Host Family for students in Cape Town
Staying with a host family is a great way to discover the South African way of life, and practise the English you learn in your lessons.
This popular choice of accommodation is ideal for students who are interested in experiencing life with a South African host first hand and practising their English regularly. Our homestays can be a family with children, a childless couple, a single parent or a single person.
Member of the family
Students will take part in their hosts’ everyday life and be treated as a "member of the family", therefore they should be prepared to adapt as much as possible to their hosts’ daily routines and habits. Many of our homestays have been caring for our students for many years and our Accommodation and Welfare Officers inspect all regularly.
Bedrooms
- Standard sized bed. Bed linen will be provided by the family and changed each week. Bath and beach towels are not normally provided.
- Adequately sized wardrobe and drawer space for each student’s clothing and possessions
- Table or desk and chair for private study (or access to a study area)
Laundry
Assistance with laundry can be offered, but reasonably priced local launderettes are also available nearby.
Keys
Students are normally provided with their own door key.
Meals
- Students are encouraged to tell their hosts what kind of food they like or dislike and to communicate times for dinner or coming home at night, which helps both host and student make the most of their stay.
- Students are not normally expected to use the kitchen or take food from their hosts’ cupboard or fridge without asking.
- Half Board (14 meals).
Number of students sharing
Generally no speakers of the same native language in the same homestay, except by request.
Distance from the school
miSome host families live in close proximity to the school, others live up to 60 minutes away by public transport.
Selecting homestays
Many of our homestays have been caring for our students for many years and our Accommodation and Welfare Officers inspect all regularly.
Type of house
The residential area around the centre is regarded as an upper middle-income area. However our host families range between middle to upper middle-income household. The majority of homes in Cape Town are free standing, with some families living in apartments or duplex houses.
Finally…
Naturally, sometimes misunderstandings or problems do arise, but they are usually solved very quickly. We always encourage students to inform us if there is a problem and every attempt is made to reach a solution. If it is not possible to solve the problem then we will find the student another family.
