host Information

INTERNATIONAL HOMESTAYS (2004) LIMITED

HOST INFORMATION

Are you Eligible ?

At International Homestays(2004) Ltd our families consist of many different types of family units, big families, small families, single couples, elderly couples and single parent families. To comply with the Ministry of Educations Code of Practice all family members over the age of 18 will be police vetted. As the students are coming to New Zealand to learn English we prefer homestay families that do not have strong foreign accents.
The most important requirements of homestay families are good English, a safe, warm and comfortable family home, and friendly caring parent(s).

Homestay Challenges

. Being a homestay host has various challenges which students need to overcome. Homestay hosts must be aware of these challenges.

International students will have different values and customs.

They may suffer homesickness. Invariably, this is their first time away from home.

Your family will speak in English which students may not understand. You may need to slow your speech down so as to be understood. Kiwi's have a tendancy to speak fast.

There is a need to be sensitive to the people in the home all the time.

The biggest challenge will probably be the food. Talk to your student, ask what they like / dislike. If your student is of Asian ethnicity, offer rice occassionally instead of potatos.

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Homestay Conditions

Hosts will need to provide:

A separate, fully furnished bedroom, with comfortable bed, Wardrobe, drawers, desk, chair, reading light and heater.

Provide breakfast and dinner Monday through Fridays and Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner over the weekends and Public holidays. The student should also have access to a snack after school. If you take your student /s out for dinner in the evening, it should be treated as a meal at home and paid for by the host family.

Provide fresh linen and towels regularly and do the students laundry.Sometimes the students wish to do
their own laundry so hosts should show them how to use the appliances.

Hosts should provide one set of house keys to enable the student free access. If you feel that you are not comfortable doing this - please contact IHL (2004) to discuss.

Ideally, your home should be be within 10 minutes walk to public transport.Whilst it is appreciated that this may not always be the case, it is unreasonable to expect the student to walk long distances in order to catch public transport.

Advise International Homestays(2004) Ltd if you are all going on holiday so temporary accommodation can be arranged

Probably the most important point to note to the host family is escorting the student to and from school on their first day. This is a vital request which all host families MUST carry out. The student must be familiar with the public transport system so that they are able to get themselves to and from the institution without any problems. So please, on the students first day show them:

How to catch the bus from your house to school and back again.
How to read the bus timetable.
Where to buy bus tickets and where all the bus stops are.
Please accompany your student on the bus to school on the first day.
Hosts are not expected to deliver students to the airport on departure unless you wish to do so.
Students are responsible for paying for their own transport costs.

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