Most of the time, a homestay involves a student from another country who is in need of a stable and safe home to complete their studies while going to school somewhere in your city. Often the homestay hosts are mature couples with young or grown children and have an additional room to spare.
Depending on the age and what type of schooling or business the homestay student is taking, they may wish to stay for several months, or in some cases for several years.
There are some things to keep in mind when you are considering becoming a homestay host and letting out a room in your home to someone you don't know. Hosts need to be educated on the potential costs that are hard to foresee, that may offset some of the income from the room and board they are receiving from the student.
Looking at Challenges that Could Arise
Be sure that you have a good line of communication. As the student in most cases will not understand English well, it can be quite a struggle to get though to them on certain issues. Do not speak to them as you would a native language speaker, keep it simple and easy to understand by avoiding bigger words. Often during the first week it is a good idea to communicate via written words as most ESL students are proficient at writing and reading but often find it difficult to string a sentence verbally.
Hosts and students should have some protection from understood guidelines set out in this situation. Set some rules in place during the interview process with the student and/or their guardian, so that everyone is on the same page. When communication is extremely difficult because of language issues, have an interpreter make sure both sides understand.
Determining the consequences is as equally vital as defining the rules. Is there zero tolerance for some behaviors such as coming home on drugs? If the agreed rules are broken, and it was previously discussed by the homestay and if needed, the guardian, then if the stipulations are not followed, asking them to leave will be much less difficult.
How Much Does Privacy Mean to You?
Hosting a student can often mean that you will loose some level of privacy. The student may want to practice their English skills with you, and you need to be prepared for this. If you want to have a party or other guests over, you now need to take the student into consideration when planning social gatherings at the home. When you include the homestay in some of these social situations, they often have less of a problem with it.
When you would like to leave town for a few days on a vacation, there are issues to consider. Most homestays require you to prepare meals for the students and be available during meal times to have the student practice their English. You could ask the student to go with you, or look for other options.
Other things are needed to be thought through also. The time you spend conversing with, and cooking and cleaning for the student could cut into the time you have for your own family and children. This can be counteracted by including the student with the activities that you plan with your family.
Depending on the age and what type of schooling or business the homestay student is taking, they may wish to stay for several months, or in some cases for several years.
There are some things to keep in mind when you are considering becoming a homestay host and letting out a room in your home to someone you don't know. Hosts need to be educated on the potential costs that are hard to foresee, that may offset some of the income from the room and board they are receiving from the student.
Looking at Challenges that Could Arise
Be sure that you have a good line of communication. As the student in most cases will not understand English well, it can be quite a struggle to get though to them on certain issues. Do not speak to them as you would a native language speaker, keep it simple and easy to understand by avoiding bigger words. Often during the first week it is a good idea to communicate via written words as most ESL students are proficient at writing and reading but often find it difficult to string a sentence verbally.
Hosts and students should have some protection from understood guidelines set out in this situation. Set some rules in place during the interview process with the student and/or their guardian, so that everyone is on the same page. When communication is extremely difficult because of language issues, have an interpreter make sure both sides understand.
Determining the consequences is as equally vital as defining the rules. Is there zero tolerance for some behaviors such as coming home on drugs? If the agreed rules are broken, and it was previously discussed by the homestay and if needed, the guardian, then if the stipulations are not followed, asking them to leave will be much less difficult.
How Much Does Privacy Mean to You?
Hosting a student can often mean that you will loose some level of privacy. The student may want to practice their English skills with you, and you need to be prepared for this. If you want to have a party or other guests over, you now need to take the student into consideration when planning social gatherings at the home. When you include the homestay in some of these social situations, they often have less of a problem with it.
When you would like to leave town for a few days on a vacation, there are issues to consider. Most homestays require you to prepare meals for the students and be available during meal times to have the student practice their English. You could ask the student to go with you, or look for other options.
Other things are needed to be thought through also. The time you spend conversing with, and cooking and cleaning for the student could cut into the time you have for your own family and children. This can be counteracted by including the student with the activities that you plan with your family.
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