Testimonials

If you are considering staying with a Spanish host family alongside your intensive Spanish course in Spain but are a little apprehensive - there is nothing to be afraid of. Here we give you the low-down on what to expect. There are many myths surrounding staying with a host family, but we still believe it is the best option for improving your Spanish in a natural way outside the classroom.

Getting the right family
It is recommended that you give any requests to your agent in advance, for example if you would prefer a family with no children or a family with no pets, or non smokers etc, then the language schools can match you as best they can with the host families they have available. If at any point you feel uncomfortable or you don’t get along with your host, then the school will do their best to change families for you. Each Spanish school has an accommodation officer in charge of host family allocation. We will send you full details of your hosts before you arrive.

Your new abode
Your Spanish host family accommodation would usually involve having a single room with a single bed, desk and wardrobe. In some locations you can pay extra to have an “executive host family” which would include having your own bathroom and having a higher standard of accommodation all round such as a larger room, a more spacious home and perhaps use of the internet. The bed sheets will be provided and sometimes towels, but we recommend that you take your own towels. You will be given a key to the door so that you can come and go as you please, but do let your host know if you are not going to be back for dinner or if you plan to stay out very late, it just saves them worrying about you.

Eating what and when
We do also ask that you respect the timetable of your host family. The differences in the daily routine between Spain and the UK are quite vast and it can be a lot to get used to. Breakfast would be around 8am to fit in with your schedule of your Spanish classes and would usually consist of coffee and toast and fruit. Lunch in Spain is usually the main meal of the day and is taken around 2-3pm. Expect a full meal at lunch time. Dinner is usually more like a snack so might include bread, ham, tortilla, salad etc. and would usually be taken around 10pm. Adjusting to the Spanish timetable is all part of the experience, though if you have any problems just talk to your host family. This also applies to any special dietary requests that you might have.

Journey time
In the larger cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia and especially in the high season of July and August, you should expect the travelling time to the school to be further. This can sometimes involve up to an hour’s journey on public transport. However don’t let this put you off. It will often mean that the home is larger and more comfortable and located in a safer residential area. You will also get to know a region of the city that you would never normally have discovered. In many locations the families are in walking distance to the school. All host families will show you how to get to the school on your first morning.

Ice-breakers
We recommend that you take some photos of your own home and family as this can work as a great way to get to know each other, making things more comfortable from the start. If you are a beginner in Spanish then speaking about your family and home is a great way to practise the basics of the language.

Bringing a gift
It is generally customary to bring a gift. This can be a great way to show your appreciation and can also be interesting for your host, especially if you are able to bring something traditional from your home town or country. Sweets and biscuits are usually a good idea if you are not sure what to bring, though thinking of something more imaginative will be appreciated by your host and could be a good talking point! If you already live in Spain then a gift from your hometown might be difficult, but a trip to El Corte Inglés should give you some suggestions.

Do you have any suggestions of interesting gifts to take to your host family?

Do you have a good personal experience of staying with a host family?

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