Host a Language Ambassador

Language Ambassadors Enrich the Learning Experience

Language ambassadors are a vital part of our language immersion program at LILA. They are interns from Spanish- and Chinese-speaking countries who assist our teachers in the classroom, and provide language and culture models for our students. They are considered teaching assistants, and they help maintain a low student to teacher ratio at LILA. They work with individual students, small groups, or supervise activities of the large group, allowing the teacher to give more attention to students who need more help or more challenge. Ambassadors are are typically assigned to Lower School classrooms, but they may assist on occasion at Upper School.

Language ambassadors bring their own languages and cultures to life by engaging and motivating students, leaving them with new confidence in their ability to communicate across borders. Having ambassadors in the classrooms also gives students the opportunity to hear authentic target-language conversation between the ambassador and the teacher, rather than only between learners or between the teacher and students. It's a proven program for enhancing the educational experiences of LILA students and staff, the host families, and the language ambassadors.

Hosting a Language Ambassador

Host families come in all shapes and sizes. They serve as a language ambassador’s substitute family for half the school year. They provide room and board - a private bedroom, shared bathroom, and meals - and are encouraged to involve ambassadors in social, cultural or family events. Host families are not required to cover any other expenses - ambassadors bring their own spending money. They provide care, moral support, and basic needs to a language ambassador as if they were a member of the family. Host families also provide transportation to and from LILA each day. Transportation assistance can sometimes be arranged if this is a barrier to hosting. Host families receive a $1,000 stipend at the end of their hosting period. We recognize that this stipend will not cover all costs incurred by families in the course of hosting for five months, but we hope that it defrays the cost enough so that more families can participate in hosting. 
 

Interested in becoming a host family? Fill out the Host Family Application today! 

**We are currently in need of host families for Fall 2024! **

Margarita

Hello! My name is Margarita, I am 21 years old and I am from El Salvador. I am currently studying a degree in English language at Gerardo Barrios University, and I am excited to experience this cultural exchange. I consider myself a friendly and easy going person who loves to help others. I am perseverant and always work hard to accomplish my goals. My interests include artistic activities such as painting, playing the piano, writing and singing.  I also have an interest in astronomy. I really enjoy Marvel movies and love to immerse myself in reading books. During my stay in Minnesota, I hope to enjoy the amazing sights and learn a lot about Minnesota's culture. I am looking forward to this new adventure and I am sure it will be an enriching and exciting experience.

Sara

Hello! My name is Sara. I am 24 years old and I come from Vigo, a city in Galicia, Spain. It is a place full of beautiful landscapes and many beaches, where you can taste delicious food! I have just graduated as a Primary Education teacher specializing in Music in Segovia and Alicante. I love traveling, getting to know new places, their people and culture. I also love listening to music, singing, playing the piano and saxophone, watching series and photography, cooking for and with my friends, spending time in nature and surrounding myself with people who can bring me interesting things and new knowledge. I am excited and grateful to live this experience in Minnesota, in a place so different from what I am used to. I want to share my culture and traditions while taking advantage of this experience to train myself more as a teacher with new methods and projects.

Douncam

Hello! My name is Douncam! I am 24 years old and I am from San Salvador, El Salvador. I am studying for a degree in Applied Linguistics in English. I consider myself to be a very positive person who always tries to learn something new. I enjoy playing the drums, singing, writing poetry, composing songs, and teaching. I love pets; I have a French Poodle named Pato.  I am very grateful and excited to be a part of LILA and to be able to share the culture of my country, its language, and the customs of its people, as I believe it is very beautiful and rich in history. During my stay in Minnesota, I want to try new foods, attend a hockey game, play soccer, and try skiing. I would like to learn about Minnesota customs, meet new people, and discover new places, so that I can bring all of that back to my country, which will undoubtedly be a wonderful experience.

Xiaoying Lyu (Ivy)

Hello！My name is Lyu Xiaoying, but you can call me by my English name Ivy. I’m 23 years old and I’m from Shaoyang, China, I live in Beijing now. I am currently studying a master’s degree in Chinese International Education. I love music, traveling, and aerobics. I am interested in musical instruments; I’m also good at Chinese traditional musical instruments. I consider myself to be easy-going, positive, and love life. I would love to share my travel experiences and knowledge with you! I am excited to try some new things in Minnesota and experience Minnesota culture! I hope to make some new friends and have a great and fulfilling time in Minnesota.  I will also try to be a good teacher. Looking forward to making wonderful memories with you together!