Homestays offer enriching experiences for all the family. A homestay gives you the base to immerse yourself in a new culture, meet local people and improve your language skills. They’re also excellent value for money, providing budget-friendly options for seeing the world at its best. For children, the homestay can spark a lifelong love of travel and language. Many studies have found that learning a second language at a young age unlocks numerous benefits too.
Whether you are travelling as a family or your child is attending a homestay program alone, the prospect of being away from home can be daunting. Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can prepare your child for their very first homestay experience.
Do more research
Your research should not end once you have picked your destination and selected your homestay host. Delving a little deeper into your location and the culture that will greet you on arrival will get the excitement flowing, and leave you and your child more comfortable about what lies ahead.
Get your homestay host involved in your fact-finding mission. Ask them about the local community and culture, as well as the structure and style you can expect from the homestay experience. Adjusting to a new country and culture takes time; give yourself the best possible chance and prevent culture shock by starting your research long before you arrive. The food culture is one thing many have to prepare for in advance, as Tokio Marine HCC details:
‘Is lunch or dinner more important? What are general meal times? There are several questions to research as you prepare to go abroad. In each culture, food and mealtimes mean something different. In Spain for example, lunch is the most important meal of the day and dinner is smaller and served late evening, around 10 pm.’
Get to know the host
The fabulous thing about finding a homestay through Lingoo is being able to communicate with your hosts long before your homestay begins. Our secure messaging service gives you the means to get to know your host and their lifestyle. With this insight you can ease your child into cultural norms, find out more about who they’ll be staying with and also gain the information you need to be mindful when staying with your host or host family.
Your homestay offers a nurturing environment for language learning and cultural exploration. By getting to know the host and their lifestyle your child can fully participate in family life upon arrival and enjoy the experience with an open mind and heart.
Start a journal
Encourage your child to write down their thoughts and experiences in the run up to the homestay. Getting a handle on emotions that could cause homesickness will ensure they have the best possible time. This journal can then be taken along for the journey to help record impressions of what is certain to be an amazing trip.
Want a language learning adventure without the fuss of travelling elsewhere? Hiring a language au pair may be the right step for you and your family.
