Homestay Tuition

• Duration: One week to one year

• Dates: Start any Monday and stay as long as you like.

Who is it for?

You will be offered a choice of experienced teachers with English teaching qualifications, who meet your needs and share your interests. You can practise English in an English-speaking environment, with a teacher who knows your strengths and weaknesses and who can design and deliver a programme to suit you. Some teachers can offer specialist training e.g. Business English, Creative Arts, Medical English etc.

• Age range: The minimum age for students is 17.

• Level: We accept students at all levels.

Where could it lead?

The course is suitable for students who want to improve their English for work, study, as a holiday or as a hobby.

Course: This course is designed to help you learn English at your own speed, to live with a host teacher, and also to enjoy a holiday visit to Britain with excursions and social events.

• 15 or 20 hours per week General English including grammar, vocabulary, listening, speaking, reading and writing.

• Needs analysis and personal tutorial

• End of course certificate

• Includes course materials.

Group size: We can offer:-

• one-to-one tuition with a host teacher OR 

• two-to-one - two students with the same teacher. (You can bring a friend or family member, or we can match you with another student who would like to study.)

Entry Requirements: There are no entrance requirements. Every new student has a test to find out their level of English. The teacher will then teach at your own level.

Staff: All teachers have been checked by Functional English to ensure that they are suitably qualified and experienced. They benefit from the same training, development and observation as our other teachers.

The host teacher will involve you in a programme of social activities with their friends, family, church or other students in the same place. Many activities will be free, but you will be asked to pay for some e.g. entrance to places of interest, visits to the theatre or cinema etc.

Excursions:  trips to places of interest, for example:- 

• Historic monuments and castles

• Country Houses and gardens

• Famous cities and towns

• Churches and cathedrals

• National Parks

• Traditional High Tea

• Lunch in a country pub

Evening activities:  

• Fellowship in a local church

• Sports: Bowls, tennis, golf, bowling, swimming, horse riding, walking, cycling can be arranged as necessary

• Concert, Theatre or Cinema visits

Teacher's home

Not all homes have the same facilities, but we will try to match the home to your needs.

• Single, twin, double or shared rooms
• Shared or en-suite bathroom
• Access to computer connection

All homes are graded by the facilities they offer and you will receive full information before you book.

Prepared by the host and you will eat together. Vegetarian food will be available and the hosts will do their best for any students with special or medical diets.

Functional English is a Christian school and many of the teachers offering homestay are Christians who are happy to pray and worship with you. Teachers can also advise on where to worship and which local church to attend. Where possible your teacher will arrange Christian fellowship with other students. We will try to meet requests for host teachers from particular denominations. 

All Christian activities are optional.

We advise students on travel arrangements and can arrange airport transfers if necessary. Hosts will arrange to pick you up and return you to the nearest train or bus station.

• More about travel...