Homestay for Families

Curfews should be fair and reasonable. Make sure the student has access to proper transportation when traveling home at night. Ensuring the safety of the international student is the homestay's responsibility.

Think about the families schedule and routine then decide how the student might fit in.

• What time does the family get up and what time does the family go to bed?
• Is there a specific study time in the home?
• What time is allotted for shower/bath?
• When are meals times?

In many other countries, the bathroom door is left closed when not in use. What is the procedure in the house? Also, can showers (or baths) be taken at any time or are there times you do not wish showers to be taken? What is the maximum amount of time that a shower should last? What is the family schedule? 

The student is not a houseguest, but rather considered a member of the family unit. As a member of your family, he/she will be expected to work with the family to make the household run efficiently. Taking part in household chores such as sweeping, vacuuming floors, dusting, cleaning the bathtub after use, cleaning bathroom counters, assisting with meal time dishes, loading dishes in the dishwasher and helping to put groceries away are just some of the ways the student can help out. Students are expected to keep their room and study area neat and tidy. Many students may not have performed any of these responsibilities before and sometimes maybe given additional instructions.

Every international student is required to have their own device that works in Canada. Often, due to time change differences, students will be asked to remove their phone from their bedroom to ensure healthy sleep habits are developed during bedtime. 

Canadian protocol dictates that no phone calls should come in after 10:00 p.m. and no morning calls on weekends before 9:00 a.m. Students should be asked to respect these as quiet times in your household. What hours do you want incoming calls? (North American night hours tend to be earlier than most other cultures). This is especially important to verify because of the significant time differences between Alberta and many other countries.

Internet access must be available in the home. Student should be monitored as they use the internet so that they do not spend excessive time on the computer using the internet connections. As in all homes, the use of internet should be monitored carefully.

Students are required to clean up behind themselves (bathroom/kitchen, and whenever they use something). 

What are the rules and times for TV watching in the house? Students need to know this. Are there limits on the volume and the types of shows watched in the house?

What are the common family meal times? If the student is not going to be present, how much notice is expected? If the student will be absent for a meal, should it be kept for a later time?

Are breakfasts and lunches prepared for the student or is the student to prepare his/her own? Many students from other countries have never prepared their own meals so they may not know how to prepare a breakfast or lunch. They may need to be shown how to do it. It is also a good idea to take the student grocery shopping with a homestay parent during the first week so that special foods can be purchased. Students must also be shown where all the various foods in the house are kept. Please be sure to discuss the process for breakfast and lunch during schooldays. It is the responsibility of the homestay to provide three good meals each day and suitable snacks. 

If the student is to do their own laundry, prepare to show them how (e.g. separating darks from lights, amount of detergent, etc.). The student will also have to be taught how to use the machines and told if there are any limits as to the times during which laundry can be done. Where can hand laundry be done and left to dry?

What provisions will be made for the student if the family is away from the house for more than a day? If you plan on being away from home overnight, please contact the MHCBE‐International Education Supervisor. 

Which areas are common and/or which areas are off limits to the student?

Is the student allowed to have food and/or drinks in the bedroom, in front of the TV, or around the computer?

Even though a student may be of legal drinking age, a condition of their acceptance to study in high school requires that the student conforms to school rules that do not permit the consumption of alcohol and illegal drugs. Students are informed during orientation that the international program prohibits them from driving and the use of drugs or alcohol. Non‐compliance of this rule may result in the student being sent home. We remind you that, in Canada, it is illegal for people under 18 years to purchase cigarettes and to purchase and consume alcohol. If you notice your student engaging in illegal activity, contact the MHCBE‐International Education Supervisor as soon as possible. The MHCBE‐International Education Supervisor will inform the Office of the Superintendent.