How to prepare your Homestay in France

Maybe you secretly fancy practising your French in immersion directly in a French-speaking country? However, you don’t know where to begin and you have a million questions. (Don’t we all!)

Hopefully, by the end of this, things will be a little clearer and you’ll know what to do before and during a homestay.

In order to have a smooth and pleasant experience, it’s essential to prepare it very well indeed, and to be aware what can make it productive and beautifully memorable. 

Going to France or any French-speaking country may be frightening but remains the best way to fully study the language. After all, a language implies communicating with native speakers and getting to know the culture.

That is why investing in a homestay is so rewarding for you as a learner of this lovely language.

Are you learning French but always end up speaking English at some point? I don’t blame you - it’s totally natural.

Studying it at home is good, but living it directly into a French environment is priceless.

If you’re considering the Homestay experience, being well prepared is far better than just taking a leap of blind faith.

Let’s tuck in …

Find the best homestay option for you in France

In order to have the best experience ever, you should do your homework and not only ask yourself the right questions but also ask your future host without fear.

👉 First, be honest: how long are you willing to stay? Is a week enough for you or do you prefer 1 month? Do you have the budget to do it?  Can you be far from home without being homesick? Some people can’t stay away more than 2 weeks, others don’t mind at all…

So, what’s YOUR ideal duration for this life-changing experience?

Your main goal is to study French in immersion. There are many teachers available and your job is to find the perfect fit for you. But, how do you find your perfect person and place?

👉 You really need to know all the experience and qualifications of your future host. As a reminder, being a native French person is NOT enough to teach you French.

Oui, you would hear the French pronunciation but non, it’s not enough to teach a language. Indeed, as soon as you ask questions about a grammar point, this local person would tell you “It’s just like that! This is how the French language works”. As a result, you would still be puzzled and even frustrated, and still with no answer to your question.

👉 In France or in any country, the way to know if a teacher is experienced to teach French is the title of FLE: Français Langue Étrangère (French as a Second Language). Any person desiring to be a French teacher for foreigners spends typically 3 years to be able to explain grammar points, have the correct pedagogy so you learn French smoothly. Another way is to check if your future host has any teaching qualifications.   

👉 Now, maybe you have found a top-notch teacher with the best qualifications. However, you don’t like his or her way of teaching. Don’t worry!

After all, there are plenty of teachers, so take your time finding the right one for you.

At school when you are in a group, you don’t get to choose your teacher. Here, it’s another story because you are the client; the main character of your adventure. You get to decide with whom you want to improve your French. The choice is entirely yours.

And then, how can you have an insight of the teaching style?

Well, you could have a look at their website, have a look at the social media and check out the videos you can find. Does the teacher explain things in a way you understand? Do you feel this instant connection? Do you feel motivated?

Maybe you are a visual learner and this amazing teacher draws mind maps and other visuals that help you memorise in no time? Maybe you love the charisma of the teacher? The voice, even? Do you stick post-it notes everywhere. Do you thrust bits of paper into a folder yet never organise it? Whatever your style, your teacher needs to know in order to help you efficiently.

Another tip for you would be to book a private lesson as a preview of your homestay with this teacher.

After all, you want to be sure you’ll enjoy your experience with the person you pick and learn a lot.  

👉 Having an amazing French teacher is essential but you could have the same in your own country! If you decide to take the leap and go to France (or any French-speaking country) is also to have contact with local people and immerse in culture.

How are you going to meet local people where you stay? Will you be far away from civilisation, and how will you get to chat with native French people?

Don’t forget that learning a language implies listening to different accents, dialects, ways of talking, registers…in other words, the more different people you meet, the better!

So, don’t be ashamed to ask your future host if you’ll be talking to other French people, if they have several friends or if they have social activities with other local people… By the way, this is even more important if your future host is not a native French person.

👉 France is a huge country and offers unique cultural options. What kind of person are YOU? Are you a beach lover? Do you love monuments and culture? Do you prefer the quietness of a lovely typical French village? Do you like vineyards? Are you imagining yourself in a lavender field? Are you fond of cows, apple trees in Brittany? Do you want to ski? Do you want to visit the châteaux?

You get to decide. Therefore, do your own research about France according to your tastes. If you are not sure, you can ask your future host what is nearby, the tourist attractions…

👉 Remember about finding out about the experience and qualifications of your French teacher? Well, can you also discover feedback from previous clients? Can you read any testimonials that will have you click on the “book now” button?

Genuine testimonials from others can give you an idea of their expectations before their homestay and the results they got. Are they talking about the personality of the host? The teaching method? The activities they had? The intangible result they obtained. And even if not perfect, how were difficulties overcome during the stay, if there were any! 

👉 Now, what do you know about your homestay plan? Are there cultural activities? What are the linguistic ones? Are there things you die to see or do during your sojourn? You should definitely share your plans and ideas to your future host. More importantly, double-check if your host is flexible and willing to take your ideas into account. 

Indeed, you are paying for a customised experience where you are like a royal guest, and should be treated that way.

Because, if you choose a host who has a strict timetable where your needs are not reflected, you’ll end up frustrated.Communication and flexibility are partners.

Therefore, make a list of your questions and your wishlist and discuss with your host. You will feel if they are listening and are incorporating your ideas into the homestay plan. 

👉 This point goes with the previous one we talked about: contact with local people. Will you meet French people during your homestay?

Surely you want an authentic experience where you can practise with local people and share mutual passions, hobbies or tastes?

Who knows? Maybe it’s the beginning of a genuine friendship? After your trip in France, you could follow up with phone calls, messages, exchanges, future meetings and so on…

So, don’t be frightened and ask your host if you will have opportunities to put into action what you’ve learned with native French speakers.   

👉 Apart from talking to local people, you need these informal moments of French learning. You can see further detail in the next section, but be sure to inform your host about your learning styles and share how you would like to study French without the impression you are studying. If you don’t know your learning style, your teacher should be able to help you work it out, that’s for sure!

For instance, you could play board games in French in the evening and review some vocabulary. Maybe you could have some yoga sessions to practise the vocabulary of the anatomy. Do you love dictations? Have your teacher do it in the mornings while preparing breakfast…

Be creative and don’t be shy to share your ideas.

👉 Apart from your linguistic experience, the personal one matters too. Just like a student exchange or pijama party, you want to feel comfortable where you are going to stay…

👉 Do you have any idea of the place or facilities of your homestay? Have you seen any pictures or tour videos on the website? In order to avoid any bad surprises and false expectations, be sure to know where you will spend 7 or more days

Here are some pointers for you:

• Is it a house or a flat?
• Is there a garden?
• Are there any pets?
• Are there any children? Babies? Is there anyone else in the house at the same time?
• Is there a bathtub or not? 
• Are there fans or air conditioning?
• What does my bedroom look like?
• Do some members smoke?
• Is it a modern place or a charming rustic one?
• Is there a swimming pool (it could be a super bonus)?
• What’s the view from the bedroom window? 

The bottom line is try to gather as much information as you can, and picture yourself there.

👉 What about your food? We don’t like all the same things! In addition, some cultural differences can have an impact. That is why communication should be clear from the very beginning.

Don’t be shy and tell your host what you like and what you dislike. After all, you’re not going to pretend you like something and get sick after. Be honest and share all your food tastes.

Maybe there’s a crème brûlée you have always wanted to try? On the contrary, you may not be keen on eating snails or frog legs…

Of course there are dishes you’ve never had before and you’re not accustomed to them but learning a language also means having contact with the culture, hence the food. In other words, do your best to be open-minded and at least try the new dishes your host would like to share with you (as long as you don’t have special allergies or if you really don’t like something.). 

By the way, are you on a special diet? Or maybe you are a vegan? You want to avoid sugar? Be sure to tell your host before arriving so you don’t end up with egg on your face…

👉 Talking about food, be prepared to enjoy long moments…at the table. Food in France is not only a basic need but it is also the opportunity to spend a pleasant time together. French people usually have at least 1 hour for lunch and even more for dinner.

Why? We share our lives, talk about different topics, describe our recipes and plan future ones, we get to know our guests at the table etc.

Oui, there’s a certain étiquette. For instance if you leave the table after having eaten and don’t wait for the other people to finish, it is very rude. 

Besides, it’s the perfect opportunity for you to practise your French, learn new words or expressions, and get to know French culture. It may be hard for you in the beginning because you may not spend so much time for meals, but you may even apply this custom back home because you’ll see how precious social time is while eating…

👉 Are food and religion are part of your life? Like food, you should never be ashamed to share your tastes and religious beliefs (without trying to impose your religion either).

And if you wish to go to the church or practise any religious habits like praying, tell your host. They should be willing to allow you to practise your religion as much as possible. Maybe it can be a bit challenging in a small village finding a mosque, but surely you can talk about all possibilities.

How you can optimise your homestay experience.

At this point, we have seen the research you should do beforehand. Now, let’s have a look at some positive action you can take so you have the optimum experience you’re looking for.

👉  As a reminder, as soon as you decide to go to France and a French-speaking country for a homestay, your goal is to immerse yourself in this language. Therefore, you should commit yourself to avoid English. It doesn’t mean you can’t use it in case of absolute necessity, but maintain a positive attitude of speaking French as much as possible.

Don’t worry if your French is “broken” in the beginning. You will see big improvements in no time…

What matters is the intention: the willingness to switch from English to French.

👉  Nowadays, we all have the terrible habit of hanging on to our smartphones. We don’t even realise it. We go everywhere with it, eat with it, sleep with it, we can’t live without it…

In other words, disconnecting from our devices requires effort and willingness. This is exactly what you should do during the homestay. Again, it doesn’t mean you can’t use it to call your family or answer your messages…

However, if you choose specific chunks of time in the morning and in the evening after your social and learning activities; it will allow you to do both without interfering.

As a reminder, you won’t be in the French ambiance forever. So, instead of regretting the time you spent on your phone, take the decision to enjoy each moment in France to interact with people in the target language. 

Besides, French people find it super impolite to use smartphones during meals or conversations.

They are even banned in some restaurants and public places.

👉  You are in a French environment because you chose to improve this language. You have been studying it for a while and some points (grammar, vocabulary, syntax…) are still bothering you.

No problem! Write down your list and share it with your host. As a teacher, they’ll be enthusiastic to go through them with you. Your host is YOUR private teacher. Grab the opportunity to have a customised learning plan!

Think about what the benefits are of being in a French area. There are so many resources around you like listening to the radio, watching French TV, eating French food. Oui, there are things you can do from home but they may well be pretty scarce.

During your homestay, you have access to an unlimited amount of… books! French love books. People read them on public transport, in the streets, in the cafés…They are quite cheap and second-hand books are pretty common too.

So, take a browse through a bookshop if you can. Surely, you’ll find something at your level. You can also start gathering some for when you get back home or even offer to your friends learning French? By the way, reading some pages every day with your teacher (or not) would be beneficial since you can practise your pronunciation, learn new words, understand the syntax…

👉   On the same note, why not do some journaling? I’m not saying to write a novel but rather a few sentences to reinforce what you have just learned. Not only will you practise your French but you’ll also be very happy a few years later to have a record of your homestay.

👉   What about a nice gesture for your host and surprise him or her by buying a gift like flowers, a bottle of wine, or something else you know will be appreciated? Another idea could be to invite your host for a meal since they will be preparing all the other delicious dishes for you to enjoy.

Everybody loves a gift from time to time.

Be ready for any medical problems.

👉   In this section, we are going to tackle “serious” matters. In order to avoid problems, you want to anticipate them. So, let’s talk about health issues.

Let’s imagine that you are having an exquisite meal and suddenly you are having an allergy. Are you prepared for this? Have you brought with you your antihistamines or your epipen?

In Spring, many people in France (and in the world) suffer from pollen allergies with so many flowers blooming around.

Should you be allergic to something specific, don’t forget to bring your medicine. Simple reminder.

👉   Worse than allergies, are you covered for any accidents? You never know: anything can happen: a fall, a ski accident, a car crash… Although France is known for its great health system, you should always have insurance.

When accidents occur, the least we want is to worry about the bills and other administrative matters so you can have a worry-free experience.

Let’s wrap up.

Let’s review the list of things you could consider before taking the leap:

• the length of your stay
• select your teacher
• where to stay?
• examine the programme
• prepare your learning
• check the French learning environment
• share your food requirements
• avoid English
• see the lodging in advance
• share your medical information
• be insured
• length of formal lessons
• informal time
• disconnect from devices when possible
• get some books
• write a journal
• share your allergies if you have any

My last question for you is: do you prefer a “shallow” touristic trip or the life-changing experience of a homestay?

Oui, you’ll have to make an effort to study a language but you won’t find anything like this to really learn a language with all its collateral components like culture, immersion, instant feedback …

And if you are ready to take the leap, you can get all the information about what Homestays with me look like on this page to start your research.

Don’t be shy and send me all your questions here .

So, have you ever experienced a homestay in France? If yes, how was it?