How do you build a successful relationship with homestay students? You ask the experts. In this episode, we chat with Jennifer Wilson, the Managing Director of the Canada Homestay Network. As a second-generation leader of the Canada Homestay Network, Jennifer is passionate about creating opportunities for building relationships, and believes that homestay offers a unique opportunity for all of us to break down cultural barriers and make the world a smaller place.

In part one of this two-part interview, we learn about this non-profit society, discuss common issues hosts go through, and how the process for matching students with hosts works.

We learned a lot during this conversation and we hope you do too! So grab something to take notes with and maybe a good cuppa tea or coffee and let's settle in with Jennifer Wilson.

Jennifer Wilson is the Managing Director for the Canada Homestay Network. After retiring from practice as a Registered Midwife in 2005, Jennifer joined the family business. She holds an MBA with a specialization in Leadership and is always looking for new opportunities to learn and grow. As a second-generation leader of CHN, Jennifer is passionate about creating opportunities for building relationships, and believes that homestay offers a unique opportunity for all of us to break down cultural barriers and make the world a smaller place.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Jennifer tells us how the Canada Homestay Network, a family organization, began.
• How the Canada Homestay Network differs from a homestay coordinator at a school.
• Jennifer speaks about their organizational values and why the Canada Homestay Network is a non-profit society.
• The qualities Jennifer looks for in host families.
• Jennifer touches on some great values and reasons to host.
• We chat about how to support host families.
  #pleasecall #askforsupport
• Jennifer dishes on some common issues homestay families face.
• Jennifer’s tips to bond with your new student.
• Side note: Jennifer shares her own experience travelling
  #comfortfood
• Jennifer’s tips for homestay hosts at the beginning.
• We discuss emergency procedures… they are important to go over.
• Curfews, homework help and a social life.
• Managing academic issues when you’re not the parent.
• Jennifer drills down on what it means to be a custodian, guardian and/or a parent. What are the responsibilities?
  #nosurprises
• Jennifer reveals some of the reasons why a student may no longer be suitable for homestay.
• What is homestay about?
• Jennifer talks about relocation rates with homestay.
• We talk about the student and host matching process.
• Jennifer shares her perspective on some of the challenges that they face as an organization.
• Jennifer opens up about the variables at play when students need to relocate homestay families.

Links:

The Canada Homestay Network

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