This summer I opened my home to two people I had never met before for a homestay language-tuition experience. Under this arrangement, I provided thirty hours of tuition over two weeks, plus a room, meals and some simple excursions. For my trouble I was paid £700 a week ($930 USD), plus add-ons. My question is: would do the same and, if not, why not?
For most of my colleagues, the idea of having a stranger to stay strikes horror, and it’s true – if you balk at the thought of hosting a dinner party and don’t generally have people over, then this is not for you. But if you do have people to stay and you have a space you can call a guest room, homestays are can be lucrative income stream.
Why homestays?
So why did I put myself through the inconvenience of hosting a stranger? Well, for me the pros outweighed the cons. Let me explain.
As I (mostly) work for myself as an independent ESL teacher, I must cope with a variable income as student activations wax and wane through the academic year. Homestays guarantee a chunk of earnings for those weeks, allowing me forecast my pay months in advance and even plan some time off.
In addition, as homestay tuition part only takes place in the morning, I am free to do my other work in the afternoon, meaning that during those weeks I earn almost double the amount I normally do as an online tutor. Finally, homestays provide another opportunity to meet students who could potentially take up online classes with me later.
These factors I had already considered when I made the decision to host, however, I discovered the final benefit only after the first student arrived and that is, it’s fun.
The hosting experience and what I learned from it
I hosted two students this summer in my Edinburgh home; 17-year-old from France and a 19-year-old from Italy.
As far as the tutoring went, classes were a comparative breeze; both students arrived with a high level of English and were motivated to learn more.
At the weekends and on Wednesday and Friday afternoons I took my students on excursions which, although work, I discovered to be greatest benefit of all – not just for my young guests, but for me also.
As an independent worker (like many in my situation) I feel guilt when I spend time away from laptop. With the homestay excursions, I was forced to disconnect from work and do something different.
My first student didn’t care about where he went and so trips were about giving him some fresh air. My second student, however, booked an experience in Scotland because he loved Scottish history and the film, Braveheart. He wanted to see the country and so I took him to Stirling (twice), first to the location of the Battle of Bannockburn and second to Stirling Castle and the William Wallace Monument. We were lucky with the weather, with bright sunshine on both days and though I had been to these places before, I found discovering them again with someone passionate about history, magical.
I wouldn’t have these memories of the Wallace Monument on that beautiful September day had it not been for my student. Back in Edinburgh, he helped me discovered more about my city, also. As a film-lover, he asked me to scout filming locations of Trainspotting and One Day, leading us down windy historical streets which I had scarcely noticed before. I saw my city with new eyes and even though I was still “at home,” it felt like I was on holiday.
How did your family take the experience?
Sceptical at the beginning, my husband warmed to hosting. When you’ve lived with the same three people for decades, you tend to have the same conversations. Having someone new around shakes things up. At dinner we listened with interest as the students talked about their passions, politics and respective cultures. My husband, I noticed, who usually goes off to do this own thing in the evening, stayed and chatted longer than usual (often by several hours) and it felt good to share some of my ESL experiences with him. My own children, it must be said, were more tolerating the situation, but at 16 and 18 they were old enough to come and go as they pleased.
Would you do it again?
Yes, I would. In fact, I am, next month. Hosting has not only given me an extra income but the freedom to step away from my desk and enjoy the beautiful country in which I live. I know it’s not for everyone, but if you have the space and are open to new people, then it could be a good source of extra income.
The practicalities: How to become a homestay tutor
To provide home tuition you need:
· To be an experienced teacher
· A clean, comfortable bedroom
· To provide three meals a day
· To include the student in family life, for example, dinner conversation.
· To provide two/ three half day excursions and one full-day excursion a week (these are expected to be free activities such as hillwalking and free museums). If the student wants to do something that requires money, then they must pay for their own ticket.
The legalities
In addition, you and all members of your household who are over 16 must have a clean criminal record and be cleared to be around children (in the UK, this is called a DBS check). The tutor must also complete online safeguarding training to work with youngsters (this took me about three hours).
If you have a gas boiler, you must also obtain a gas certificate from a qualified heating engineer (in the UK this costs about £70).
Finally, I definitely recommend taking out lability insurance, in case someone slips in the bathroom (or something else). Many insurances can be switched on and off for when you have guests. In addition, I also contacted my home insurance provider to let them know I was hosting people (just in case someone left the front door open, or something like that) which increased my premium by £14 a year but gave me peace of mind. As you would be using your home for business purposes, I definitely recommend doing the same.
What to expect from the hosting agency
Once you have opened availability, the hosting agency will suggest students to you. You can stipulate the ages of students (I chose above 14) and have the right to reject any candidate (you don’t need to give a reason). Once you accept a student, the hosting agency will return the proposal to the student and if they accept you are locked into the agreement.
Two weeks before the homestay, you should meet your student online to discuss their requirements, focus of study and preferred excursions.
As part of the package, students under 18 receive airport transfers (adults make their own way). However, if you want to do the transfer yourself, it can be a lucrative extra. I picked both my students from the airport and received £75 ($100 USD) each time for my trouble. I also did one drop-off at the end for £50 ($66 USD). The airport is 20 minutes’ drive from my house.
In addition, if you have two rooms you can host two students at the same time and charge 50% extra on top (or over £1,000 a week).
During the stay, the agency will call the student, using your telephone number to check how everything is going.
I’m interested, how do I start?
If you live in an English-speaking country, there are plenty of agencies – just search online. If you live in an EU country, popular among tourists, such as France, Spain, Portugal or Italy, then you’ll also find agencies. Post any questions in the comments and I’ll respond as best I can. Otherwise, good luck and happy teaching!
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