The Chicago HOST, Homestay Opportunities for Student Travelers

The Chicago HOST offers a unique opportunity to experience a cultural exchange without a long term commitment. Our program currently works with several schools from Marseille, Toulouse and Paris, France. The students are participating in a “Linguistic Voyage” or a Language Vacation. They travel with their English teacher from France and stay with families along the western train line.

During the weekday, while the American families are at work or school, the students go on excursions, tours and activities with the Chicago Coordinator and their Chaperones. Most activities will be in Chicago and the method of transportation is usually the Metra western train.

The evenings and weekend are reserved for family time. This is an important time for the students as they will mostly communicate in English and have an opportunity to expand their classroom skills to a more conversational use of the English Language. 

During the summer we sometimes offer a two-way, four-week exchange allowing American students to experience France firsthand.  Here’s how it works: Your family hosts a French student for two weeks in your Chicago-area home and then your son or daughter travels to France with your student (and TCH Chaperone) to stay with their family for two weeks. 

The Chicago HOST is a locally based nonprofit exchange program specializing in homestays and cultural exchanges for high school students both in France and in the Chicago western suburbs.