Hosting a German exchange student brings the best experience right into your home. Germany is known for its scenic landscapes and traditions like Oktoberfest and Christmas markets. Hosting a German student allows you to share your own way of life while discovering theirs – forming a lifelong relationship! Whether it’s exploring their love for the outdoors, trying German cuisine, or learning about their culture, hosting a German exchange student is a rewarding and unforgettable experience!
#1 Discover German culture without leaving your living room!
Our family had a great experience hosting Taha from Germany. We learned a lot about the German school system and how it differs from ours. For example, here we have a lot of different electives from cooking to woodworking, and in Germany their classes are focused on the core academic areas, like math and science.
In addition, the students there are much less casual with how they dress for school. The kids here wear sweats and pajamas pants to school, whereas at his German school, he said kids would laugh if someone wore pajamas to school. We of course learned about German food and we even made schnitzel and shared it in one of Taha’s classes. We also had the benefit of learning not just about German culture, but also Turkish culture since he is a dual citizen of Germany and Turkey. We also learned quite a bit about Turkey. We are hoping to visit Taha and his family one day!
– Host mom, Erin, from Mukwonago, Wisconsin
#2 Enjoy camping trips and outdoor adventures together!
Jorek from Germany was very outdoorsy. He was all about camping. I had always wanted to go camping but never was able to because, growing up, we didn’t have the money to get a tent and stuff. We did that a couple of times and had a blast. We got along very well. We went backpacking in April, which was fun but also challenging.
He was much more about eating healthier than I was so that led to some changes in my diet that I still follow. We drink a lot of soda in America, and I basically quit drinking stuff like that just because he was like, ‘Hey, let’s get water!’ He made quite a few impacts on my life and I still talk to him all the time. I’m actually going to visit in about a month, so I’m very excited to see him again!
– Host dad, Mike, from Canton, Illinois
#3 Enjoy and learn about German cuisine!
I hosted Celina from Germany during the 2012-13 school year and she came back in the summer of 2022 to stay with us. My husband’s grandfather is from Hamburg, Germany, so we always liked eating German food. When I had a chance to learn from Celina’s mom, Barbara, it was exciting to watch and learn how to make Spätzle and Rouladen. Spätzle is an egg noodle dish made with sauces and gravies, while Rouladen is made of thin slices of meat with mustard, onion, and pickles that is rolled up. Every time Celina and Barbara visit, they bring me the mixes for the sauces. Rouladen is one of my all-time favorite German foods!
– Host mom, Sherri, from Cleburne, Texas
#4 Introduce them to American culture and celebrate the holidays together!
We hosted Dennis during the 2015-16 school year and taught him a lot about American culture. He got to experience Halloween here in America. We carved pumpkins together and dressed up in costumes. Thanksgiving was a grand event where he was able to meet a lot of our family. He also got to try turkey, dressing, and sweet potato casserole.
Dennis always loved desserts, but he really enjoyed American desserts. He especially loved brownies and anything Reese’s. We shared our tradition of Christmas stockings. We made him his own personalized stocking filled with goodies on Christmas morning. He loved the idea, and we helped him personalize stockings for his family back in Germany. Christmas was our favorite holiday to celebrate with him.
– Host Dad, Matt, from Muncie, Indiana
#5 Visit Germany and see your student’s world firsthand!
In 1999, we hosted Kathi from Germany, but we visited her and her family in Germany before she arrived in America. It was really exciting for everyone and comforting to her family. I made tacos for both families. Every student loves tacos! At the time, she had two younger siblings, and I had three kids — ages 2, 5, and 6. I remember she loved the kids and was looking forward to coming. Her natural parents were also very excited. We are still very close to Kathi and her family.
Last year in July, we visited one of my exchange daughters, Jo in Karlsruhe, Germany. We hosted Jo during the 2020-21 school year. Karlsruhe is a beautiful city. We did all the touristy stuff like museums, went on trains, and had coffee on patios, but her home was the most fabulous part of our trip. We stayed with them as they had an Airbnb apartment as part of their home. When we woke up in the morning, they dressed their patio with July 4th decorations!
We also visited Julia outside of Frankfurt, who we hosted during the 2022-23 school year. When we arrived, she was not at home but at a concert in Munich. We were welcomed by her mom and we stayed there without Julia for a day or two. She lives in a smaller village so we walked around a lot. We met Julia and her friend in Munich for dinner before going on to Frankfurt. We also spent time with her dad and stepmom. We went to a beautiful park, took a little hike, and had a nice outdoor dinner with them.
– Host mom, Susan, from Broomfield, Colorado
Are you interested in making a student a part of your family? We are looking for American host families to welcome a student for the upcoming 2025-26 school year! Check out the profiles of our wonderful students! New profiles go online every Thursday!
