Liaison processes

From AFSWiki

Before the participant arrives

• Look over the participant and the host family applications in order to familiarize yourself with the participant and host family. Contact your local Hosting Coordinator for access to these applications.
• Contact the host family by phone prior to the participant's arrival. Simply introduce yourself. Be sure to give the host family your phone number, and inform the host parents that you will be contacting them once a month to check in, even if there are no difficulties.
• Read about the participant's culture before arrival. Many times, participants exhibit behavior that is perfectly normal, acceptable, or even desirable in their home culture, yet not acceptable in ours. For example, in some Asian cultures, students hesitate to take the initiative as students do in the U.S. Another example is that many AFS participants come from families in which the mother or the maid does all the housework and children are not expected to help out at all. Americans usually consider this to be "spoiled," yet in other cultures, the children's only responsibility is to be a student. In most situations, we expect the AFS participant to adapt to our culture; however, we cannot expect this adaptation to be instantaneous. In addition, it is the responsibility of the host parents and the Liaison to explain our customs so that the participant can understand and make the necessary cultural adjustments.
• To learn more about your participant's country and culture, visit the Culture Grams website. (note that this link requires you to be logged on to the Wiki with a userid and password)

After the participant's arrival and throughout the year

• Keep in monthly contact with the participant and host family. It is important that you contact the participant at least once a month in person or by phone if you cannot meet in person. This is an extremely important issue. Regular, monthly contact ensures that we are providing the best support we, as an organization, possibly can. Therefore, the next several pages are devoted solely to discussing the importance of this monthly contact.

Tips for Being an Effective Liaison

Expect Language Difficulties

Misunderstandings are very common, even when working with students from English-speaking countries. The responsibility for being understood and of understanding rests primarily with you, the AFS volunteer. To help with this, try the following:

• Speak clearly when addressing the student and, whenever possible, face him or her directly while speaking. When the student does not understand, speak more slowly (not more loudly!).
• When the student asks you to repeat, do so the first time by using the same words. If s/he still does not understand, rephrase the message using simpler words.
• Do not assume you are understood. Even if a student is smiling and nodding their head "yes," ask them to paraphrase what you have said. Many students tire of always asking for an additional explanation every time they are not completely certain of a full understanding, and may just nod their head to "get on with it."

Be Aware of Cultural Differences

Because cultural differences are involved, there may be aspects of the student’s attitude and behavior that you do not fully understand. Take every opportunity to become aware of the attitudes, values, roles, expectations, and points of view that are characteristic of the culture from which the student comes. Look for these hidden dimensions as you deal your student.

Suspend Judgement

Snap judgments can easily become a major stumbling block to open and effective communication and complete understanding. Act on the assumption that the student is a person of integrity and good will. In addition, be aware of your own cultural and other biases that might be playing a role in the situation.

Be Sensitive and Accepting

Be open to whatever the student may be telling you, verbally and non-verbally. Remember that s/he will often feel under stress and may become lonely, anxious, frightened, or confused from time to time. By being a sensitive and accepting listener, students will feel able to look to you for support.

Be Honest

If a misunderstanding arises between you and the student, discuss the matter with him or her openly and honestly. Be aware, however, that in some cultures it is not considered desirable to have frank and open discussions about personal misunderstandings. Keep the student’s cultural background in mind.

Share

Take opportunities to share your way of life and that of other members of your community with the student. The student's stay is enriched through community involvement. Keep in mind, though, that the stress of an intercultural experience can be quite exhausting. Some students will need more "down time" than others.

Show an Interest

Make an effort to find out as much as possible about the student's life in his or her home country. Many students are eager to talk about home and appreciate having this opportunity, especially when their classmates or friends may appear not to be interested.

Attempt to Empathize

Imagine yourself in the other person's place-- far from home, friends, and family; communicating in a new language; trying to understand so many new ways of interacting and communicating; trying to understand what everyone expects of you. Then try to put yourself in the other person's place as the two of you cope with a particular problem.

Be aware of non-verbal Communication

The non-verbal actions of both you and the student affect the conversation. Watch for what is not being said.

Use effective inquiry

Use the "right" kind of questions to elicit the answers you need, such as "open" or "closed" inquiries.

Listen!

Listen and reflect back words and feelings. Remember that when you are talking, you are learning little of what is going on in the other person's mind!