Living with a host family is a unique experience that many students cherish. It often serves as a highlight of their study abroad journey, providing an opportunity to immerse themselves in the local culture and build meaningful connections. The time in the evenings and at weekends is often underestimated by most other institutions, however this for many students is the highlight of the programme and provides for excellent language development in the relaxed atmosphere of the home. Students build up their confidence in communicating in English naturally – something that most teachers in a classroom don’t often have time for.
Most evenings, students will have tasks to complete with the family. This will often centre around the food they eat at home compared to what they are eating in England and the times of meals. It may involve discussions about everyday issues as well as the places they will be visiting on the programme. Host families offer invaluable support, helping students adjust to their new environment while sharing insights about the local lifestyle. This arrangement not only facilitates language learning but also fosters friendships that can last a lifetime
Teachers: Host Families provide full board accommodation (including packed lunch on programme days and on departure), and they take responsibility for safe transfer between their home and the SOL centre. For families living close to the centre this may involve walking, but they will always be accompanied on the first day and for those under 15, throughout the course. Students will never walk on their own and public transport is not used unless accompanied by the host family.
The accommodation will also provide the necessary privacy and comfort for the students, though much of the evening time and Sunday will be spent with the family itself. Most families enjoy welcoming more than one student at a time, and we have found that when students are placed together, they help and encourage each other to use English in a family environment. From our extensive experience, students speak far more English with their families if they are with a friend as this offers mutual support to them both.
Embracing this experience can be transformative, as it allows students to gain a deeper understanding of the culture and traditions of their host country. Engaging with a host family can enhance the overall study abroad experience, making it both enriching and memorable.
First experience of walking a dog and toddler.
Students and teachers are asked to complete a simple information sheet about themselves in order to help us match families and visitors as close as possible. These sheets need to be received by us at least 6 weeks before the course begins.
“Please take a moment to watch our host family interview video, where you can get a glimpse of some of our amazing host families”.
