What is a Homestay?
A homestay is a period of time when you live in an American home as a member of the family. Although students pay their own expenses for room and board, a homestay is more of a relationship than a room rental.
Homestay owners are carefully selected for their kind and caring personalities and their genuine desire and willingness to open their homes and share their family lives and customs with the students.
Students who live in a homestay find that their English improves dramatically through conversation and daily interaction with their families. They have a great sense of security and exposure to a rich variety of cultural learning opportunities, like family activities, holiday celebrations, religious practices, sporting events, etc. The greatest reward for the students and families is the deep, lasting friendship between them.
The Homestay Family
In the United States a homestay family can take many forms. A homestay can be a retired couple, a single-parent family, a single, divorced, or widowed individual, as well as traditional family. They can be young or older, with or without children, different race or creed, but they all share a strong interest in the international students. Many of the families have traveled, lived abroad, or have hosted students before so they can identify the challenges you face while adjusting to life in America.
The homestay family facility will include:
- A safe, clean and comfortable home
- A kind and caring family
- An English-speaking environment
- A private furnished bedroom with study area
- Linens/towels
- Healthy meals, if desired
- Kitchen access, as arranged with the family (students are responsible for cleaning up after themselves)
- Access to laundry facilities, including detergent etc.
- Telephone access, for local calls only
- Television privileges
- Internet access (in many homes)
- Airport pick-up and drop-off at an additional fee
The Homestay Student
Living with a homestay family requires cooperation that involves some personal sacrifices. A homestay student is like a family member, not a guest. As a result, families may have certain expectations from the student, such as, participating in family activities, cleaning one’s room and bathroom, keeping reasonable hours, communicating with the family about one’s schedule, occasionally helping with minor household chores, and not inviting guests without the family’s permission. Not every student is prepared to live with a homestay family.
What kind of student is best suited to live with a homestay family?
A student who:
- Is able to recognize that being in a homestay is a privilege
- Is able to appreciate and enjoy different kinds of people and appreciate a family environment
- Is willing to make an effort to communicate and cooperate with others
- Will follow the rules and preference of the family
- Is mature, stable, flexible, and good-natured
Transportation
Many homestay families do not live close to the University of Delaware campus so transportation and distance is often an issue for the students. Those families that do not live within walking distance to the ELI will provide transportation to and from school but cannot always provide transportation when the student(s) needs it or desires it. Public transportation is available but limited.
If you think that a homestay is for you please fill out a Homestay Student Application. We will do our best effort to match you with the most suitable family available.
For questions or concerns please contact Nancy Purcell, ELI Homestay Coordinator, at rtp3@aol.com