STAFF at the Australian Institute of International Understanding are calling on families throughout the region to serve as hosts for the return of the non-profit\u2019s annual large-scale Japanese exchange student intake.<\/p>\n
AIIU will bring 42 students from Konan High School in Japan\u2019s Shizuoka prefecture to Ballarat for the first time since 2019 as part of the organisation\u2019s English language learning program.<\/p>\n
AIIU\u2019s national program manager Melissa Di Pasquale said the organisation is encouraging local families to open their homes to the international visitors.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe aim of the program is for the students to be immersed in the English language so their conversational English can improve,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cKonan do have a strong focus on their English program and it\u2019s more about the conversation side rather than written.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very lucky we have some great families that continue to support these programs but we\u2019re always looking for new families as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
The AIIU was established in 1987, and Konan High School students have been visiting Ballarat as part of the program for about 20 years, previously supported through Federation University.<\/p>\n
Following interview screenings, each family will be paired with a single student aged between 16 and 17 years old from Monday 24 July to Friday 14 August, with placements based on shared interests.<\/p>\n
Families will be paid $45 per night in supporting the students whose exchange will include English lessons at Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre as well as excursions to Sovereign Hill, Geelong and the Ballarat Wildlife Park.<\/p>\n
Ms Di Pasquale has hosted exchange students since 2012 and said there\u2019s a great cross-cultural benefit for everyone involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyone who\u2019s interested in learning about a different culture or learning a different language, we encourage them to contact us,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe students do become a part of the family and they become a friend for life as well. I still get texts and invitations from students that stayed five, 10 years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
To express interest in hosting a student, email AIIU\u2019s lead coordinator Jenny Harrison at jenny@aiiu.com.au.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
STAFF at the Australian Institute of International Understanding are calling on families throughout the region to serve as hosts for the return of the non-profit\u2019s annual large-scale Japanese exchange student intake. AIIU will bring 42 students from Konan High School in Japan\u2019s Shizuoka prefecture to Ballarat for the first time since 2019 as part of […]<\/p>\n