Is there a secret to successful homestay accommodation hosting? It’s a question often first asked by homeowners new to hosting a room for international students. Crossing the communication barrier can sometimes be a challenge! Naturally, you would be most keen to hear key tips and advice, which could save you from the hint of an avoidable misunderstanding or upset suddenly becoming a bigger problem as the days or weeks pass.
Most stories heard over the years from some of the rent-a-room providers around the UK registered with Hosts International reinforce the many spontaneous, delightful moments shared which make hosting such a rich and rewarding experience.
International students who choose to study in the UK and stay with a host family will want to practise their English conversation and learn about the often strange customs and quirks of the British way of life. At the same time they have opted for the secure and comfortable ‘home-to home’ atmosphere, with the clear benefits of meal plans, the weekly laundry and room clean! Sometimes that can come with differing expectations…
A student should not spend every moment hidden away in their room
In the latest Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) report for International students studying in the UK, 2015-16, it was found that China and Malaysia were the top two countries for non-EU students applications followed by the USA. Other countries high on the list include India, Hong Kong and Nigeria. The top two EU countries for student applications were Germany and France while Greece, Cyprus, Rumania and Poland also featured.
It’s therefore, important to remember that your role as a “host” means actively making an international student feel welcome, relaxed and not wary of engaging with you and your family. A student should not spend every moment hidden away in their room, when not in college. It can be a big jump for some students living for a long period away from home for the first time – and in a country that may be somewhat different from their own.
Not all students are the same! But for very practical, common-sense reasons, it can become a force of habit for some homestay hosts to presuppose what might or might not happen each time a particular young man or woman from overseas knocks on their door after being dropped off by the host organiser’s transport straight from the airport. Some students will bring flowers or a little gift from their home country as a polite “hello”, while others simply do not, or forget!
It’s up to you to put a student’s mind at rest
It’s only natural to make snap judgements – and you’re not the only one! A student is likely to take their first impression of you as an indication of what they might expect during their time under your roof. As the host, from the moment you open the front door it’s up to you to put a student’s mind at rest that they have made the right choice. Remember, both you and your students would have entered important preferences and any special requirements, say over cultural or dietary matters, to the hosting organisation in advance.
Nevertheless, a crucial part of your welcome must include a ‘check in’ to go over all the items that they had requested and enquired about at the outset. Your student will be reassured that you had listened and can provide for their specific needs. At the same time, you should also spend a few minutes to set out the house rules that need to be followed. A young student will appreciate knowing what they can and can’t do while staying in your home. Naturally, your young guest might be shy and nervous at first, which you might mistakenly read as being withdrawn and a possible obstacle to making them feel at home.
You can also help to break any early barriers and make them really feel welcome by offering something to eat and drink after their long journey, handing over a front door key, exchanging mobile numbers and presenting them with their first week’s set of towels.
Set and actively maintain the relationship agenda
Hosting is an art and little touches go a long way. When you show your student their room for the first time, not only does it need to be spotlessly clean and tidy with fresh bed linen, but also the wastepaper bin should be empty, and their study desk, cupboards and drawers cleared, too. Inadvertent traces of a previous student’s stay might suggest you are not as organised as they might have expected. That can create unease, distrust and other negative behaviour.
So the big tip for a new host would simply be to set and actively maintain the relationship agenda. You need to ‘lead the way’ for your student guests and to try and involve them in family/household activities, and of course, daily conversation – especially at mealtimes! Enquire about their life back home, their family, interests and even their favourite foods! Learning about each other’s background and culture is an important part of hosting international students – and there’s always something new to discover. Make the most of being a host – the biggest tip of all!