A Red Leaf family is asked to provide a friendly, safe environment where the student feels welcome and at ease. International students will bring a new cultural aspect to your home and will be keen on sharing your lifestyle and bringing a new cultural aspect to your home. Keep in mind though, that Canadian culture and routines can be very different from what the students are used to and their English skills maybe limited at first. Patience is a virtue!
The second most important requirement of our hosts is that English is spoken at all times in front of the students. After all, international students come to Canada to become fully immersed in an English speaking lifestyle. Aside from offering your home, you’ll be required to provide the student with 3 meals a day (Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner), snacks and maybe even transportation. Transport to school is included in the student’s program, whether it be by school bus, bus, car ride or by foot. Red Leaf takes care of the school bus pass fees but the transportation arrangements will be finalised once the process begins.
Your home will be the home of the student you take on – encourage them to help themselves in the kitchen, invite them to make their own snacks or packed lunches, suited to their own tastes. They may be inhibited at first and feel like they don’t want to cross the line, so ensure that they feel as comfortable as possible. As well as this, you will spend quality time with the student to ensure that he/she experiences family life in Canada and has the opportunity to practice his/her English skills everyday. At the weekend, you should be willing to take the students on trips to different areas of where you live, showing them local places of interest so they can appreciate all that Canada has to offer.
