Foreign
students are a common sight in cities up and down our country,
especially during the summer months. The students often come over either
for the purposes of travelling or to learn English as a second
language. Many of these students require a place to stay during their
visit and choose to be taken in by families or others with a spare room
as way of making a little bit of extra money.
This suits both parties, as the student gets comfortable surroundings in their city of choice, and the owner gets a steady income without too much trouble. It is an increasingly popular thing to do, as the UK continues to grow in popularity, as well as the need for foreign students to learn English.
It needn't be a long-term commitment, either and may only be for a few weeks at a time, depending on the students circumstances. If you have never hosted a student before then it may be the best option to have a short-term visit to start with. That way, you can get a feel for it and next time host a more long-term student.
Usually, the students who are in the country to learn English stay the shortest: between 4 and 6 weeks. The foreign students who tend to stay longer are those that are studying at university. There are a whole host of ways to host a foreign student. There are thousands at any one time, and most are studying, so colleges and universities are a great starting point. Alongside this, the foreign language schools for the short-term student can be a perfect place to inquire.
Be prepared to have questions at hand however. You should have thought about how long you want the host to stay, the age group of the student and what exactly you have to give them in terms of your accommodation, as this varies depending on their situation. Some may want more for their board than others, so consider how much you are willing to provide for your student. You may let the student cook as and when they like to, or only offer a breakfast to them, or cook for all of you. It is your choice and you should make sure you feel comfortable with your decision.
The most common option is to provide house and board during the hosting, and while the student goes to their studies. They have freedom in the evening and can enter and exit your home when they like. Hosting is a perfect way to make friends, learn a culture and offer a home for a student, whilst making some money at the same time.
This suits both parties, as the student gets comfortable surroundings in their city of choice, and the owner gets a steady income without too much trouble. It is an increasingly popular thing to do, as the UK continues to grow in popularity, as well as the need for foreign students to learn English.
It needn't be a long-term commitment, either and may only be for a few weeks at a time, depending on the students circumstances. If you have never hosted a student before then it may be the best option to have a short-term visit to start with. That way, you can get a feel for it and next time host a more long-term student.
Usually, the students who are in the country to learn English stay the shortest: between 4 and 6 weeks. The foreign students who tend to stay longer are those that are studying at university. There are a whole host of ways to host a foreign student. There are thousands at any one time, and most are studying, so colleges and universities are a great starting point. Alongside this, the foreign language schools for the short-term student can be a perfect place to inquire.
Be prepared to have questions at hand however. You should have thought about how long you want the host to stay, the age group of the student and what exactly you have to give them in terms of your accommodation, as this varies depending on their situation. Some may want more for their board than others, so consider how much you are willing to provide for your student. You may let the student cook as and when they like to, or only offer a breakfast to them, or cook for all of you. It is your choice and you should make sure you feel comfortable with your decision.
The most common option is to provide house and board during the hosting, and while the student goes to their studies. They have freedom in the evening and can enter and exit your home when they like. Hosting is a perfect way to make friends, learn a culture and offer a home for a student, whilst making some money at the same time.
