GUIDELINES FOR LIVING WITH A HOMESTAY

 

Every family’s way of life will be different. Always ask politely if you are unsure about what you can and can’t do in their home. They will tell you things when you first arrive but you won’t remember everything, so it is fine to ask them again to clarify.

 

Here are some points for general guidance to help you:

 

Communicating with your homestay

• Always try to be friendly and helpful: it is polite to make conversation and get to know something about the family and they will be interested to get to know you too. You may find you get on very well!
• Take the opportunity to practise your English, even short conversations will help you improve.
• If you are shy or don’t understand something, ask them to say something again more slowly, they won’t mind.
• Don’t stay in your bedroom all the time, the family may think this is a little rude and worry that you are unhappy. They may like you to join in with family activities or sit with them in the living room at times. If you are studying for exams or have a lot of homework, explain what you are doing.
• Ask questions about things that surprise you or you don’t understand. You might learn something new and it is interesting to compare cultures.
• If you are planning to go out, ask for their advice and recommendations on public transport, good shopping centres, activities and places to visit in the area. They will usually be very helpful. NB If you are 14 years old or less, you must stay with your homestay family at all times.

 

 

Helping in the Home

• Families may ask you to help, especially at mealtimes, with jobs such as laying and clearing the table, emptying or filling the dishwasher. Please do as you are asked – they will show you what to do.
• It is a good idea to offer your help even if they don’t ask: ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’ They will really appreciate this.

Food:

• Breakfast is usually between 6 and 8am (although later at weekends), lunch between 12 and 2pm, dinner (or tea/supper) between 5 and 8pm. Ask your family what time the meals are and arrive beforehand to help out. The times may change depending on the activities of the family.
• Breakfast is usually cereal with milk, or toast with butter and jam, occasionally you may have a cooked breakfast at the weekend. Lunch is often a light meal of sandwiches, soup or salad – sometimes families will cook a big Sunday lunch. The evening meal is usually a hot meal and sometimes a dessert. Every family will prepare different kinds of food, try them and see what you like! Let them know any foods you can’t eat or really don’t like beforehand. Let them know what meals you enjoy!
• Your family will let you know if there are any snacks or drinks you can have in between meals and where they are. These are usually biscuits, cakes, crisps and fruit. Always ask if you can have a snack from the kitchen, don’t help yourself. Ask if you can eat them in your bedroom. If you have your own snacks, ask them where you can store them in the kitchen rather than in your bedroom.
• Show good table manners: try to eat with your mouth closed and don’t make noises (in the UK this is rude). Don’t use your mobile phone at the table, and wait until everyone has finished eating. Make conversation during the meal and thank your host at the end. ‘That was lovely, thank you’.

Being clean and tidy:

• Your room will be clean when you first arrive, please keep it clean and tidy: make your bed every day, put clothes away and rubbish in the bin.
• Don’t leave your belongings over the house, take them to your room and clean the bathroom after yourself, pick up towels and clothes.

Using the bathroom and toilet.

• Ask when you can use the bathroom and be considerate of other family members who need to use it – don’t stay in too long.
• Ask them how to use the bathroom: you may need to put a mat down on the floor and wipe the shower or bath. Try not to get water on the floor and clean it up if you do.
• Your family may ask you to limit the time you are in the shower so that you don’t use too much hot water – please do as they wish.
• British people usually have one shower a day, not two or three, please do the same.
• Put toilet paper down the toilet, not in the bin. Don’t put any other items down the toilet and always clean it if you need to.

Keeping yourself clean

• wash your hands and the rest of your body regularly so that you are clean and presentable and that you are not at risk of catching or spreading an infection. Wash your hair every few days. Your family will expect you to wash every day, use deodorant and brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes in the morning and at night.

Changing clothes

• Change your underwear and socks every day, shirts frequently and other items when needed – put them in a wash bag in a cupboard or drawer.
• Put your shoes outside (weather permitting) to air if they smell.

Laundry

• You may be asked if you want to have some clothes washed, they will often wash your clothes with the rest of the family’s. You can ask if you want to wash clothes and they will either do it for you or let you use the washing machine and drier, but this won’t be every day. Don’t wash clothes without asking.

 

Use of Mobile phones, computers and the Internet.

• It is not polite to be using your mobile phone when someone is talking to you or at mealtimes or to use it all the time when you go out on an excursion with the family. Try leaving it in your bedroom when you are going to be with family members.
• You may use your laptop to study or play computer games, however if you are doing this excessively and during the night, it is not healthy; the homestay may ask you to stop and may switch the wifi off.
• You may use wifi in the home for normal usage, however it is advisable not to download too much material from the internet as this may affect the wifi availability for family members. Ask them if you wish to download material and show them what you are downloading.

Noise

• Try not to make too much noise. If you want to listen to loud music or a film, use headphones and if you are playing a game with another student try not to get too excited. Families will expect you to be very quiet between 11pm and 7am, as they will generally be asleep. It’s a good idea for you to sleep too during these hours.

 

Going out and coming back to the home

• Please ask for permission from the family if you wish to go out, explaining what you would like to do: shopping, seeing friends, going to the town centre. In some cases, if the homestay thinks it is unsafe, they may say ‘No’ due to your age, maturity, type of activity, who you are going with, or how long you will be.
• If you disagree with the homestay’s decision, please talk to them politely. If you can’t reach a compromise, contact Study Links.
• If your homestay gives you permission to go out, make sure that you have their phone number and the Study Links emergency number saved in your phone and it is fully charged. Tell your homestay what time you will be back and if you will want dinner or not. If you are going to be late, ring them and tell them.
• Your homestay family will tell you how late you can stay out. Study Links advise the following times to be home; your homestay may prefer to say an earlier time.
  • Under 14 yrs Must always be accompanied by an adult
  • 14yrs Home before dark
  • 15 – 16yrs Home by 10pm
  • 17 – 18yrs Home by 11pm

 

Money

You should offer to pay for yourself if you go with your homestay to the cinema, restaurant or participate in other family activities when there is a fee involved.

 

Asking permission

Always ask about the following:

• When to take a shower.
• If you are allowed to use the kitchen.
• If friends are allowed to visit the house.
• If you can go outside the house without the family.
• If you can eat in your room.
• If/when you can use the computer/internet

 

Keeping Safe when staying in a Homestay

 

• If your homestay gives you a key, take very good care of it.
• Take UK adapters and chargers to use in UK homestays, ones from your country may pose a fire risk.
• If you are old enough to go out on your own, remember to always lock the door and close the windows before you leave the house.
• Turn off all electrical appliances after use e.g. hairdryer, lights, heaters.
• You should keep the homestay’s name, address and telephone number with you at all times.
• Give your homestay your mobile number so that they can contact you in an emergency.
• Never carry large sums of money with you when you go out and be very careful with your mobile phone and any credit cards, they can be stolen very easily.

 

Study Links Homestay Rules:

There are times when misunderstandings do occur. Please try to follow the guidelines above and read the list of rules for staying in homestay below so you are clear what is acceptable.  Contact Study Links if anything concerns you.

 

Homestay Rules as agreed by Study Links:

 

• You must not stay out overnight with a friend or relative without prior agreement with Study Links.
• You cannot invite your friends to stay at the homestay overnight. Permission will only be given in exceptional circumstances and you must seek permission from Study Links beforehand.
• You are not allowed to have friends of the opposite sex in your bedroom.
• You are not allowed to pay the homestay directly or make your own arrangements directly with the homestay.
• You must respect the home and property of the homestay family.
• You must return promptly for meals.
• You must politely tell the homestay if there is any food you do not like to eat.
• If you want to eat outside of the homestay you must ask the permission of the family at least one day before.
• You must always ask the family for permission if you want to go out. You must tell the family where you intend to go. Permission will be given at the discretion of the homestay family according to your age and maturity.
• You must return home at the time agreed with the family.
• You must be clean and tidy.
• You must report any damage to the homestay family immediately. Damage must be paid for.
• You must use your own pocket money to pay for entertainment and excursions.
• If you have a lot of pocket money in cash, you should give it to the homestay for safe keeping.
• You must tell the homestay if you feel ill or are taking medicine.
• Do not use the homestay telephone – always use your own mobile phone unless the homestay gives you permission to use their phone.
• You must not download large files on to your phone and laptop and must not access illegal material at any time.
• You are living as a part of a family. The homestay is not your servant– treat them with respect.
• You must do what they ask you to in their home.