Homestay Guidelines

ULI desires that each homestay family would open their home and family to the student. We are looking for more than a “boarder” type situation. We want our students to have a good experience learning American culture while they attend ULI. Who would be better to show them our culture than their homestay family? Please include them in your life!

Rent

We inform our students that the normal charge for a homestay is $550 per month. This allows $240 for a room and utilities, $200 for food expenses, and $110 for transportation. We want to keep this charge as reasonable as possible. Most of our students are here with a limited amount of money. If the student is providing his/her own food and/or transportation, the monthly charge must be adjusted accordingly. We strongly discourage charging a student more than $550 per month.

Students should pay the first month’s rent to you the week they move in. If the student arrives/or leaves in the middle of the month, the first and last month should be prorated at $18 a day. Thereafter, the rent should be due on the first day of each month. Students who have not paid by the 5th day of the month should have a $10 late fee. If the student has not paid by the 20th of the month, you can ask the student to move. Please notify ULI regarding nonpayment by the 15th for mediation. ULI recommends that students not pay more than one months rent at a time.

ULI will notify you if the student is no longer attending classes. The student’s homestay contract will end two weeks after the last day of class at ULI. Upon moving out, if all bills have been paid, students should be refunded all homestay fees for any remaining days that have been paid in advance.

Bedroom

We require our students to have their own bedroom unless the student has indicated a willingness to share a bedroom. The student should be responsible for keeping it clean. Student rooms should have a bed (not a sofa sleeper or and storage area for their clothes. Since our students are in the United States for the purpose of learning English, our policy is not to place students who speak the same language in the same homestay. Our intensive English course is demanding, so the student will need a desk and a quiet place to study. Students prefer their own bathroom, but this is not required. They may share a bathroom with other students or family members.

Transportation

Most students will not have their own transportation. Transportation needs to be provided to and from school. Students should be included in family shopping and recreational trips if they desire. ULI students have class Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 2:50 pm. If you are not able to pick up your student by 2:50 pm, it is not a major problem. Several students stay after school and go to the Aerobic Center, study in the library, or use the computer lab. Please be sure that a meeting place and time is established for pick-up.

Meals

Meals are a very important part of a student’s stay in your home. It’s much easier to focus on studying when your physical needs are being met. Please talk openly with the student about food preferences, and allow him/her to choose desired foods. Your student is paying for three meals a day. He/She should be fairly self-sufficient and able to prepare his/her own breakfast, if desired. A sack lunch or left-overs may be taken to school for the noon meal. There are microwaves and a refrigerator available for the students to use at ULI in the student room. You and your student should decide who will prepare the lunch. If at all possible, share your evening meal with your student. Involve him/her with the preparation of the meal. This can be a fun activity to do together.

If your student is buying his/her own food, he/she will need to be familiar with the kitchen and its appliances. Your student would be responsible for cleaning up afterward.

Money

Encourage your student not to keep large amounts of cash at home or in a wallet. If the student desires to open a bank account, DO NOT allow your name to be on the account. Arvest has many branches (including across the street from ULI) and will allow the student to open an account with his/her passport.

Telephone

Discuss with your student the importance of using a prepaid telephone card when making long-distance calls. This will eliminate large, unexpected telephone bills. Once your student becomes acquainted with classmates, they may want to call each other and get together for activities or study groups. If you need to set time restrictions for using the telephone, please communicate this clearly to your student. If you are operating a business out of your home, and do not want to miss any important phone calls, you may want to install a separate telephone line or encourage the student to get their own cell phone.

Computer

Occasionally, students bring their own laptop computer or purchase one after they arrive in the U.S. Most students will want access to a home computer for class assignments and to E-Mail friends and relatives in their home country. Please discuss this option with the student and clearly state any restrictions you have set concerning time limits and use of the internet.

Laundry

Show your student where the laundry room is located and how to operate the washer and dryer. Inform your student of any time-frame restrictions that may apply when doing laundry. Laundry soap and fabric softener should be provided for your student. If you do not own a washer and dryer, please supply the necessary funds for your student to go to a laundromat.

Termination of Housing

If a student is found to have behaved with gross misconduct, the homestay can be terminated. Please notify ULI immediately. Gross misconduct includes theft, abuse of property, abuse of persons, alcohol and drug abuse, failure to adhere to local laws, property rules, and regulations. No refunds whatsoever should be paid to students who have behaved with gross misconduct.

Student Legal Status

ULI students are given a visa to come to the United States for the express purpose of studying. Therefore, they must be in school at least four ULI sessions each year. If your family plans a vacation and wishes to include the student, please remember that the student may only take a vacation (miss an entire session) after attending four ULI sessions and may not take a vacation for more than two sessions.

Please do not try to help your homestay student find a job. It is illegal for your student to work in the USA or to obtain a Social Security card. Students should not receive money for doing housework, babysitting, etc. Do not include these as terms for homestay payment or to supplement payment for fees. If your homestay student has completed studies at ULI and does not plan to attend another school or university, he/she must leave the country within 60 days. Students who violate INS regulations are subject to a 3 – 10 year ban from the USA.

Communication

We believe it is very important for the student to feel comfortable in your home with your family. Communicating with your student may be challenging at first, but it’s necessary in order to build a strong relationship and avoid misunderstandings. Some students say they understand, but many times they don’t understand and are too embarrassed to admit it. Here are some techniques that may help you communicate more effectively with an international student.

• Speak at a slower rate (not louder)
• Make hand gestures to help explain
• Enunciate your words and speak clearly
• Don’t expect an immediate response, allow time for the student to formulate an answer
• Avoid using slang and idioms, or explain what they mean
• Write it down for the student to read
• Use simple and concise sentences or questions
• Check for understanding by asking the student to repeat the information back to you

During a single seven week session at ULI, we may have as many as twenty-three different countries and cultures represented. Each is different from American culture. Even though students are very much interested in our culture, they are still the products of their own cultures. They will think differently from you, they will respond differently from you, and they will have different expectations from yours. Being open-minded and operating in compassion can help during times when your student seems beyond your understanding.

Your student may experience a phenomenon called “culture shock.” There are physical and mental repercussions from moving to and living in another culture. After a period of time the “honeymoon” phase wears off, and the student may become homesick, depressed or even physically ill. Understanding this phase can assist you in caring for your student during this period. Think about what it would be like for you to move to a foreign country and live there without adequate knowledge of the culture and language. During this time away from friends and family, students need consistent encouragement and acceptance from their homestay family.

Please do not hesitate to contact us at ULI if you feel that we can be of assistance to you or to your student. We are interested in all aspects of the student’s life. Becoming a homestay family can be a rewarding experience for you and a wonderful experience for your student. Enjoy it!

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