EJO Elizabeth Johnson Organisation

More About a Homestay

Living in an English home provides an ideal opportunity for practising the language. You may need a day or two to settle down, especially if this is your first time away from home. Hosts look after you as a member of their own household and if they have any concerns, immediately discuss them with our accommodation and welfare officer.

Living in the home

You obviously need to remember that you are a guest in the home of your hosts. You will want to be polite to members of the household and as open-minded as possible and positive in trying English food, which may be different to what you have at home! You should keep your room tidy and remember that you are probably sharing the bathroom with other members of the household. You shouldn’t be too long in the bathroom, especially in the mornings when others are probably also getting ready for work or for school!

Laundry

Hostesses are pleased to do reasonable amounts of washing for you. Clothes should be clearly marked with your name.

Telephoning

It is probably best for you family and friends to ring you at a convenient time during the evening. But if you are going to phone from a landline in the home, you should always ask your hostess before doing so and always be sure to pay for any calls made!

When you are not at home, you will be with our members of staff on the course programme. It will be helpful for you to give your hosts your mobile phone number.

Going out

You never leave your home unless an adult member of the household is with you or you are taking the minibus or car to your course. 

For safety and security, however, you complete a student card at the beginning of the course, which includes your name, the course address and telephone number, the name address and telephone number of your hosts, and an emergency phone number.

You take this card with you whenever you go. We attach particular importance to making sure that you have your card with you when you leave the school for local activities and excursions.

Medical care

We hope you won’t feel unwell during the stay, but if this were to happen, your hostess would arrange a visit to the doctor or to the local hospital as appropriate.

Please remember that by English law, we cannot give you any non-prescription medicines unless your parents have sent us a completed Medical Consent Form giving us permission to do so. Pease make sure that you let us have this completed form before you come to England or, alternatively, bring it with you.

If you come from a European Economic Area  (EEA) country and have brought Form E128 or your European Health Insurance Card, you may receive free UK National Heath Service (NHS) treatment. 

If you are from a country outside the EEA, you may have to pay for treatment from a doctor and then claim the cost from your insurance when you return home. It is important that you keep any receipts and records for anything you pay for.

Emergency hospital treatment is free of charge.

It will be necessary for you to pay for any dental or optical treatment you may need.

Please tell your hostess about any special medication your doctor has asked you to take during your stay or about any advice your doctor has given to you.

Clothing

English summers can be unpredictable so you should bring a few items of warm clothing and items to protect you from the rain! A swimsuit, towels and sports shoes are also important (remembering that your name should be clearly marked on each item). Outdoor shoes aren’t allowed in the sports hall.

Pocket money

Everything on our programme is included in the course price. However, you will have an opportunity for supervised shopping when you go out with your hosts or when time is allocated to shopping on local visits or excursions. You may want to buy items for yourself or presents to take home. The amount will vary from student to student but we would suggest £50 per week as a reasonable amount

You should keep their money locked in their suitcases and only take with you what you will need during the day. 

Damage

In the very unlikely event of you causing any damage in the home of your hosts, we would expect you to pay for it. We strongly advise you to take out adequate insurance before you come to England.

Security

You should keep valuable items such as mobile phones, cameras, ipods, computer games, jewellery, money and keys locked in your case when you are not using them. 

Electrical appliances

Electrical sockets in England are different from those abroad and children will need a special international adaptor for such items as mobile phone chargers, hairdryers and electric shavers. These are not expensive and readily available in most airport shops.

Insurance

We do not insure students against illness, accident, theft or loss of personal belongings or damage. It is essential to make sure that you have taken out adequate insurance for your visit to England.