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Homestay Accommodation

Homestay accommodation provides an opportunity for students to practice their English and learn about British culture by living with a local host family. Students should inform their hosts about any medical conditions or allergies before arriving. Homestay information will be provided once accommodation has been arranged. Students are expected to follow house rules, be polite, keep their rooms tidy, and inform their hosts of any plans to be late or absent for meals. Issues with homestay accommodation should first be discussed with hosts, and if unresolved, reported to the school's accommodation staff.

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Simon Racicky
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17 views

Homestay Accommodation

Homestay accommodation provides an opportunity for students to practice their English and learn about British culture by living with a local host family. Students should inform their hosts about any medical conditions or allergies before arriving. Homestay information will be provided once accommodation has been arranged. Students are expected to follow house rules, be polite, keep their rooms tidy, and inform their hosts of any plans to be late or absent for meals. Issues with homestay accommodation should first be discussed with hosts, and if unresolved, reported to the school's accommodation staff.

Uploaded by

Simon Racicky
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Homestay Accommodation

Homestay is a great way to practise your English and learn about British culture. Many of our homestay providers remain
friends with their old students for years after they go home.

Let us know if you have any allergies or medical conditions before you arrive.
We will send out homestay information when it is arranged. If you haven’t received it two weeks before you travel, contact
your agent or the school.

Travelling to school
 Please use the method and way described by your host to travel to school, if you still have any confusion please speak
with student services
 Allow extra time for your travels since London gets busy during the rush hours- the rush hour usually occurs between
6-9am and then 4-7pm Monday-Friday
 If you need a ticket to travel, you can buy an Oyster card from a local newspaper shop with the Transport for London
logo on it or from a major station on the Transport for London network

Questions to ask on your first day in your homestay


 How do I lock the house when I go out? What time do you leave for work in the morning? What time is dinner?
 What is a good time to have a shower? How long can I spend in the shower? How can I wash my clothes?
 Where should I keep my suitcase?
 Where can I smoke? (if you are a smoker) What are your house rules?
 What time do you finish work? What time should I be home by?

Your bedroom

 You must keep your room neat and tidy. Do not smoke in your room or in the house
 Do not keep food in your room. It will attract bugs and mice
 Do not play music that is too loud for the neighbours

Good manners in England


 It is polite to use the phrases “Please” “Thank you” and “Excuse me”
 Say “please” every time they ask for something. For example “Can I have a snack, please?”
 Say “thank you” every time you receive something or if someone does something for you. For example, “Thank you
for taking me to school”
 Say “excuse me” if you need someone’s help. For example “Excuse me, where can I find the bus stop?”
 It is polite to ask before using household equipment such as stereos, computers and the TV. You should always
knock on closed doors and wait for a reply before you enter

Food and meals

 Your hosts will give you breakfast and dinner every day. Tell your hosts if there is any food you do not like or cannot
eat. If you have booked full boarding
 Your hosts will also give you lunch at weekends but during the week you must buy lunch at the school or a nearby
shop. If you have booked full boarding
 You must text or call your hosts before 4:30pm if you won’t be home for dinner

Table manners

 It is polite to clear your dishes off the table after dinner


 It is good manners to eat with your mouth closed and to eat quietly (slurping is bad manners)
 Feel free to ask questions and practice conversation at dinner time. Say “thank you” when food is served or drink
 Ask your hosts if you want more food or drink

The bathroom

 In most houses, you will share the bathroom with your hosts and/or other students. It is good practice to shower once
a day
 You should hang up wet towels when you have finished
 Usually in England there is a bathtub, please remember that it is very easy to spill water on the floor if you are not
used to it. Speak with your homestay on how to keep the bathroom clean

Washing Clothes
 Most hosts will wash your clothes once a week. Some hosts will do the washing for you and others will ask you to do
it. Please ask your hosts which they prefer

Telephone
 The best way to call friends and family back home is through apps such as WhatsApp and Viber
 If you want to use your hosts’ telephone, ask them first. They may say no. You must pay for any phone calls you
make on their landline
 Exchange mobile numbers with your hosts so you can contact each other

Internet access
 Ask your hosts about Wi-Fi. Please note that they may turn off the Wi-Fi at bed time
 You can purchase data plans from a phone shop during your stay in the UK
 The school has computer facilities with internet access

Having friends or visitors in the house

 You can invite your friends from the school to visit your homestay but be sure to ask you hosts first

Coming home late


 You must text or call your hosts before 4:30pm if you won’t be home for dinner
 If you are going out and will be home late, tell your hosts what time you will be home. If you are going to be out later
than expected, text or call your hosts to let them know
 You must text or call your hosts before 9:30pm if you won’t be home for the night
Under 18s

 Students age 16-17 must return home by 10pm. Unless you are accompanied by a responsible adult

Going out with your hosts


 Joining family activities is one of the best parts of homestay life
 If you are asked out to the cinema, a concert etc. you should offer to pay for your ticket

Changing your accommodation


You must give Twin’s accommodation officers and your hosts notice if you want to make changes to your homestay.

 Moving out: A minimum of one week’s notice to your hosts and the accommodation staff at Twin
 Please also give us at least one week’s notice if you want to extend your stay

Accidental damage

 If you damage something in the house, you will have to pay for it. LTC cannot be held responsible

Problems with your homestay


 Our homestay is very carefully selected and most students have a great time in their homestay However, if you are not
happy, we can help. It is very important to talk to the accommodation staff if you are unhappy
 Please talk to your hosts if you do not understand the rules
 If you can’t resolve a problem with your hosts, talk to Twin’s accommodation staff

Staying in homestay is an excellent way to practise your English and learn about British and European culture. Please read our
information to make sure your stay is happy and free of problems.
In homestay you are a paying guest in someone’s home. It is not a hotel. Please ask about the “house rules” – what you can and
cannot do. English people say “please” and “thank you” a lot. It is also normal to help with little jobs around the house, like
clearing the table after dinner or taking cups back to the kitchen.

Facilities and Services


Your room should have a comfortable bed, a wardrobe, a chest of drawers, a mirror and a comfortable place for studying.
Your hosts will normally clean your room once a week and give you fresh bed sheets and towels. Please keep your room tidy
and make your bed. British houses may be a little colder than in your home country and the heating may be turned off at night.
If you are cold, tell your hosts.
Bathroom: Most houses have only one bathroom so please ask what time you can go in, especially in the morning when
everyone is in a hurry. Please leave the bathroom clean when you have finished. This includes any water left on the floor after
your shower or bath.
Food: If you have booked for it you will have breakfast and dinner every day and lunch at weekends. You will normally eat
with your hosts. The food will mostly be English dishes. Tell your hosts if there is any food you do not like or cannot eat. If
you are going to be late for dinner, please tell your hosts. Normally you cannot use the kitchen to make your own food.
Table manners: Dinner time is a good time to chat with your hosts. Ask them about their day and tell them how your day was
at the school. Avoid topics like politics or religion.
Internet: Your host family may offer you free WiFi. They may turn the WiFi off at night. There is also free internet access at
school.
Keys: Please keep your keys safe. You may have to pay for new locks if you lose them.
Telephone: Most hosts do not let students use their landline. If you are allowed to use it, ask permission before every.
Smoking: If you want to smoke, please check with the host where you can do it. Do not smoke in your bedroom.
Getting back late: Please tell your host if you are going to get back after 10pm or are staying away for the night. London
police insist that students aged under 18 must always be home before 10 o’clock.
Visitors: Please ask permission to bring visitors to the house and also check when they should leave.
Washing Clothes: Most hosts will wash your clothes for you once a week.
Damage: Twin will not accept responsibility if you damage anything in the house. You must pay for it.
Problems in your homestay: Tell your homestay if you are unhappy about something. If you have any problems, talk to
Student Services and they will put you in touch with the Accommodations team.
If you need to change your homestay, this may be possible, but you will have to give one week’s notice or pay one
week’s money.
Contact: [email protected]

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