The Homestay Component of Study Abroad: Three Perspectives

Abstract: Although the “homestay” has long been considered a key factor in the study abroad experience, it is one of the least examined components of foreign study. In an effort to explore this issue from various perspectives, this study targeted several programs in Spain and Mexico with interviews of host families, students, and housing directors. Each group's perspective on key issues such as adjustment, common problems, and the “homestay advantage” was probed via on‐site interviews and questionnaires. Results showed that the majority of the information reported by one group was normally corroborated by the other two, and all groups felt the homestay enhanced the study abroad experience.