Householders with a spare room may often turn to consider becoming hosts of homestay accommodation for international students. Offering a room to a young person, who is perhaps setting out in the world for the first time, is seen as much more than a help with paying off the mortgage or household running costs. Countless testimonials from homestay hosts tend to talk mainly about opening up their world too.
Hosts are not only likely to naturally help with improving a student’s English-speaking over the weeks or months while living with them. There are also many other rewarding ways that add up to an overall satisfying experience, such as offering small bits of advice on how to negotiate a variety of everyday activities. These might include shortcuts to the nearest bus stop or working out the cheapest way to use travel zones!
The increasing popularity of staying in a hosted accommodation means that more than a quarter of a million non-UK students now come to live and study in Britain. In 2013/14, the number of first year non-UK students stood at 236,580, according to the latest available figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency HESA (2013-14).
Needs of student matched to the preferences of the host
Whether out of economic necessity or desire for a safe and secure ‘home-from-home’ environment, many students select a homestay option rather than risk the ‘high street, high-rent’ single room or staying in a hotel. Above all, homestay enables young students to really experience English life and culture in a friendly and welcoming family-style setting. It can be fascinating to both hosts and their guests to compare histories, backgrounds and ways of doing things.
Homeowners seriously considering offering student accommodation to those who specifically choose to come to Britain to study should be aware that hosting schemes are no ‘hit and miss’ affairs. An organisation, such as Hosts International, for example, operate to British Council approved standards, and ensure that the needs of every student applicant is matched to the preferences of every homestay host. A host applicant and the accommodation they offer is carefully checked to ensure standards are met.
So what questions should a prospective homestay provider ask of themselves first to see if they are hosting for the right reasons?
Taking care of youngsters in the house again
It should go without saying that the word, “homestay” defines what a host should be doing, i.e. providing an international student or overseas visitor a base within a family environment, within which they (and the host) may enjoy a culturally rewarding experience. In other words, if the motives are purely financial, then hosting is for the wrong reasons and could eventually begin to have a negative effect on everyone.
Nevertheless, a key question is always going to be about how simply having a guest in the house will impact daily life. Some hosting candidates may either be single or a couple whose own children have left home. They may be looking forward to taking care of youngsters in the house again, which allows them to once more glimpse and understand the world through their eyes, and perhaps share common concerns.
However, this may only happen at breakfast, in the evenings when sharing a meal or at the weekends. The main aim, of course, is to treat the student guest as part of the family at all times. So if the agreed meal plan does involve providing supper, it is important for the host to ensure their young guest join with the family rather than sit by themselves to eat alone in their room.
While there is no obligation for a host to be responsible for entertaining their guest in their free time, it’s likely that the student will have a full schedule of studying and perhaps visiting places with friends they make at college. Any other time is sure to be filled by being on Snapchat or Skyping!