Reason #1
Choose a Toronto Homestay That is Right for You!
If your are planning to live in a Toronto homestay, you may find that it can be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding ways to spend your time while in Canada.
If you don't know anyone who's lived in a Toronto homestay setting, you probably have questions about what it's like.
This page will help answer some of those questions and inform you about what you should expect from a good Toronto homestay host family.
Homestays in Toronto are a fun and educational living arrangement perfect for anyone interested in being fully immersed in Canadian culture!
Typically, students coming from abroad who are here to learn or improve their english through taking ESL in Toronto choose this living arrangement because it offers many benefits that living alone does not.
Homestays in Toronto Provide:
- A comfortable fully furnished bedroom to make your own
- 2-3 well prepared meals each day (depending on your preference)
- Guidance and support with your ESL studies
- Easy access to laundry services
- Assistance with directions and getting around the city
- Internet access and use of a family computer
- Freedom to enjoy your stay and have friends visit you
- Occasional tours, events or parties to attend
- A caring and comfortable host family and home away from home
One of the most frequently asked questions about homestays in Toronto is whether or not there are house rules, and what will be expected from students during their stay with a homestay host family.
Of course, each host family in Toronto will be a little different, but there are some basic guidelines that most homestay hosts will ask students to respect.
Here are a couple of the most common homestay rules:
- Smoking is allowed but only outside of the house
- Arriving home before 10pm during the week is appreciated
- Clean up after yourself in the kitchen and bathrooms
- Ask and give notice before bringing friends over
- Limiting your file downloading on the internet during the early evening hours when everyone is home
Visit our homestay FAQ for more frequently asked questions about Toronto homestay.
How to Select the Right Host Family in Toronto
It is very natural to feel excited and maybe even a little nervous before you move into a homestay with a new host family. If you are staying for only a short period of time (4-8 weeks) it is likely that adapting to the new environment will be fairly easy...
...but if you plan to stay for a longer period, as many students and travelers coming to Canada end up staying 6-8 months, then you will want to spend some extra time learning about your potential Toronto host family in advance so that you can feel as comfortable as possible with your selection!
Host families in Toronto that accommodate travelers and students can come in many shapes, sizes, colors, ages and lifestyles. Toronto is very diverse, but Canadians who open their homes up as a homestay host normally share one thing in common...an open-mindedness and love for learning about other people.
No matter where you lay your head at night, you can be confident that the host families within the Homes Abroad community will truly make you feel welcome and enjoy having you as a part of their very own family.
5 things to consider when looking for a homestay in Toronto:
- Think about what environment you would most enjoy and feel comfortable with. Would you like to stay with a family that has children and maybe a pet or two?
- How about age range...will you be more comfortable with younger or older homestay hosts? Lifestyles and the home environment can be different due to the age of the host family, so take this into account during the selection process.
- You should also consider the distance of each homestay to the subway station and any streetcar lines. You might also want to find out what neighborhoods and attractions are within walking distance.
- Ask each Toronto homestay host family how many students you will share the home with. You might enjoy being the only student, or you may prefer to be around others who also want to improve their english.
- Find out what activities your potential host families participate in? Will there be gatherings and events for you to attend outside of the ones that you set up on your own?
Remember Your Goals!
Although there are some important decisions to make when choosing a homestay in Toronto and a friendly host family, keep in mind that life is all about experiencing and learning new things.
If learrning and tasting Canadian culture is your goal, being open to differences will surely make your time more enjoyable, not just for you, but for your teachers, new friends and Toronto host family members as well.
All of the homestay host families associated with Homes Abroad International have proven themselves to be incredible hosts and very caring people. We approve of each of our hosts carefully with our students in mind.
Even with our intentions to make your stay a great one, we always remind students that no Toronto homestay family is perfect!
One of the best parts about living together with others is learning to adapt to your surroundings. This may be the greatest lesson for all of us to learn whenever we travel or visit other countries for school and work purposes.
You can be confident that our commitment to you whether you are an ESL student or a Toronto homestay host family, is to make every effort in bringing about your most valued goals and memories through a strong Toronto homestay program.
See you soon!
Sincerely,
Roxane Campbell
Toronto Homestay Host Coordinator
Homes Abroad International Ltd
Your Home Away From Home
Tel: (416) 427-1766
Vmail: 1(800) 931-2713
