International students often are looking for a family environment that is safe and where they can feel comfortable studying and staying during their education in your area. 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.
As a potential homestay host, there are several things you should consider before committing to have a student living in your home. 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.
Considering Potential Problems
Clear communication is essential. This will always be your number one challenge depending on your students grasp of the language they are coming to learn. Using basic language and smaller words will make communication easier, avoid slang and more complicated phrases. At times, the student may not be able to communicate verbally almost at all, and if this happens, putting your words in writing is a good option, as accents make it tougher to understand a beginner.
Rules are put in place to protect both parties. The host should discuss with the homestay student some basic house rules while interviewing them and their legal guardian if necessary, so that everyone understands the guidelines. If there is a language barrier then you need to have someone explain the rules to them for you both.
Consequenses for breaking the rules should also be set in place. When a situation occurs where a student is clearly high on drugs, what are the consequences? When these rules are clearly stipulated and agreed upon by the homestay and if necessary, their guardian, then evicting them if necessary will be easier.
Is Privacy a Major Concern?
Hosting a student can often mean that you will loose some level of privacy. English needs practice to improve, so the student may try to engage you in conversation to put in use their new language skills. 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. This can be minimized if you are open to including the student in your activities.
Vacations are another area where you must take the student into consideration, it could cause a problem. A lot of the time, the deal is that your family prepares meals for the homestay, and that means you are supposed to be there at dinnertime. Taking the homestay on your vacation could be an option, but there could be other solutions.
These are not the only concerns in this situation. Since you are investing a certain amount of time cooking, cleaning and conversing with the homestay, your time with your children may be reduced. 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.
As a potential homestay host, there are several things you should consider before committing to have a student living in your home. 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.
Considering Potential Problems
Clear communication is essential. This will always be your number one challenge depending on your students grasp of the language they are coming to learn. Using basic language and smaller words will make communication easier, avoid slang and more complicated phrases. At times, the student may not be able to communicate verbally almost at all, and if this happens, putting your words in writing is a good option, as accents make it tougher to understand a beginner.
Rules are put in place to protect both parties. The host should discuss with the homestay student some basic house rules while interviewing them and their legal guardian if necessary, so that everyone understands the guidelines. If there is a language barrier then you need to have someone explain the rules to them for you both.
Consequenses for breaking the rules should also be set in place. When a situation occurs where a student is clearly high on drugs, what are the consequences? When these rules are clearly stipulated and agreed upon by the homestay and if necessary, their guardian, then evicting them if necessary will be easier.
Is Privacy a Major Concern?
Hosting a student can often mean that you will loose some level of privacy. English needs practice to improve, so the student may try to engage you in conversation to put in use their new language skills. 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. This can be minimized if you are open to including the student in your activities.
Vacations are another area where you must take the student into consideration, it could cause a problem. A lot of the time, the deal is that your family prepares meals for the homestay, and that means you are supposed to be there at dinnertime. Taking the homestay on your vacation could be an option, but there could be other solutions.
These are not the only concerns in this situation. Since you are investing a certain amount of time cooking, cleaning and conversing with the homestay, your time with your children may be reduced. This can be counteracted by including the student with the activities that you plan with your family.
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