kobe-Monterey summer homestay program
All the details
How long will the students be with us?
Each summer the program dates vary slightly, but generally begin around the middle of July and run through early August.
In 2024, the students will stay with their host families for just over 2 weeks. They will arrive in Monterey on Sunday, July 21st and depart Monday, August 5th.
There will be an optional, but highly recommended, short orientation for host families approximately 2 weeks before the exchange students arrive. This will be beneficial for both new and returning host families. More date/time details to come.
What are my responsibilities as a host family?
Host families' responsibilities include: providing a separate bed and privacy for each hosted student (students may share a room), providing all meals (including packed lunches for school), providing transportation to and from Santa Catalina each day (carpooling with other host families is a great option, too), practicing conversational English with your host student(s), and treating the students as active participants in your family.
We hope that you will also take the opportunity to show your students around our unique and beautiful area!
A list of host families will be provided, so that all families may arrange carpooling, joint activities, etc.
what are the students' responsibilities?
Students' responsibilities are to attend school every day, practice their English speaking skills, be an active part of his/her host family, try new activities & foods, complete a short homework assignment each evening, and keep a daily journal.
Whatever the family does, the student should be included as much as possible (including religious services).
what is their daily schedule like?
Weekday (Monday - Friday) mornings, the students are dropped off at Santa Catalina School in Monterey between 8:30 and 9am. The Japanese exchange students and their chaperoning Japanese teachers then attend English classes for a few hours. After lunch on most afternoons, they then enjoy activities and field trips as a group. They are normally picked up by their host families at 5pm, unless it is an early dismissal day.
Evenings, weekends, and a few weekday afternoons during their stay, the students are free to spend time with their host families.
A detailed calendar will be provided to all host families in advance.
is there a stipend?
In exchange for fulfilling hosting responsibilities, the families are given a stipend of $1350 for one student or $2200 for two students. In addition to covering transportation and food costs, we hope that this stipend will allow your family to provide special experiences for your temporarily-expanded family - a movie, dinner out, amusement park, sporting event, day trip to San Francisco, or whatever else your family enjoys.
Students are fully insured.
Are there group activities that we can participate in with our students?
Yes, there is a welcome ceremony when the students first arrive, a graduation/farewell ceremony at the end of the program, and possibly one other prearranged group event such as a potluck or beach picnic (to be determined).
Families are also often welcome to join the students and teachers on their afternoon fieldtrips.
Are there support staff or people on call if anything happens to/with your student?
There are both American and Japanese contacts on-call at ALL TIMES. Contact details will be provided at the welcome ceremony if not before.
You can also always go to our Contact page for the Program Directors' contact information.
from Where in Japan do these students visit?
KOBE (and close surrounding areas)!
"Kobe, a beautiful port city in West Japan home to 1.5 million, lies just 20 minutes or so from Osaka and an hour’s flight from Tokyo. Synonymous with style, mountains and its seafront setting, it is perhaps most famous for its namesake beef and offers a wealth of attractions for all visitors..."
Learn more!
Japan Travel Destination - Kobe & Around
What high school do these students attenD?
Kobe Seijoh High School in Kobe, Japan. It's fun to peruse their site in Japanese (or translated into English.) They also have an Instagram page!
The Summer Homestay Program is even featured! Click here!
Ready to have the summer of a lifetime?
It's easy! Apply to be a host family on our Application page!
