How A One-Month Teen Exchange Builds Real-World Confidence and Lifelong Global Friendships

Fireworks, swim club afternoons and a new friend from Spain—July can reshape a teen’s world in the most ordinary, joyful ways, and this episode of the Good Neighbor Podcast will explain how, as Host Bob Blaisse sits down with Lisa Eller, Community Engagement Coordinator of Live N Learn. You'll hear Lisa unpack this non-profit organization's one‑month cultural exchange program that pairs bilingual Spanish teens with local families. Not for a year, but for a focused, high‑impact summer. The secret is the matching up of the teenagers by age, gender, interests and social style so the visiting student steps right into real life abroad with an American peer, from pickup hoops to beach days to backyard barbecues.
Listen and learn what makes Live N Learn's program different from classic study abroad experiences. First, it matches teenagers with English fluency, verified on both sides, with American host families that are vetted with background checks and home visits, but the essentials are simple: a bed, three meals a day, and a willingness to fold a new teen into your normal routine. Live N Learn also removes guesswork with two free weekly activities—think pro baseball and soccer games, theme parks and regional must‑dos—so families can keep their plans while giving their guest an unforgettable slice of local culture.
The episode reveals a bigger payoff than simple souvenirs. American teens build empathy and leadership as they include a peer in their friend group, translate the nuance of daily life, and discover how much they can teach and learn without a classroom. Many pairs plan return trips to Spain, and teachers can partner with Live N Learn for customized school travel that emphasizes authentic, local experiences over tourist lines. If you’ve wondered whether hosting is too much, learn how this July model offered by Live N Learn is a low‑risk way to try cultural exchange while gaining a global perspective at home.

Lisa Eller, Live N Learn
937-470-8730
LiveNLearn.com
facebook.com/LiveNLearnUSA

--- About The Show--- Good Neighbor Podcast is a spotlight on local businesses in and around Delaware County, PA (“Delco” ) and Beyond... The executive producer and host, Bob Blaisse, is a community sponsorship advocate, business branding specialist, and publisher of several hometown magazines, including: Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors, Marple Friends & Neighbors and Newtown Edgmont Friends & Neighbors, mailed monthly to more than 12,000 homes in Western Delaware County, PA, and also available for reading online.