Homestay Program FAQ
The international homestay program is an exciting opportunity!
International students in the CCS homestay program:
- Experience family living in the U.S.
- Establish relationships with Americans
- Greatly increase their proficiency in English
Social and Family Interaction
International homestay students are encouraged to interact with their homestay family
and will be invited to participate in regular family recreational activities. Homestay
is not intended to be a strictly room-and-board arrangement. Household members
will be respectful of your religious or non-religious beliefs and practices as well
as your culture and values.
Accommodations
Students will have a comfortable home atmosphere during their stay with a HomeStay
family. This includes a private room, bathing facilities and a quiet place to study.
HomeStay families will provide necessary household items such as linens and towels.
The student’s bedroom will be furnished, including a bed/bedding, desk or table,
lamp, dresser and closet. Most homes are located within 200-300 meters of a bus
stop. Students may arrange for a private TV cable, Internet and telephone connections.
The family will respect the student’s right to privacy including mail and bedroom
space. Students must practice the same courtesy.
Food
Full Homestays: The family is responsible to provide a variety
of nutritional, well-balanced meals and snacks (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) every day
- including weekends.
Shared Homestays: The student buys, prepares, and cleans up after their
own meals. That is, the student shares the kitchen with the homestay family. The
homestay family will help the student become familiar with the kitchen, explaining
use of equipment and where to store food supplies. Homestay families will help students
locate the nearest grocery store and offer to take them when they shop.
Duties
Babysitting and Work
Homestay families will not ask students to perform housework or babysit
children. In a full homestay, students are only expected to keep their own bedrooms
clean and to keep their personal items picked up in other areas of the home. In
a shared homestay, students are expected to clean up after their food preparation.
If a student has a private bathroom for his or her exclusive use, (s)he is expected to
clean it weekly. The family will provide the preferred cleaning products.
Language Restrictions
Students choose homestay primarily to learn English. All household members will
be proficient in English and will speak only English when the student is present.
Occasionally, in larger homes, two students will be placed with the same host family.
But two students from the same home country are never placed with the same
host family.
Entertainment
While we encourage homestay families to involve the student in their activities
as much as possible, students are generally responsible for the cost of their own
entertainment. If your family invites you to join in an activity please ask them
what the cost will be. If you prefer not to participate you should feel free to
decline. If your family offers to pay your cost for the activity and you would like
to participate you are encouraged to accept their offer.
Transportation
Homestay families are located in areas close to a bus route for easy transportation
to downtown, the college campuses, malls, and other shopping locations. You can access the
bus system map at www.spokanetransit.com/ridesta/routesschedules.asp.
Your homestay family is responsible for guiding you to and from school before or
on the first day of classes so that you are familiar with the bus schedule and route.
The homestay family is under no obligation to provide daily transportation, but offering
rides occasionally is encouraged. Most homestay students can reach campus by bus
within 30 minutes.
Rules for Students
Students are obliged to follow the rules of the homestay family; however students
are generally over the age of 18 and will be give some flexibility. Students over
the age of 18 do not have curfews, but students are encouraged to let their host
families know their daily schedule and when they expect to return home each day,
especially during evening hours. As an international student in a homestay,
keeping your homestay family informed of school
schedules, introducing your homestay family to your friends, and keeping
your homestay family informed of your travel plans are safety factors for your
protection. They allow the homestay family to be more aware of situations where you
may need assistance.
Medical Insurance
Spokane has world-class health care facilities and services. Students are required to have medical insurance at the time of registration for classes.
Students can purchase medical insurance through the college with LewerMark Plus Injury and Sickness Plan. See
www.lewermark.com for further details. Your Homestay family will assist you in making
appropriate health care decisions.
Evaluations
Homestay families are evaluated by the Homestay Manager through in-home visits,
criminal background checks (WSP) and student evaluations. Evaluations and information
are handled confidentially. The Homestay Manager will request an exit interview
with each homestay student to determine future suitability of the homestay.
Reimbursement and Procedures
-
Full Homestay (includes food) $650.00 per month; Shared Homestay
(no food) $400.00 per month.
-
Individual day rate: Full $21.75 per day, shared $13.50
per day.
-
Vacation rate is $10.00 a day, when student is away but retains
his/her room with personal belongings in it.
-
Family provides airport pick-up at no charge to the student, unless special arrangements
are made with the Homestay Manager.
-
A one time fee of $200.00 is charged to all homestay student
applicants. This fee includes the initial placement as well as an additional placement
if the initial homestay is not suitable to the student needs.
-
Homestay families will discuss and complete a Homestay Agreement with you within
the first week of your placement.
Back to top