• Host Families Sought for Incoming Japanese University Exchange Students

    Mt. Hood Community College is seeking host families for 14 students from Japan who will study at the college and live in the Gresham area from February through March, 2019.

    The students, from Ryukoku University in Kyoto, Japan, will take English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classes at MHCC as part of the Ryukoku@MHCC Winter cultural exchange program. They will arrive in Portland the second week of February and return to Japan the first week of March. During their stay in Oregon, the exchange students will visit local sites and attractions with MHCC students, college instructors, and host family members. These mandatory field trips are scheduled for afternoons throughout their stay and for one Saturday.

    Exchange Students 3

    Host families are needed for students’ entire stay in Oregon. The students are between 18 and 24 years old. Requirements for hosting a student include:

    • Availability of an individual room for the student (preferred). A shared bathroom is acceptable.
    • Access (near the home) to public transportation, or a willingness to provide transportation for the student to and from campus five days a week. Carpooling among host families is possible. EFL classes will take place Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – Noon.
    • Ability to provide the student with breakfast and dinner each day. Students will supply their own lunches.
    • Ability to speak English while the guest student is present.
    • Ability to attend a mandatory host family orientation session the evening of Friday, Jan. 18, 2019.

    Hosts with more than one member living in the house are preferred. Host families will receive a stipend to help defray the household costs of hosting the student. Additionally, host families must pass a criminal background check that will be provided by MHCC.

    Applications to serve as host families are located at https://ryukokuatmhcc.weebly.com. The deadline to submit your application is Dec. 31, 2018. If you have questions, please contact program director Yoko Sato at yoko.sato@mhcc.edu.