ISE Ontario selects Canadian students and host families based on their suitability, commitment, and ability to support a successful exchange. Students are evaluated on their academic commitment, personality, interests, enthusiasm, relationships with others, hosting plans, and teacher/principal recommendations. Host families are selected based on their ability to provide a safe, welcoming, and supportive home, their openness and commitment to hosting, and their willingness to communicate in English throughout the hosting period. A separate bedroom is preferred, and a separate bed is required if room-sharing is necessary.ISE Ontario’s European partner organizations are responsible for selecting the European students and host families participating in the exchange.

Students must host an exchange partner to participate in the program.

Students must follow the timelines of ISE’s three exchange programs: Go First, Host First, and Summer Exchange. As we organize group travel, students must follow these timelines. We do not coordinate travel dates to accommodate any personal requests for travel extensions.

Students are responsible for their personal expenses during the exchange, including meals or activities outside of those provided by the host family, transportation, recreation, school excursions, and personal toiletries. Spending money should be based on the student’s usual spending habits at home.

Our goal is to support students in the successful completion of their exchange. If a student must return home early, arrangements will be made through insurance or at the family's expense, depending on the reason. You must review the refund policy and insurance policy to understand your coverage.

Language skills: Fluency is not required, but students are encouraged to use the local language as much as possible. Practicing the language helps improve communication skills, integrate into the local culture, and build stronger connections with host families and friends. Students can prepare before their exchange through language classes, apps, books, audiobooks, and movies with subtitles

• The food can sometimes be quite different in Europe - there will be unfamiliar brands, different ingredients and ways that foods are prepared and served 

• Classes in Europe tend to be more lecture-based than those in Canadian classrooms.

• Many schools and families have stricter restrictions on phone use.

• Most families eat meals together without cell phones at the table and meals are often eaten later in the evening  

• Holidays are often spent travelling to other parts of the country or even another European country 

• Time is not usually spent alone in bedrooms, and many don’t allow food in bedrooms 

• Most families have access controls around Wi-Fi 

• Europeans prioritize their studies and do not engage in as many extracurricular activities 

• Most school weeks consist of approximately four full days (8 hours) and one-half day 

• Lunchtime meals are often served at school (not just sandwiches and fries)

• Europeans have more holiday time than Canadians and so there will be more vacation breaks