What do I need to know to become a host family with Mountlands Language School?
Hosting students can be a very rewarding experience. Whether you are a young family and want to introduce your children to a different culture, retired and enjoy the company, or just like talking to different nationalities, introducing a student into your home is a great way of meeting new people whilst earning from it. Remember, the students are here to improve their use of the English language and staying with a host family is a very important part of this experience.
If you are interested in becoming a homestay family, please read the following.......
HOMESTAY FAMILY TERMS AND CONDITIONS 2012
Mountlands is a small family run international language school with an age range from 10 to 65, although the majority of our students are between 13 and 17. Our busiest time is between April and September this is when we require the most host families. Students come either on an individual basis or as part of a group, but provisional bookings can also come in throughout the year.
Accommodation
Students are offered single or twin room. Students who have requested a twin room should only be sharing a room with one other student.The room should consist of:
- 1 or 2 full size single beds
- A wardrobe and drawers
- A desk and a chair
- A mirror and adequate lighting
The room must be in good condition, clean and neatly decorated, heated if necessary.Clean bedding and a towel should be provided and changed weekly.The students must have free access to the bathroom. You may wish to work out a rota for these facilities.Students are asked by Mountlands to keep their rooms tidy, however the general cleaning of the room is down to the HF and should be done weekly.The HF should not accommodate more students than they can provide beds for. No more than 2 students are allowed in a room unless agreed by the School.Mountlands assure our agents that students will not be sharing with other students of the same nationality unless previously agreed by Mountlands. You must inform us if you have students of the same nationality from another agency.
Catering
The HF is required to provide the following:-
| Breakfast | A choice of tea, coffee or juice. Cereals & toast with preserves.A full English breakfast is not required, but it maybe nice to offer this at least once as part of their experience. |
| Lunch | Packed lunch must consist of 2 rounds of sandwiches, rolls or baguette (filled with ham, egg, cheese, chicken tuna & salad). A piece of fruit, a fruit or chocolate bar and a packet of crisps are also required along with a cold drink. We recommend you ask your student at the start of the week what their preferences are to avoid waste. |
| Evening Meal | A two course cooked meal should be offered of good quantity. A beverage should always be offered. Students are used to having bread & butter with their meal. |
Please inform your student on arrival of meal times. Where possible please have family meals together, this gives an opportunity to interact.It is probably be a good idea to ask them at the outset if there is anything they particularly do not like, to avoid preparing food which is then thrown away.
Arrivals and Departures
Our students usually arrive on a Sunday and come to the Exmouth coach park. We require that the HF be at the coach park at the specified time in order to receive their student. Likewise on the last day we require that you bring your student back to the coach park in time for a prompt departure. You may order a taxi for your student if the departure time is inconvenient to you. Please see a Mountlands representative at the coach park to receive your payment on the day of departure. (Or yourcheque will be posted to you).
Booking Agreement
Mountlands will telephone the HF when a student booking has been confirmed. Written confirmation will be sent to you one week before arrival.Mountlands reserves the right to change one student for another of the same sex at any time. In extreme circumstances we may remove a student from your home.Mountlands reserves the right to cancel bookings at any time up to one week before student arrival. If the student makes acancellation or request a change of accommodation within one week of arrival, Mountlands will pay £20.00 compensation fee, unless we can replace the student within one week.
Insurance
Regrettably, accidents do occur when students are staying with you, It maybe advisable to carry out a risk assessment in the areas that your student will be using. We have a check list for this, if you need help, please ask. It is important to check with your insurers, as most household policies do not cover damage incurred by foreign students and we regret thatMOUNTLANDS cannot take responsibility for accidents of any kind.
School
We ask please that you bring your student to school on the first morning. Thereafter students should be encouraged to walk. Or if at all possible give them a lift if only part of the way. If a bus is required please show them where, what time, what number and what to ask for. Where possible please put them on the bus yourselves. Make sure they know where to get off the bus and how to get back to your house too.They should be in school at 8.45 each day to start lessons at 09.00.
Timetable
The Mountlands programme is compulsory. You will receive a copy of the time table when you collect your student. (Time tables may vary from student to student). Students should be kept busy by Mountlands most of the time. However, there is some free time and we suggest a curfew time of 21.30 for under 17 year olds, unless otherwise arranged by the school.Students aged 18 plus will need to discuss a suitable coming home time with you. You may take your student with you if you go out. They are here to spend time with you, not their friends! There are usually 2 evening activities during the week that should finish at 21.30. If at all possible it would be appreciated if you could collect your students (under 17 years) on these occasions. Please let us know.Remember the HF is acting as guardian to the student and therefore is responsible for their welfare at times when they are not taking part in the school programme.
**Sunday is the only day that we ask that you please spend some quality time with your student. If only for a short walk along the beach. They should not spend the whole day unaccompanied. They will usually want to meet their friends at some point, but we do insist that you also spend some time with them.
PLEASE NOTE
Do not take any instructions from your students regarding changes to the timetable. We will notify you of any changes by letter or telephone, otherwise please keep to our programme.
General
Host families are not required to do student laundry, that said, it would be much appreciated if you could let the students use your laundry facilities.
We would ask please that you allow the student to make a call home at least once. Thereafter please allow them to receive reasonably timed incoming calls.
Students should not use you computer unless it has been cleared with you first. Please tell them the when they can use it.
Students need to be able to enter your home. You may wish to supply a door key if you think they are responsible enough, if not, someone needs to be at home to receive them at the required times.
Students are given a safety talk by the local police officer on their first day at school. It covers places to avoid in Exmouth, (Manor Gardens & the amusements arcades, after 20:00) and the laws regarding drinking alcohol, smoking and the carrying of blades.
Mountlands DO NOT supply bus tickets for all students. The agents are aware of this. A weekly pass can be purchased on the bus.
We may use your photographs in our advertising promotions; please state if you do NOT want us to.
EMERGENCIES
In case of an accident or illness, please deal with the situation where possible and inform the school immediately on the following numbers:-
24 HOUR EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER - Cheryl - Accommodations Officer: 07980 833772ELLA 0792 9717223 DEBORAH 07976 902447
Non emergencies 01395 223942 (office answer phone)
We have worked very hard to make sure that Mountlands Language School has an excellent reputation, and this is mainly due to good host family relations. We have high standards and appreciate open lines of communication. Should your student show signs of unacceptable behavior, please contact us or the leader of the group so it can be dealt with.Please help us to continue to be the very best at what we do. Thank you.
With 2 miles of golden sands, the hustle and bustle of Exmouth town and surrounded by the rolling hills of the East Devon countryside, we really do have it all at Mountlands Language School.
