During the winter months our coordinators in Spain select and interview the local host families in Madrid . Some of our families have worked with us for many years thanks to the excellent feedback we have received from students who have stayed with them.

One of our main requirements is that host families must be truly interested in having a foreign student in their home and treating them like a member of the family. Potential host families must also comply with our requirements regarding responsibility, comfort and cleanliness.

Living with a family in another country is undoubtedly the best way to get to know the culture and the local traditions and customs. It is very important for us that students feel comfortable with their host family and that their stay is happy and successful. We pay a lot of attention to this aspect of the program. Each student, however, also needs to make an effort to establish a pleasant relationship with their host family, integrating themselves as much as possible in the day-to-day family life, always trying to speak in Spanish and to adapt to the local customs.

At the end of the course each student fills out a questionnaire about his/her host family. The students' comments and opinions help us to decide which host families are best for each type of student. Generally speaking, our host families are very open and friendly and offer help to students during their first few days in Madrid . On many occasions, students have kept in touch with their Spanish family after returning to their home country and over the years. We encourage students to do this.