| family accommodation can be an integral component | | | | & breakfast or self catering. Students should |
| to the studies of international students. Not only does | | | | expect the following conditions: |
| the host family provide a home environment with the | | | | - a single room (or a double or twin as requested) |
| opportunity for privacy or integration but also potentially | | | | - a study table or desk |
| provides emotional support and friendship. Reputable | | | | - hanging space and drawer space for clothes |
| schools select their host families carefully and they are | | | | - heating, when necessary and lighting |
| regularly inspected to make sure that high standards | | | | - shared use of a shower or bath daily (Executive |
| are maintained, conforming to specifications of various | | | | rooms have their own private bathrooms) |
| accrediting bodies. | | | | - clean bed linen each week |
| The homes that have been selected have diverse | | | | - a clean home in good condition |
| conditions and a 'host family' could be a single person | | | | - laundry facilities |
| or a couple, that are retired, or where one or both are | | | | Schools are careful not to put 2 students of the same |
| working. It could be with or without young, teenage or | | | | language together in the homes that accommodate 2 |
| adult children or pets. The hosts can be any age - | | | | or more students. If, when the student has arrived, he |
| early 20's to middle aged or older. When students | | | | requests to change families, most schools will arrange |
| book their accommodation, they can request certain | | | | for them to visit alternative families so they can make |
| conditions, which schools take into account when | | | | their own selection. Some schools charge for this |
| allocating a host family. The student may have | | | | service and may insist on a period of notice (unless |
| allergies, religious reasons or have personal likes and | | | | there are exceptional circumstances). Accommodation |
| dislikes and request a home with no cats; no dogs; no | | | | placements are normally done by experienced |
| young children, television in the bedroom, wireless | | | | personnel, who would take into account student |
| Internet, a special diet. Furthermore they may request | | | | nationality, age, gender, length of stay, as well as the |
| a home with grown up children; other students in the | | | | students likes and dislikes, and so on when booking the |
| home, or to be the only student in the home. During the | | | | student with an appropriate host family. |
| busy summer period, meeting these requests is likely | | | | Host families enjoy hosting international students, as |
| to be more difficult and not guaranteed so students | | | | not only does it provide an additional income but it also |
| are advised to book the course and accommodation | | | | brings diversity to their lives, increasing an interest in |
| as early as possible. | | | | cultures, travel and language learning. Host families tell |
| The board can vary and many schools offer either | | | | of friends they have secured for life and students tell |
| standard or Executive (ensuite) host family | | | | of the wonderful experience they have had with their |
| accommodation, single occupancy or sharing, and | | | | British families and of course how it helped with their |
| students may be able to choose full or part-board, bed | | | | language and fluency. |