The quickest way for an exchange student to make friends and/or meet people is by joining either a sport or a club, or both. This is why we encourage our students from before they even get here to think about if they want to try a sport or a club, and what they would like to do.
Sports and clubs also promote involvement with the school and school spirit, which is a uniquely American idea that most exchange students are excited to experience. What is more American than pep rally and cheering your teammates on at the big game?
Not all students are into sports or clubs and that is okay, they will probably have to work a little harder to be involved socially with other students. It can work, in my experience sports/clubs help a lot, and even if they do not make friends with their teammates they at least met people outside the classroom. A good idea for non-sports/club students is to encourage them to take a class where there is group projects or more of a social working atmosphere, such as: art, theater, public speaking, or gym. Something where they are talking to other students and not just listening to the teacher and taking notes, the idea of exchange is not just school but also largely social and cultural exchange, so they need friends. Plus a year without friends is a long year.
The other perk of them making friends in sports and clubs or social classes is that they want to go out and hang out with them! They won’t always be at the house staring at you wishing you would entertain them. We can all use a break from teenagers on occasion, a couple months in you will need it haha.
So, encourage your students to try something new or play a sport they love or join a new club. No matter if it is soccer, volleyball, American football, cheerleading, art club, theater/drama, chorus, or anything else encourage it. Encourage social and cultural exchange not just school school school.