| Host family accommodation can be an integral | | | | self catering. Students should expect the following |
| component to the studies of international | | | | conditions: - a single room (or a double or twin as |
| students. Not only does the host family provide a | | | | requested) - a study table or desk - hanging |
| home environment with the opportunity for | | | | space and drawer space for clothes - heating, |
| privacy or integration but also potentially provides | | | | when necessary and lighting - shared use of a |
| emotional support and friendship. Reputable | | | | shower or bath daily (Executive rooms have their |
| schools select their host families carefully and | | | | own private bathrooms) - clean bed linen each |
| they are regularly inspected to make sure that | | | | week - a clean home in good condition - laundry |
| high standards are maintained, conforming to | | | | facilities Schools are careful not to put 2 students |
| specifications of various accrediting bodies. The | | | | of the same language together in the homes that |
| homes that have been selected have diverse | | | | accommodate 2 or more students. If, when the |
| conditions and a 'host family' could be a single | | | | student has arrived, he requests to change |
| person or a couple, that are retired, or where one | | | | families, most schools will arrange for them to |
| or both are working. It could be with or without | | | | visit alternative families so they can make their |
| young, teenage or adult children or pets. The | | | | own selection. Some schools charge for this |
| hosts can be any age - early 20's to middle aged | | | | service and may insist on a period of notice |
| or older. When students book their | | | | (unless there are exceptional circumstances). |
| accommodation, they can request certain | | | | Accommodation placements are normally done by |
| conditions, which schools take into account when | | | | experienced personnel, who would take into |
| allocating a host family. The student may have | | | | account student nationality, age, gender, length of |
| allergies, religious reasons or have personal likes | | | | stay, as well as the students likes and dislikes, and |
| and dislikes and request a home with no cats; no | | | | so on when booking the student with an |
| dogs; no young children, television in the bedroom, | | | | appropriate host family. Host families enjoy |
| wireless Internet, a special diet. Furthermore they | | | | hosting international students, as not only does it |
| may request a home with grown up children; | | | | provide an additional income but it also brings |
| other students in the home, or to be the only | | | | diversity to their lives, increasing an interest in |
| student in the home. During the busy summer | | | | cultures, travel and language learning. Host families |
| period, meeting these requests is likely to be | | | | tell of friends they have secured for life and |
| more difficult and not guaranteed so students are | | | | students tell of the wonderful experience they |
| advised to book the course and accommodation | | | | have had with their British families and of course |
| as early as possible. The board can vary and | | | | how it helped with their language and fluency. |
| many schools offer either standard or Executive | | | | Ian Gault is the Executive Director of BBSI one of |
| (ensuite) host family accommodation, single | | | | the most highly-accredited private education, |
| occupancy or sharing, and students may be able | | | | training institutions and English language schools in |
| to choose full or part-board, bed & breakfast or | | | | the UK. |