PeopleLink -- Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm not sure I know enough people to be able to recruit all the families I may need.: Not many of us do! Luckily the makeup of our culture lends itself towards cooperation with these types of cultural experiences. It is the person who can share his/her enthusiasm about the program with others and who can ask others for help who succeeds in recruiting.

Do I have to be able to speak the student's native language?: No. Our program is an English immersion program and we actually prefer Teacher Guides not speak the student's language in order to enhance their program.

Will I need a teaching credential?: Most PeopleLink classes are "conversational English" classes. This means that as long as you are a native speaker of English, some leadership experience (for example being a cub scout leader) and can speak clearly you will be able to teach conversational English.

What happens if I sign the contract and then can't find the host families or something happens and I can't complete the program?: As long as you communicate with your Field Coordinator on a regular basis you can ask to be released from the contract.

What are the requirements to become a Teacher Guide?: PeopleLink is always looking for individuals who 'have the heart' of cultural exchange, people who can understand the joy that beams from a child's eyes when they participate in a cultural exchange so unlike anything they have ever done or experienced in their native country.; PeopleLink is also looking for individuals who have two positive community references, who are 'family oriented people' who are responsible, patient, understanding, flexible and have a sense of humor.

We don't have an extra bedroom.: The students need a bed of their own, however, they can share a room with the same sex child from the family. Often the host children are so excited to have a new brother or sister that they will give up their bed and sleep in the family room for the few weeks the student is here. A family should not rule themselves out if they do not have an extra bed as one can usually be arranged.

Our home is not large enough.: The size of the host family home is unimportant to the student. Many students come from very modest homes.

We no longer have children in our home.: Many students delight in being an only child for a few weeks. One of the special aspects of a cultural exchange program is it works well with families of all types.

We are such a busy family!: Great! Busy families make the best families. The students are busy themselves Monday through Friday so the usual routine should not be greatly disturbed. The students like to see much of what is going on in this new culture and the busier the family is the more the student gets to see.

What if, once the student is here it just doesn't work out?: If there is a problem that can not be solved we will of course immediately move the student into another home.

Do families need to come from a particular culture, race, religion and/or economic level?: Absolutely not! One of the beauties of our culture is the diversity of the members. Many of the students own cultures are a bit more homogeneous and one of the first things they learn about when they visit North America is the multiple races, religions and economic levels that live in harmony on our continent. The only stipulation is that the family must agree to speak English while the student is in the home.