Information for host families

Welcome to Loch Ness English and thank you for your interest in becoming a host family!

Hosting a foreign student can be a very rewarding experience for the family concerned, giving a unique insight into a foreign culture through personal contact, and providing the opportunity to establish a friendship with a foreign family that could lead to all sorts of exciting possibilities in the future.

On this page you will find more information on what is entailed in hosting a student. Please read it through, check our 'Frequently asked questions' (FAQ), and feel free to contact us directly if you need to know anything more. Contact details are:
Loch Ness English- Inchnacardoch, Fort Augustus, Inverness-shire, PH32 4BN
Tel: 01320 366376 / Email here

Loch Ness English (LNE) is a small English language school, teaching English to overseas students, mainly from Japan. We are based in Fort Augustus and can be found in the Inchnacardoch area. We cater for students of all ages, including secondary school pupils and adults. The students usually come for one or two weeks. They study with us at the school, and stay in local accommodation in Fort Augustus and surrounding communities. Adults usually choose to stay in hotels or B&Bs but the younger students nearly always need to stay with host families. Their parents and study organizers in their home country consider, quite rightly, that staying with a family is an important part of the process of learning English and of understanding a new culture.

What we look for in a host family
Basically we are looking for a friendly family unit that will be able to welcome the student into their home and treat him/her as part of the family. There are no fixed rules about the make up of the family providing this genuine welcome is given. We are particularly interested in couples with children but we are also keen to hear from anyone who is interested, including retired couples, families with no children, and single people. It is important that the house be clean and pleasant and that the student has a private bedroom with a table or desk for study purposes. It is important to stress that we are looking for ordinary families and you do not need to have previous experience of hosting or to be a B&B or guest house (although such establishments are also welcome if the family atmosphere can be provided). You do not need to have a posh house - just somewhere comfortable with a warm atmosphere.

Obligations of the host family
Detailed obligations are set out in our Host Family Conditions below but the main points are that the Host family should treat the student as part of the family rather than as a paying guest. The student should receive three meals a day, eaten with the family (apart from when a packed lunch is provided). A daily bath or shower should be available and the family should be prepared to do a reasonable amount of laundry or provide the facilities. Most importantly the host family should TALK to the student as much as possible, especially at meal times and when the student is at home. This may require some patience if the student's English is not of a high level!

Pay
We currently pay £100 per student per week.

Students' activities
Although the student will obviously spend a fair amount of time with the family, he/she will also be heavily involved in school activities. Classes will take place in the mornings and early afternoons, and after that the student will often go off on a school excursion, returning in the evening. There will sometimes be evening events and day trips may be available at the weekends. Students will also be free to socialize with their classmates and any new friends they may make while staying here. So, a schedule of activities will be planned for the students although if you wish to invite them to any of your own family activities that will certainly be very welcome.

Liaison with the school
The school is the primary source of contact for information about students and their stay here so feel free to ask us if you have any questions or problems.

I've never hosted a student before and I don't do B&B. Can I be a host?
Certainly. All that is needed is that you provide a welcoming family atmosphere and a spare room, and comply with the condition. You don't need to be a B&B at all. In fact, we prefer just normal families and are not really looking for B&Bs unless the B&B establishment is prepared to welcome the student into the family and not treat them like a guest.

What if I can't speak a foreign language?
That's perfect! We want the students to spend as much time speaking English as possible. Even if you could speak a foreign language we'd rather you didn't. In the unlikely event of you having a serious problem for which communication in the student's own language is essential, then the school will assist.

Can't you pay more? I can get more than £100 a week doing B&B.
We are aware that is sometimes true but it's missing the point. This is not intended to be a substitute for B&B but to be a genuine cultural exchange. As a host, you do not need to be focusing on the level of service you're giving a customer but just on the welcome you're providing. Frankly, we are not looking for people who are doing it only for the money although of course we realize that a fair recompense is important. We are looking for people with a genuine interest in foreign cultures and who would positively enjoy the experience of having a foreign student stay with them for a short time. What we pay is determined by what we receive, and £100 a week is the maximum possible at present although we may be able to raise this a little in future depending on the contracts we secure. However, please note that in comparison to hosting rates in other English schools, £100 is one of the best rates in the country. Finally, £100 may not be a huge amount but it's not bad, even compared to B&B, and remember the students are quite likely to come in the off season when £100 weekly B&B income may not be available.

Will I have to cook foreign food?
Absolutely not. The students are here to experience British and especially Scottish culture. Please give them the same food you and your family usually eat. If you can add any local specialities such as Haggis or black pudding that will greatly appreciated.

What if I don't have a big house?
You don't need a big house. You do need a comfortable, clean house, and you need to be able to provide the student with their own room. If you can do that, all that's left is the welcoming atmosphere.

HOST FAMILY CONDITIONS

We ask host families registered with LNE to agree to:

• Encourage the student to speak English as much as possible in their home.
  
  
• Encourage the student to feel at home and to treat student as a member of the family rather than as paying guest.
  
  
• Provide the student with a clean and comfortable room.
  
  
• Provide a table/desk for private study and adequate storage space for student clothes.
  
  
• Provide adequate heating and lighting.
  
  
• Provide adequate washing facilities and access to the bathroom as a member of the household, with baths/showers available daily.
  
  
• Provide a change of sheets each week and sufficient blankets.
  
  
• Provide a sufficiently spacious bedroom, with sufficient natural light.
  
  
• Provide a clean and well-maintained home.
  
  
• Provide a home environment for the student to study English properly.
  
  
• Provide the student with a balanced and appropriate diet. (If for cultural/religious reasons the student is unable to eat certain foods, the school will inform the host family before arrival).
  
  
• Provide the student with breakfast, lunch, and evening meal each day (or packed lunch if required).
  
  
• Allow the student to eat meals with the family.
  
  
• Always consider the student's welfare, safety, and security both inside and outside the home.
  
  
• Provide laundry facilities, within reason.
  
  
• Keep in close contact with the school to help resolve any problems the student may have during the stay.
  
  
• Respect the student's different cultural background and be sensitive to the student's particular needs.