Some international students want to live with a homestay family when they study in a foreign country. In your opinion, what are the advantages and disadvantages of such living arrangements?
Idioms
“eat out of house and home” = eat everything in the house “Teenagers are always hungry, and they will eat you out of house and home if you let them.”
“bed of roses” = something isn’t easy or without problems “Living in an apartment with roommates isn’t always a bed of roses.”
Listening Exercise
A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.
Vocabulary Practice
Do the vocabulary quizzes with the words from the conversation for more practice:
If James does homestay with the family in the video, what do you think will happen? Why? Give three ideas and explain your reasons.
Online Investigation
There are a number of companies that help students find homestay opportunities. Search for a company online and review the company’s Web site. Collect information on the following questions.
What is the name of the company and Web site?
How long has this company been in business? (When did the business first start?)
What is the mailing address and telephone number of the business? Why can this be important?
How does the company check each family they list on their Web site?
What kind of reviews of host families are available on the site?
How much does it cost to use their service?
What kind of agreement or contract do you sign when making arrangements with a host family?