The previous post provided a broad overview of what a homestay is and what host families do while accommodating students.
Despite having an idea about what it is, you might still be contemplating whether hosting an international student is REALLY the right option for you. In this post, we will go over some of the fundamental criteria we look for in our host families for you to consider.
1. Do You Live Close to the City?
A large majority of our students attend language schools located in the CBD. Because of this, we require our host families to be located reasonably close to the main stations of your city and accessible by public transport.
Main Stations for Each City:
- Britomart Station – Auckland
- Town Hall/Museum Station – Sydney
- Southern Cross/Flinders Street Station – Melbourne
※ Please note that we also consider other factors, including (but not limited to) the frequency of the transport system from your home and the walking distance to the nearest bus stop/train station. Additionally, there may be situations where we select host families based on their postcode upon request from our partnering agencies.
2. What Are Your Defining Characteristics?
Host families play a significant role in providing a comfortable home for their students.
Most students will be living away from their country and family for the first time, which can place them outside their comfort zone.
Therefore, it is very important that you are approachable for students, and we seek host families who are kind and willing to help students adjust to a new environment.
Of course, we absolutely do not expect you to become their personal concierge, but we do ask that you take on a role similar to an ‘aunt’ or an ‘advisor’ to help them settle into their new surroundings.
Additionally, from time to time, we may require host families to be a little resilient.
This is because students often come from cultures very different from yours, and they may need some time to adjust to living in your household.
For example, if you are hosting students from Asia, you may need to speak English slowly and use simpler phrases until they get used to listening a native English.
Perhaps using an online translator might be helpful for some students.
3. How Much Commitment Can You Make?
The last question we want you to consider in this article is how much time and effort you can dedicate to hosting a student.
Hosting students requires a consistent commitment to ensure a positive experience.
This includes preparing meals daily, communicating frequently with students, and not leaving them alone at night*.
(This will depend on the profile of each student)
While none of these tasks may seem particularly difficult, maintaining them for weeks or months can be challenging for some people.
Additionally, as a homestay can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many international students, we want them to get the most out of their time with host families.
Therefore, we expect our host families to be responsible and able to make a consistent commitment while the student is staying with them.