By on January 8th, 2016

4 Benefits of Traveling With a Group and Staying With a Host Family

If you’re an international student and you want to improve your English speaking and writing skills, as well as gain a first-hand understanding of university life in the United States, you can benefit a great deal from spending a few weeks, a semester, or a year studying in the States. You may find, though, that you get more out of your stay and have a more enjoyable time if you travel with a group of other students from your country and then stay with a host family.

Experience Safe, Comfortable Travel Arrangements

The first benefit of traveling with a group instead of on your own is that you’ll have people to fly with. Your group organizers will have everything taken care of for your itinerary and will know when, where, and how to get everyone where they need to be. You won’t have to worry about missing your flight or a connector, and you’ll have everything taken care of for getting to your destination, too.

Have a Family Experience in the US

Then, when you stay with a host family, you won’t be left alone to fend for yourself in a new country. At the same time, you won’t be living in a bubble of students from your own country who all speak your language. Instead, you’ll have a warm, welcoming place to live where you can comfortably practice speaking English and learning about different customs in America.

Enjoy Some “Time Off” With Other Students in Your Group

While you’ll want to immerse yourself in the English language and American culture as much as possible during your stay, you’ll also want to have some “time off” to relax and let yourself unwind. When you travel with a group of students from your country, you’ll likely have a lot of opportunities to hang out together, which will help fight homesickness and give you a chance to bond.

Form Lasting Friendships Around the World

Finally, when you stay with a host family, you’re likely going to make friends with them and their friends, too. By the time you leave, you’ll have lifetime friendships with people in the US, and you’ll be able to keep in touch with them and continue to practice English and learn new things for years to come.

At USH, we work with groups and individuals to place students with the right host families for their needs. To find out more, contact us today.