Hong, C. H. (2015,
December). What is an ideal host family? A preliminary study on host family of
Rotary Youth Exchange student in Taiwan. Paper presented at New Year's Academic Conference on Social
Sciences and Humanities in Prague 2015 Held by Czech Institute of Academic
Education z.s. and Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech
Republic.
What is an ideal host
family?
Cheng-Huei,
Hong
Ph.D.
candidate, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, National Taiwan
Normal University
grace003hong@gmail.com
Abstract
In consideration of the interaction problems
of host families as well as the lack of research on host families, this study
aims to explore the opinions on what constitutes an ideal host family by using
the ecological systems theory framework in order to enhance better
understanding of the student’s perception of the ideal host family.
The research question of this study is: What are
the characteristics of an ideal host family from the student’s perspective? On-line
non-synchronous messaging was employed in this study as the medium of unstructured
interviews. This study, focusing on Rotary long-term Youth Exchange students in
Taiwan, used convenience sampling from the interpersonal network of the
researcher and enrolled 11 Rotary youth exchange students as participants.
Several concepts of an ideal host family were
found and categorized into 5 levels according to ecological systems theory
framework. The results show that at the macrosystem level, there were 3 topics:
Culture shock, norm concept and parenting customs. At the exosystem level, there
were 4 topics: The host family’s interpersonal network, host parents’ time
schedule, host parents’ host intention, and Rotary rules. At the mesosystem
level, there were 3 topics: Same age children to help host parents, host families
and Rotary cooperation, and host parents and friends spending time together. At
the microsystem level, there were 5 topics: Affection, rule, entertainment,
education, and protection. And finally at the individual level, there were 3
topics: Personality, adaptation strategy, and reflection.
The study's findings offer a number of implications
to bring about a better interaction between students and host families in the
future. These findings also complement the lack of research about host families
and offer a brand new vision from the viewpoint of exchange students on the
issue of host families, especially in the context of Taiwan. By using
ecological systems theory framework, the factors of the host family are
analyzed more clearly in this study.
Keywords: Host family, Rotary Youth Exchange student, Ecological systems theory
