Hosting Motivation and
Satisfaction Study:
Feedback from 2006-07 Long-Term
Exchange Students, Host Families, and Host School
Conducted by surveying a random selection of participants from exchange programs
applying for CSIET listing in 2006-07
Prepared by:
JaeIn Lee
Membership and Outreach Director
Council on Standards for International Educational Travel –
www.csiet.org
Copyright © 2007
1
CSIET Hosting Motivation and Satisfaction Study – 2007
Overview
In the fall of each year, CSIET begins a new evaluation cycle to review youth exchange programs to
determine their compliance with all nine CSIET Standards. Along with a program application and
accompanying materials, the CSIET Evaluation program surveys a random selection of current
exchange students, their host families and host schools.
This year, almost 7,000 questionnaires were distributed to participants on either long-term (academic
year or semester) or short-term (less than a semester) exchange programs. This study focuses on the
long-term program participants in-bound to the United States.
The sample size of approximately 2,200 exchange students from among 28,000 total exchange students
is roughly 8% of the number of students participating in youth exchange to the United States in the
2006-07 program cycle.
CSIET continues to maintain an exceptionally high overall survey response rate of 40%. The
following numbers provide more detail on each sample group:
• Host Family Questionnaires – CSIET mailed out 2,103 questionnaires to U.S. families hosting
exchange students; 948 were returned with a strong response rate of 45%.
• Exchange Student Questionnaires – CSIET mailed out 2,242 questionnaires to exchange
students; 869 were returned with a response rate of 39%.
• High School Questionnaires – CSIET mailed out 2,108 questionnaires to U.S. schools hosting
exchange students; 563 were returned with a response rate of 27%.
In preparing this study, CSIET staff scored the “hosting motivations” and “satisfaction” sections of
2,380 returned surveys. Overall, participant feedback regarding the general program satisfaction was
overwhelmingly positive, generally highest among the actual exchange students themselves.
I. Host Families
With the most robust response rate among the three sample groups, host families were again willing to
share extensive perspective on their program participation. This year, two open-ended questions were
added to the host family questionnaire asking, “Why did your family decided to host?” and “What the
benefits of hosting for your family?” The vast majority responded that their experiences were positive,
with lengthy responses illustrating their excitement.
How did you hear about the program?
A variety of responses were offered on how host families heard about the exchange program. Overall,
929 responses were recorded, with some families listing more than one source of information. As with
last year’s responses, “direct contact by the program” (281) and “word of mouth” (252) continued to
rank at the top of the list. Interestingly, the number of host families responding that they heard about
the program through the media this year increased significantly compared to the 2005-06 cycle.
Although the total responses citing “Media” as a response is not as high as “Direct Contact,” this
increase demonstrates the media’s potential as an effective tool for recruiting host families in local
communities and at the national level.
2
Why did your family decide to host?
Host family respondents provided a wide range of responses regarding their motivations, often stating
more than one explanation. While grouping responses with similar characteristics, “the cultural
experience” (227) and “the interest in experiencing the exchange” (246) responses were the two
highest incentives categories for families to host. Additionally, a significant number of host families
cited that their decision to host was also based on a perceived benefit for
their own children. For instance, among the families responding that
they hosted for the cultural experience, 135 explicitly stated that they
decided to host for the benefit of their own children.
What are the benefits of hosting for your family?
Although some disappointments are unavoidable, most respondents
expressed their hosting experience as positive and beneficial. When
asked what the benefits of hosting for them were, 507 of the responses generally stated that it was a
learning experience, not only culturally but also socially. Others emphasized that gaining perspective
on their own country and culture through their exchange students’ perceptions was another benefit.
Many host families mentioned that the exchange program was especially beneficial in terms of
enhancing their own family setting (308), such as making new extended families, having more
interaction and mutual respect as a family. Cultural experience ranked as the third largest benefit of
hosting with 262 respondents citing the benefits of cultural interaction and exposure to other cultures
and customs.
Satisfaction and Quality
Overall host family satisfaction with the hosting experience and exchange program was up slightly
from the previous cycle and remains very positive. When asked how likely a family was to host
another student from their current exchange organization, 88.3% of the respondents selected “Likely”
or “Very Likely.” For overall quality of the exchange program, 90.3% of families rated the program as
either “Excellent” or “Good.”
II. Exchange Students
Similar to the last cycle’s responses, exchange student respondents were overwhelmingly positive
when evaluating their host families and exchange programs. However, when asked about their local
representatives, the responses, although positive, remained somewhat
lower. It is remarkable that for a second year – and with a new set of
randomly selected participants – the results track almost identically.
This would indicate that exchange students continue to have
considerably high levels of satisfaction with their overall program and
the exchange experience.
When asked to rate the relationship with their host families, 96.7% of
the exchange students replied either “Excellent” or “Good,” with more
stating “Excellent” (up almost 3%) than “Good.” When asked to rate
the local program representative relationships, 84.9% of the students replied either “Excellent” or
“Good” with more stating “Good” than “Excellent.” For overall quality of the U.S. exchange
organization, 93% of exchange students replied either “Excellent” or “Good.”
It is remarkable that
for a second year –
and with a new set of
randomly selected
participants – the
results track almost
identically.
A significant number
of host families cited
that their decision to
host was also based
on a perceived benefit
for their own children.
3
One of the most positive responses of the entire survey came when exchange students were asked to
rate whether the exchange program had been a good learning experience for them so far. About 98.6%
of respondents stated either “Excellent” or “Good”, with 76.4% stating “Excellent” (up almost 4%).
From the responses, only 0.1% chose “Poor,” an improvement when compared to 0.4% last year.
III. High Schools
American high schools generally have the lowest response rate for CSIET evaluation surveys, but
often rate their program experiences positively. When asked to rate the quality of the relationship
between their school and the exchange program’s local representatives, 84% of schools replied either
“Excellent” or “Good.” For overall quality of the exchange organization, the responses improved to
87% stating either “Excellent” or “Good,” with more indicating “Good.”
New this year, school respondents were asked if they agreed or disagreed with the following statement:
“Hosting a foreign exchange student supports international awareness by providing
opportunities for both our student body and the exchange student to learn about both
the U.S. and the exchange student’s culture.”
Almost all respondents – 99.4% – agreed to the statement, which demonstrates their strong support and
belief that youth exchange programs are an effective tool to bring international awareness to their
school communities.
A detailed set of survey results and the CSIET evaluation questionnaires are provided in the following
section.
4
HOST FAMILY RESPONDENTS
How did you hear about the program?
47
50
60
78
122
252
281
3
9
27
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Other/Do Not Remember
Former Exchange Student
Work(ed) for the Program/Rotarian
Former Host
Religious or Community Organization
Internet
Media*
School/ Exchange Student
Word of Mouth
Contacted by Program
# of respondents
* Articles, Newspaper Ads, Radio, TV
If you were to host another student,
how likely would you be to host one
from this organization?
• Very Likely – 59.9% [ 554]
• Likely – 28.4% [263]
• Unlikely – 4.4% [41]
• Very Unlikely – 7.2% [67]
How would you rate the overall
quality of this organization?
• Excellent – 57.4% [534]
• Good – 33% [307]
• Fair – 7.1% [66]
• Poor – 2.6% [24]
Hosting Again with Same Program
Likely
28%
Very
Likely
61%
Unlikely
4%
Very
Unlikely
7%
Overall Program
Organization Quality
Good
33%
Fair
7%
Poor
3%
Excellent
57%
5
Why did your family decide to host?
Interest in Youth Exchange 246
Previous Experience 154
Great new experience 173
Have hosted before and loved
Personal interest 44
the experience 114
Interested in student's profile 10
Were exchange students themselves 18
Interested in the exchange program 3
Their kids were exchange students too 15
Wanted challenge 1
Lived in other countries and wanted to give
Part of a reciprocal arrangement 1
the chance to students 7
Cultural Experience 227
For the Benefit of the Host Siblings 135
Widen perspective / learn different cultures 156
Cultural experience for the kids 70
Educational / cultural experience 29
Kids wanted a sibling / friend 51
Personal connection w/ someone from
Wanted a sibling for the kids 14
another country 19
Cultural exchange 17
Building Relationships / Friendship 63
Promote diversity in town 4
Love kids 30
Learn language 2
Share their home / family 21
Live alone, don't have kids 11
To Help 190
Enjoy company 1
Give chance to experience U.S. 81
To help / give back to the world community 43
Other 4
Student needed a host family 31
Religious interest 2
Knew the student 15
General interest 2
Enhance American image / promote U.S. 14
World peace 4
Started as a welcome family 2
4
9
15
25
63
135
154
190
227
246
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Other
Youngest Child Went to College
Friends / Relatives Recommended
Had Room
Building Relationships / Friendship
For the Benefit of the Host Siblings
Previous Experience
To Help
Cultural Experience
Interest in Youth Exchange
# of respondents
6
What are the benefits of hosting for your family?
Learning Experience 507
Learn / experience other cultures
426
Gain alternate perspective on the United States 37
Learn to share 23
Learn / practice another language 14
Learn tolerance 4
Learn social skills 2
Learn to understand others 1
Family / Kids 308
Make new extended families 178
Cultural and fun experience for the family 80
Sibling experience for their kids 31
Strengthens family relationship 10
Interaction with other host families and school community 7
Kids behave better / respect others 2
Cultural Experience 262
Cultural exchange 94
Contact with other countries 57
Show / share American life 57
Cultural exposure for their kids 46
Get to travel 8
1
13
39
68
262
308
507
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Challenge
None
To Help / Give Back to World Community
Friendship / Experience with Teenagers
Cultural Experience
Family / Kids
Learning Experience
# of respondents
7
EXCHANGE STUDENT RESPONDENTS
How would you rate the relationship between
you and your current host family?
• Excellent – 74% [653]
• Good – 22.8% [201]
• Fair – 2.7% [24]
• Poor – 0.6% [5]
How would you rate the relationship between
you and your local representative?
• Excellent – 42.1% [368]
• Good – 42.9% [375]
• Fair – 10.5% [92]
• Poor – 4.6% [40]
Has the exchange program been a good
learning experience for you so far?
• Excellent – 76.4% [675]
• Good – 22.2% [196]
• Fair – 1.2% [11]
• Poor – 0.1% [1]
How would you rate the overall quality
of your U.S. exchange organization?
• Excellent – 53.3% [468]
• Good – 39.7% [349]
• Fair – 5.6% [49]
• Poor – 1.4% [12]
Relationship between Student and
Local Rep
Poor
5%
Excellent
42%
Good
42%
Fair
11%
Quality of Exchange Program
Excellent
53%
Good
40%
Fair
6%
Poor
1.4%
Relationship Between Student and
Host Family
Excellent
73%
Fair
3%
Poor
1%
Good
23%
Learning Experience
Excellent
76.4%
Fair
1.2%
Poor
0.1%
Good
22.2%
8
HOST SCHOOL RESPONDENTS
How would you rate the quality of the relationship
between your school and the organization’s
local representative?
• Excellent – 40.4% [213]
• Good – 44% [232]
• Fair – 10% [53]
• Poor – 6% [29]
Overall, how would you rate your exchange
organization?
• Excellent - 39% [208]
• Good – 48.4% [258]
• Fair – 9.9% [53]
• Poor – 2.6% [14]
“Hosting a foreign exchange student supports
international awareness by providing opportunities
for both our student body and the exchange student
to learn about both the U.S. and the exchange
student’s culture.”
Agree – 99.4% [521]
Disagree – 0.6% [3]
Overall Rating of
Exchange Program
Excellent
39%
Good
48%
Fair
10%
Poor
3%
Relationship Between School
and Local Rep
Excellent
40%
Good
44%
Poor
6%
Fair
10%
Hosting Exchange Students
Supports International Awareness
Disagree
0.6%
Agree
99.4%
9
Host Family Questionnaire
10
Host Family Questionnaire (continued)
Exchange Student Questionnaire
Exchange Student Questionnaire (continued)
High School Questionnaire
