Homestay Guidelines for Students
Know that the goal of the Homestay Program is to bring the diversity of international students together with the diversity of American homes and families with the hope that this shared experience will inspire lasting friendships and learning.
Please feel welcome into our homes. Do not be afraid to ask questions, speak openly and participate in regular family activities.
Please be courteous and respectful of the family and home. This means, for example, keeping your bedroom clean, and bathroom clean and dry; letting your homestay know if you will not be home for dinner or if you will be late coming home at night; being careful of how much noise you make when others are sleeping; learning the ‘house rules’ or special needs of your homestay.
Please attend to American customs regarding personal cleanliness.
Overnight guests or romantic visits, day or night, are not allowed. This is a family issue as well as a security issue. There are several homestays that have children for which this issue is especially important.
Check with the homestay about daytime visitors.
Please be careful about use of water, electricity, gas, etc. Be aware that these are expensive, especially during the summer and winter. Limiting your showers to 10 – 15 minutes, turning off lights when leaving a room, turning off TVs when not in use or when sleeping will be appreciated by your family.
Do not use homestay appliances such as washers/dryers until your homestay family shows you how to operate them properly.
Please use a calling card for any long-distance calls, unless you have set up your own phone line under your own name.
Don’t forget you are here above all else to learn English. So ask questions, and tell your homestay about your day.
You are expected to show respect to family members and behave responsibly at all times.
The continental breakfast is self-serve, and a family member usually prepares the evening meal. Remember that you need to clean up after you have breakfast.
Smoking, using alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs are NOT permitted. However when smoking is permitted outside, extinguish your cigarette butt COMPLETELY and dispose of it properly.
Please always remember that most problems come from communication and language-related problems. If you are confused or angry about something with your homestay family, it is probably because of some misunderstanding. Try to communicate with your family, ask questions if you don’t understand something. Talk to them (politely) if you are upset or angry.
Please do your best to fit into your homestay family’s normal routine, schedules and usual diet (although food likes, dislikes, and allergies will be taken into consideration by your family when making the evening meal).
You are responsible to reimburse your homestay family for any repairs due to damage to their home or property, or any outstanding bill, before you leave the home.
Notify the homestay coordinator immediately if there is any problem between you and your family, or if you are planning to move out.
Students are not expected to do household chores beyond cleaning up after themselves and maintaining their private living spaces. Participation in household routines such as clearing the dinner table, however, is considered good manners in our culture.
If a student chooses to move out of the home stay for reasons other than incompatability, for example, they found an apartment in which to move, they want to live closer to the ELI, and choose to not wait until the end of the session to move, they must pay their homestay owner for the entire session. No refunds for unused days in the current session.