Live with a host family – Classic Homestay Programme

Choose from over 20 countries – listed below – and we will introduce you to a local family who will welcome you to their home for one, two, three or four weeks. Living as part of a family gives you a unique and relaxed insight into the daily life and culture of your host country, as well as the ideal opportunity to improve your language ability. Our families come from all walks of life, they may live in cities, towns, villages or in isolated rural areas; they may have children or none at all; they may be a working couple, a single parent family, an extended family or a single person in their own flat. Anybody over 16 and under 70 can apply.

Homestays are available in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Uruguay.

  

“Without a doubt staying with a native family was an invaluable experience. It really allowed me to integrate with the people and fully participate in their way of life”

Jane, Travelled on Homestay

Who can apply?

Anybody over 16 and under 70 years of age can apply provided they are flexible, mature, friendly and interested in making new friends. Applicants should realise that customs and family life vary from country to country and they should be prepared to adapt to these differences.

The Families

Our families come from all walks of life. They may live in cities, towns, villages or in isolated rural areas; they may have children of all ages or none at all; they may be a working couple. The one thing they all have in common is that they look forward to welcoming you into their homes and to sharing their everyday family lives.

Although host families are not expected to organise any excursions, they may well take you out and about to local places of interest, or advise you on the best places to go. Either way, you will soon gain a more complete picture of your host country than you would do on any organised package holiday. In many cases the families will have hosted for EIL for several years and in some cases host on a volunteer basis (are not paid a commercial allowance).

Before travelling, each participant is assigned to an EIL Local Representative who will be available to help with any concerns or issues that may arise during the homestay. They should be your first point of contact in the event of any problems.

The Cost

Please contact EIL for price information.

Please click here and complete the inquiry form. We will contact you with additional information specific to your request.

Words of advice from a past participant:

“I thought it worked very well for me and the family that they did not have a son or daughter my age – I became more of a sister to all three of their children rather than a friend to one.”

Anna - France

The fee covers the programme in full during the specified period. This includes a non commercial hospitality allowance paid to your host family. In a few countries, families do not receive any allowance but willingly welcome visitors as a gesture of goodwill, friendship and in the interests of cultural exchange. The fee covers administrative costs in both countries, insurance, the expenses of the local representative as well as contributions to an international fund to further the educational aims of the organisation. The fee does NOT cover any travel costs, passport, visa costs, or any personal expenditure.

Note: This information applies to the “Classic Homestay Programme” only. The details of family accommodation during language courses may vary from school to school or country to country. Please ask us for details.

How To Apply

Please complete this application form and send it to EIL along with €200 deposit.