Published: May 06, 2009 11:35 am      

Host families needed in Zionsville

In early July, about 25 students from France will arrive in central Indiana to spend three weeks as foreign exchange students, and Lynn Erdmann is looking for host families in Zionsville, s’il vous plait.

Erdmann, a Boone County coordinator for Langues Education Connaissances, said the students from cities and villages in France will spend three weeks experiencing the American lifestyle and studying the English language. The students range in age from 12 to 19 years old.

“It is families like you, through your kindness and hospitality, that help the young people of France discover the great American spirit from the inside in the most fundamental unit of society — the family,” Erdmann said.

She added it also will be an opportunity for local families to learn about French culture and people, and to stimulate the learning of a foreign language.

“We hope that the friendship sparked between your family and our French student will be kindled into a lasting, lifetime relationship,” Erdmann said.

Host families are not required to speak French, since the students are studying English. The students are fully insured and they bring their own spending money. An adult French chaperone will also accompany the students from France, and the local LEC coordinators can help addressing any issues that may arise.

After the student has returned home to France on July 27, each family will receive a stipend to help offset the expenses incurred.

Half of the students will be involved in an “immersion” program where they live the entire three weeks with their host family without seeing the other French students. The other half will experience a “discovery” program where the students come together once a week for an outing to explore other elements of the American culture.

To host a French student this summer, contact Lynn Erdmann at (765)482-3547 or 579-3044, or e-mail her at lerdmann@sbcglobal.net. Visit www.lec-usa.com for more information about the LEC organization.