Amity International Teacher Program

Amity Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and designated J-1 visa sponsor. Founded in 1962, the Amity programs were based on the belief that language learning and cultural exchange are essential to building international friendship within our global community. This philosophy is still at the core of the organization.

You are required to provide a private room, three meals a day, occasional transportation, and commit to host at least one semester or half the school year.

Interns are single and between the ages of 21 and 30. They are students or graduates of institutions of higher education in their home countries. Most Interns have teaching experience and have worked with youth. The personal qualities we seek in Interns are friendliness, openness, maturity, adaptability, motivation, and enthusiasm. They are here to gain teaching skills, represent their language, culture, and country, and to share their knowledge and ideas while also learning first-hand about American culture and improving their English

Interns will stay with a Host Family for a minimum of one semester. While Amity Institute states a minimum of 8 weeks, La Academia has chosen to have a minimum requirement of one semester based on learnings from other schools. Hosting commitments for fall semester run from the end of August to mid-January. Spring semester runs mid-January to mid-June. 

Host Families are volunteers and provide free room and board to Amity Interns.

Yes. All interns have a clean police record in their home country.

They will participate in a cross-cultural exchange that will be a challenging and educational experience for all involved. The intern and members of the Host Family must work to understand and communicate with each other. Hosts should remember that interns have placed themselves in a foreign environment for the purpose of expanding their knowledge of education and culture. Here are some expectations to keep in mind:

• Their highest priority is the internship at school.
• Both the Host Family and the intern will have their own initial expectations of what the experience will be like and should communicate openly with each other.
• They should become a part of the family, help with simple household chores, do their own laundry, follow house rules, adjust to the Host Family’s schedule, participate in family activities if invited, keep the Host Family informed of their plans, take the initiative to spend time with the family, share their culture, and build a relationship with the Host Brother/Sister.

Your Intern must have health insurance throughout the entire time they are in the US. Many Interns use a health provider recommended by Amity. If your Intern gets sick or is need of medical attention, they should go to a local doctor or the local emergency room which accepts their health insurance. They may have to pay a deductible out-of-pocket. He/she will need to find out the correct procedure to schedule appointments and use their insurance policy. It is recommended that the intern understand the process before they need it. 

Interns should not be expected to act as a nanny or full-time babysitter and should not be expected to perform au pair duties, house sitting, or housework beyond that of other family members. Interns are expected to participate in household responsibilities, which may occasionally include supervising children for short periods of time and helping with homework

Amity Institute does not encourage interns to drive during their assignment. La Academia strictly prohibits Interns from driving their Host Family’s vehicle. Interns who hold a valid driver’s license and choose to drive/rent a vehicle in the US are solely responsible for their own actions. Neither Amity nor the Host School will pay for any damages.

The local School Coordinator is your primary contact. Your assigned Amity Program Counselor is also available to answer your questions and assist with your concerns.

Generally most interns leave within a couple of weeks of school ending. Their J-1 visa requires that the Interns return to their home country within 30 days of the last day of their assignment (last day of school). Often they take the last 30 days to travel around the US before going home. Having said this, Spring host families are expected to host the Intern for one week after school ends.

Clear, positive communication is the key to success. Please do not assume that your Intern understands your expectations unless you have taken the time to discuss them directly and often.

No. Our only requirement is that they have their own room (must be a legal bedroom) with a door that can be closed for privacy.

No. Just make sure that the Intern has a space for toiletries. Be sure that the schedule for bathing and/or showering is predetermined to avoid embarrassment and confusion.

Everyone is different. What is most important is that you communicate upfront your family routine around meal time. Always be sure to have food available for your Intern to prepare his or her own meals as needed

Maintaining a balanced diet is important for our Interns. We would encourage you to host an Intern, but our expectation is that accommodations would be made in order for the Intern to maintain their current healthy diet. For example, if you follow a vegetarian diet it would be expected that the Intern would be allowed to maintain his or her own diet, likely including meat.

For many interns this experience is an opportunity to gain greater independence and responsibility away from home and their parents. Be clear in communicating your expectations about their responsibilities in your home. If you prefer they make their own lunch or do their own laundry you will need to communicate this upfront and show them how to do it, with reminders most likely along the way. If problems arise, deal with them immediately and take the direct approach. Reiterate your original discussion regarding the issue at hand, and try to find a solution or compromise

You are not obligated to take the Intern with you on your vacation. If you want to ask the Intern to go with your family, give them the details beforehand along with their share of the expenses (airfare, entertainment, etc.). The Intern can then decide if s/he can afford to go, or even whether s/he wants to go along. If the Intern stays home, the Amity Coordinators can help you make arrangements for your Intern while you are away. In general we believe it is best not to leave the Intern in your home alone for an extended time. This is often an opportunity for the Intern to stay and spend time with his or her Buddy Family.

This experience is very different than having an out-of-town guest to entertain for a few days. The Intern is here to be a part of your family and is not a short-term visitor. Just live your life and the Intern will adapt accordingly. They are here to learn about American culture and share their culture with you

Many families have had young children and hosted. We often hear of families that wished they had also hosted earlier in their child’s La Academia years. Children younger than school age often become very attached to the Intern and are as equally enriched by having them live in their home.

Interns are allowed to ride the school bus to and from school when their schedule permits. The Interns are also typically very busy with after school activities. We encourage the Interns to walk, bike, and use the public transportation system whenever possible. We also advise all Host and Buddy families to coordinate carpooling in order to share the driving responsibility. Lastly, we encourage each host family to help their intern develop a transportation network consisting of neighboring families who have agreed in advance to help the intern with transportation and who have been introduced to the intern so he/she is comfortable taking rides with them.

This will need to be determined on a case by case basis. Please contact the Amity Coordinators if you are interested in hosting and live outside of Carver County.

A Host Family that is in the district but does not have children attending La Academia may be considered, but La Academia families will always be given first priority.

This experience will allow your family to develop a meaningful relationship with someone from another culture. Interns will interact with your family, friends, and neighbors thus creating international friendships and cultural understanding on a local level. Your memories will last a lifetime. By opening your home you will create an unforgettable experience for your Amity Intern allowing him or her to see the best that US culture has to offer. The Intern program also allows you to support La Academia and help to create a rich, engaging Spanish language program. By volunteering your home, you are allowing many students to benefit from having an Amity Intern. Finally, hosting an Intern allows you to learn about yourself and your culture and see the US through the eyes of an international visitor, creating an invaluable educational experience for yourself and your family.