusive events, automatically belong to a social circle, and have a personalized tour guide to all of the best off-the-radar nooks. From a practical stand point, there are minimal costs. Normally, staying with host families is much cheaper than fending for yourself in your own apartment, especially if the arrangement includes meals, laundry facilities, weekly cleaning, and potential weekend excursions.

If your goal is to learn a new language, staying in a homestay will get you from hello to hola in less time that it would take you to flip through that Spanish textbook. While classes and language schools provide great foundations, the best way to learn a language is to practice, practicar, pratiquer. You’ll adapt the intonation, learn local expressions, and have very patient teachers available around the clock in your homestay abroad. Plus, what better way to bond with your homestay family than by accidentally remarking that their newborn is la poubelle or by mining out the expression for curfew?

Coming back from a homestay abroad, you will be open to different perspectives, learn new practical skills, and have experience adjusting to foreign living situations. Not only will you be appreciate your room back home, but you will have no problem moving out for good and trying to settle down on that college campus. After partaking in weekend gardening sessions and picking up local recipes with your host mom, moving into a dorm and figuring out the setting on the laundry machine will not come with the same degree of homesickness afflicting your roomies.

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