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Greenwich School of English (GSE) Language
students
Requirements and Guidelines for our host families
hosting students attending the GSE.
General Introduction
The Greenwich School of English was established in 1986 and now offers a variety
of all-year-round English courses to students over 16 years of age.
The school is at:
259 Greenwich High Road
Greenwich
London SE10 8NB
Tel: 020 8293-1444
Our Students
The students come from many different countries and are of different ages.
However, most of our students are young adults (16 - 28 yrs.). They come to
Britain for a variety of reasons, be it to learn English for business or for
pleasure, but they all want to benefit as much as possible from their short time
in this country.
This is why the Host-Family accommodation we offer is one of the most important
part of our general service to the students. They choose Host-Family
accommodation in order to improve their English further outside the classroom
and in order to get to know a little more about our culture and the British way
of life.
Our requirements
We expect our families to welcome our students into their homes and to treat
them as part of the family whilst they are staying here. Students do like to eat
with you as often as possible as this offers them the opportunity to speak and
practise English in a normal and practical situation which is the main purpose
of their visit. Try to be at home when you expect them to be. Students feel very
lonely and isolated when left in the house alone too often, especially early in
their stay.
These students are all adults and therefore responsible, so they expect to be
given a door key and be allowed to return home during the day to study if they
need to. Not all of them want to go sightseeing every afternoon particularly
when it is cold and wet. Also some may want to stay late in London in the
evenings so again need the flexibility of a key and returning when they want.
Being able to communicate and understand is the purpose of their learning
English so please help them to understand exactly what you are saying to them.
Very often the student “thinks” they have understood but have in fact “Not
understood”. Daily we have strange comments from students regarding their family
which results in us contacting you to resolve certain issues. Unfortunately this
sometimes leads to the student moving because of their embarrassment of the
misunderstanding. Neither us nor you want this so please be especially attentive
to this matter.
Host-Family Standards for Adult Language Students
General
1. Our students are here to learn and practise English. Families should
therefore have English as their main spoken language. Students of the same
nationality will not normally be accommodated in the same family, unless this is
requested.
2. We would like our students and they are expecting to live as temporary
members of the family. Except in special circumstances, previously agreed with
us, no more than two adult students can be placed in one room. There must be no
other foreign students, of the same mother tongue as our student, from any other
school or organisation, in the family at the same time. They must always be of a
different “mother tongue”.
3. It is important that you are friendly and make the students feel 'at
home'. Please try to include the students as much as possible in normal family
life.
4. Houses should generally be clean and tidy and in a good state of
repair and decoration throughout. This is important. Please advise us if you are
doing any major redecorating or building work whilst accommodating our students.
5. Students are required to be punctual in attending lessons so houses
should not be more than 30 minutes travelling distance from the school.
6. Families are sometimes expected to pick their students up from a
central meeting point and as they have often been travelling for a long time it
is usually a good idea if a meal or snack has been prepared for them according
to their time of arrival. Always offer a drink please.
7. We would ask families to provide all adult students with a front door
key. Please be aware your adult student, especially those staying for several
weeks/months, may want to return home during the day to study or rest. At
weekends they may also want to stay at home at times. They will not want to go
out sightseeing everyday and they will develop more “living with a family” and
less “holidaying with a family” habits. Hopefully your relationship with them
will develop more into a friend than a guest.
8. Students make their own way to the school each morning, however on the
first day we would be grateful if families could give them clear instructions
how to get to school. Students should arrive by 9.30am on the first day of the
course. It is important that you know the exact location of our school in
Greenwich. The address is :
259 Greenwich High Road, Greenwich,
SE10 8NB (next to main post office)
9. We would be grateful if you could supervise a reverse charge call for
those students who would like to let their family know that they have arrived
safely if necessary. This is done by ringing the international operator 155 (no
charge) and asking for a 'collect' or 'reverse' charge call. In general students
are advised NEVER to use the family's telephone without first asking permission
and that all calls must be paid for. Please insist on being paid immediately.
The Greenwich School of English cannot be held responsible for any telephone
charges. Many families have now taken out “call barring” with their telephone
operator. This secures your line in your absence and we suggest you investigate
this.
10. If the student breaks or damages anything, please inform the school
before they depart. We are unable to help you with reimbursement of this if your
student has already left.
11. In the event of a non-arrival we will try to place another student
with you for the same period as soon as possible.
12. If you have any problems with a student, which you are unable to
resolve, please contact the Accommodation Officer as soon as possible. We will
try to assist you and your student resolve the situation. However if you are
then not happy to keep them or when we cannot persuade the student to stay, we
reserve the right to remove a student immediately and accommodation will be paid
for on a nightly basis. If payment has already been received by you, we will
require that the overpayment is refunded to us.
13. In case of illness please contact your family doctor if possible or
take your student to the chemist or hospital casualty and inform the school
immediately if your student cannot come to school to report their absence.
14. Students should occasionally be free to admit their friends at
reasonable times if previously arranged with the host-family.
Bedroom
1. Students should have a single room unless otherwise requested. The
room should be of an acceptable size.
2. There should be a good natural light as well as adequate electric
lighting.
3. There must be a wardrobe for clothes and storage space for personal
items. If possible a drawer or cupboard should be lockable or please advise your
student where they can keep their valuables.
4. Other basic furniture should include: a mirror, a full-size single
bed, a small table or desk for study, a chair, a bedside lamp and a waste paper
bin.
5. The bedroom should have adequate heating included in the basic price.
6. Bed linen should normally be changed once a week
Bathroom
1. Students must have reasonable use of hot water (once daily use of
bath/shower) at no extra cost. Most students prefer a shower so we recommend
that you have either an electric power shower or a plumbed in shower over your
bath. An additional shower cubicle for those families with space would be a real
asset especially for those who have a growing family and regularly accommodate
students. Investing in a shower of any description will make life much easier
for everybody in the house as it is much quicker and more economical on the hot
water.
2. A separate toilet is also fast becoming “a must”. If you have any
spare space we thoroughly recommend an extra “loo”.
Meals
1. A substantial breakfast should be provided for the student every day,
unless he/she requests otherwise. We suggest cereal, toast with butter/jam and a
hot drink. Some students may like to try an English breakfast at the weekend if
this is usual for your family.
2. Students should have one main meal per day, usually a hot one in the
evening. This should consist of a main course and a desert. Students receiving
full-board should also be provided with a reasonable and varied packed lunch.
This should be 2 rounds of sandwiches (4 slices of bread), filled with cheese,
egg, cold meat etc, a packet of crisps, a slice of cake or biscuit (eg club or
penguin), a fruit and a drink. The drink can be squash in a small refillable
bottle. It does not need to be a can or carton unless you prefer this.
3. If a student gives reasonable notice of missing a main meal, then a
cold snack or sandwiches should be provided if requested.
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