Although most students choose host families, some undergraduates and masters choose host families in order to experience the authentic life abroad at close range. In any case, more and more international students choose host families.
The domestic situation is gradually in line with international standards.
What is a host family? Simply put, it is a family that provides housing and basic living facilities for international students in the form of paid services, aiming at improving the living ability of international students in the local area. It is understood that host families have existed for decades in countries with industrialized education such as Britain and Australia, and Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea began to appear and develop in the 1970s. Because most of the host families are young students from high school or below, when attending high school in China began to attract attention, host families also began to attract more and more families studying abroad.
"80% of high school students will choose to live in a host family," said Mr. Ada, a senior consultant of Ginger Gillette. "This data has different performances in different regions. Almost all high school students in Australia and New Zealand live in host families, while at least 50% of high school students in Britain and the United States live in host families. About 30% of American high school students choose host families, while undergraduates choose relatively few host families. "
In China, ordinary families are not allowed to stay with foreigners, so international students have no choice in studying in China. In recent years, with the acceleration of the industrialization of foreign students' education, the restrictions on foreigners staying in China have also been relaxed, so domestic host families have begun to attract foreign attention. According to a survey data, the proportion of host families receiving international students in China is 30% in Japan, 30% in South Korea, 20% in Europe and America, and 20% in other countries and regions. It can be said that homestay families at home and abroad have become popular again in recent ten years, especially since 20 10.
High cost performance is an advantage.
Whether to choose a host family is actually a question that students should consider when choosing a school. Ada, an expert studying abroad, said that American high schools that accept international students are divided into boarding high schools and day high schools. Generally, boarding high schools have their own dormitories, and international students are not allowed to go to host families or even rent houses alone. Day-to-day high schools are generally located in the city center or in a better location, and students who choose day-to-day high schools generally live in host families. In addition, undergraduates generally live in school dormitories. In the United States, homestays are only considered if you study language and bridge courses. Others usually live in school dormitories or rent houses with a few friends. As for graduate students, because they are older and completely independent, they generally don't live in host families.
However, if the foreign students choose a school that allows renting and homestay, the homestay is in the middle, comparing the cost of living in dormitory, homestay and renting alone. "Ordinary high school students can only choose to live on campus or host families because of their young age. Living with a host family is cheaper than renting a house by yourself, but the cost of a host family is relatively high. For example, the monthly living expenses in the United States are about $ 800- 1000, the monthly expenses of host families are $ 700-900, and the monthly rent of houses alone is $ 600-800, which is just right in China.
Host families are not only cheaper than schools, but also help students feel the life abroad more closely and better integrate into the foreign environment. Living in a host family can force students to practice English by themselves, improve their English scores faster, and at the same time let them fully understand the local customs. Teacher Ada thinks that homestay families can make students feel the care of foreign families. Teacher Ada thinks that homestay families can provide security for students. If students can live in harmony with their host families, they may travel with them. "These are the advantages that living on campus and renting alone do not have, so the cost performance of living in a host family is still relatively high."
Host families are safe.
The host families that students choose are generally strictly screened by the school, so it is much safer than renting a house outside. Teacher Ada introduced that most students live in the host family chosen by the school, so that if there is a conflict between the students and the host family, the school will come forward to mediate, or you can choose another host family: "And the school has strict standards when choosing a host family, such as whether the family members are healthy and caring, whether the family has enough space, how many children there are at home, whether there are pets, etc. When choosing a host family, the school will take into account many factors such as the distance between the address and the school, family background, the work of family members, broadband and so on. Teacher Ada said that whether the host family members have a history of mental illness, whether they have received foreign students, criminal history and many other aspects are listed in the school's investigation scope.
Compared with students looking for houses through foreign third-party institutions, the host families found by schools are more reliable. At present, domestic students find host families abroad through schools or local third-party intermediaries, but these intermediaries pay more attention to profits and lower the safety standards. Therefore, if students want to live in a host family abroad, it is best to go through school. According to reports, some international student associations in the school also provide accommodation information regularly, but most of them are shared, not host families: "There are official associations and students themselves, but they are not guaranteed by host families found by the school."
In addition, students can also report to the school if they have additional requirements. For example, students who have special eating habits, don't like pets, or like quiet families can ask the school. It's just that students need to pay more attention when they get along with host families. Don't be too willful. It is best to establish healthy and effective communication with host families. Regarding how students get along with their host families, Teacher Ada suggested: "Students should fully understand the living habits of local people. For example, hydropower is relatively economical abroad. When taking a bath, people usually only take a bath for 10 minutes, and the lights and the like are not turned on for 24 hours. It is best for students to pay attention to saving, so as to win the favor of host families. "