Homestay harmony
Homestay harmony a guide to setting boundaries (with a smile!)
As a fantastic homestay provider, you've opened your doors and your heart to a student, creating a welcoming and enriching environment. But even the most comfortable haven can benefit from a little clear communication!
At Languages United we encourage all our homestays to set clear boundaries with their students and here are some tips to help you establish them in a positive and respectful way, fostering a happy and successful homestay experience for everyone.
Mealtime magic
Family dinners are a cornerstone of homestay life – a chance to connect over delicious food, share stories, and create lasting memories. To ensure everyone enjoys this time:
The art of the heads-up: If your student knows they'll be running late for dinner or having dinner in town, please encourage them to let you know as soon as possible. It shows your students you appreciate their thoughtfulness and respect for everyone's time. We do everything in our power to communicate this to all our students.
Flexibility is key: Unexpected challenges can arise, so be flexible when possible, like if they are coming later from their day trip, let them know you will perhaps warm up their dinner, but they may have missed family dinner time if they are arriving much later after a regular family meal time.
Shower superstars
We all love a refreshing shower! But hot water heaters have their limits. Here's how to strike a balance: Have a casual chat about keeping showers to a reasonable length, around up to 5-10 minutes. This ensures everyone gets their turn whilst preserving water. Please frame it as a way to conserve resources – maybe even a fun way to be eco-friendly!
Nighttime peace
A good night's sleep is essential for everyone.
Suggest a "quiet time" after a certain hour, like 10:30 pm. This allows your student to continue studying or socialising online, but at a volume that respects everyone's sleep needs.
Maybe they can use headphones to avoid disturbing anyone's sleep.
Building a strong partnership
Open communication is the golden rule! Encourage your student to reach out if they face any challenges, big or small. Whether it's missing home, struggling with anything, or simply needing more help to understand their bus route, you're there to support them as a partner in their experience, ready to lend a helping hand and an open ear.
It is a “home away from home”, afterall.
If there is anything Languages United can help with, please let us know, we are here for you all the way through your hosting experience.
Keeping things tidy
A clean and organised environment fosters a sense of well-being for everyone. A gentle reminder about keeping clutter at bay can go a long way, so please do encourage your students to keep their room tidy, take their plates to the kitchen after a meal and let them know where to leave dirty laundry and wet towels.
Remember:
You're already an amazing homestay provider! These tips are simply tools to help you and your student have clear communication and ensure everyone has a happy and fulfilling experience.
Through the years long experience in hosting and dealing with students on a daily basis, we have all learnt that it helps tremendously to set those boundaries early on, from the very start, so please do not shy away from it.
We're here to support you!
Our student page on "How to be a Perfect Guest" is sent to all our students in order to introduce them to the British way of life and give them tips on how to be that perfect guest for all our homestays, but in case they miss reading it, we encourage homestays to set the boundaries within their own home.
Our Homestay information site is a valuable resource for our homestays that features some very useful links (please see below links that you may want to check out in case you missed them).
There is a downloadable "About our house" template that you can download and edit and use to introduce your student to your family routines and set expectations from the get-go.
Talking through this on the student's arrival, we suggest keeping it lighthearted and casual, and leaving a copy in their room sets the foundation for a successful stay.
So keep up the fantastic work, homestay heroes!
With clear communication and a supportive environment, you'll create a haven that fosters cultural exchange and lifelong memories for your student… and you and your family.
Useful homestay links:
Homestay provider code of conduct
What to do if you are concerned about your students
Languages United Safeguarding Policy