Keeping it in the family

Welcoming strangers into your home is one thing. Letting them live with you and your family is another! Offering accommodation to foreign students is generally an enriching experience for the host family as well as for the foreign student.

Becoming a host family doesn't necessarily mean you have to already be a traditional family. There is no specific type of host family. Host families come in all sizes: two-parent families, single parent families, retired couples, childless couples and even single adults (under certain circumstances) can be eligible to host one or more students. Some families prefer one student at a time, while others prefer to have two. This way, both of them have each other as company.

Maria Dalli has been the EC Malta's accommodation manager for EC Malta for the past 11 years. "The most important aspect of my role is to get the best possible match between the student and host family. You don't always get it right, especially when you're looking after hundreds of families, but the satisfaction when you get that match right and all goes well is rewarding," she said.

In a nutshell, hosting is inviting a foreign student to become a part of your family for the length of their stay with the school. Depending on the connection with the family, the student can either remain as a guest or become an intricate part of the family and their day-to-day lives. If a host family has children of their own, then it can be a great way for them to learn about another country and its cultures.

Students bring their own spending money for things like eating out, going to the movies, bowling, buying clothes and shopping. The host family is responsible for providing two meals per day for adult students and a packed lunch in the case of juniors. It is important to make them feel welcome and allow them a certain level of privacy. Establishing basic ground rules, most particularly for the younger students, can ensure that the household runs efficiently. All students carry full medical insurance. Most importantly, students come to EC because they want to learn English, so communication should be an integral part of being with the family.

Vicki and Edwin Fenech live in a large house in Sliema and were host parents till they started their own family. Last January, they decided to start hosting students again since their children were older. "I make sure I cook a different meal every day, mainly Maltese dishes, which the students really appreciate. I also make sure that they eat with the family as that is the most important part of our family day," Ms Fenech said. "We also had a great time when the World Cup football was on. We happened to have a male Italian student staying with us at the time and thank goodness Edwin supports Italy, so we had a great time and he really enjoyed himself," she added.

Luciene Bonello is a vivacious, woman who has been a "host mother" for approximately 16 years. For Ms Bonello, this is more than just a source of income. It's imperative that people who take on this role have a certain knack with people from all walks of life and accepting certain facets of their cultures that as a Maltese she may not necessarily abide by. "When I was younger I took in a lot of younger people, but now that my children have grown it's nicer to have the company of adults around the house. We socialise together. I'll take them out and show them Malta. I love to cook Maltese dishes for them and they love to cook for me too," she said. "It's important to have a certain level of trust with people. I mean these are initially strangers living in your house and for it to work successfully, there needs to be a level of mutual trust and acceptance... but the lovely thing is, some of them can become dear friends. It's not just about the money, it's about the people... I look forward to the arrival of each new student," she added.

Sometimes it's impossible to always get that perfect match of student and family. Ms Dalli points out although two 50-year-olds can seem ideally suited on paper, they may simply not click when they meet in person. From her experience and knowledge of the families, she generally knows who will suit what family. For example, a woman who is always cleaning and extremely fastidious and house-proud will simply not tolerate a student leaving their wet towel on the floor. Host families stress the importance accepting others' habits.

Stella Grima has been a "host mother" since her husband passed away four years ago. She often takes her students around Malta, to show them its sights and history. "The way you treat someone is the way they will treat you. It's all about communication and flexibility. I treat them like I treat my own children. I'm a fussy person and am house-proud, however their room is their room and so I'm patient and respectful of their ways and their privacy. I clean their clothes and change their sheets once a week as well as cooking their meals but the rest is up to them," she said.

Living with a host family can be the best way to find out about family life in Malta. Students can learn Malta's history, traditions, culture and food while practising their new English skills outside the classroom. Most importantly, it can also represent a safe haven for those who may feel isolated geographically, culturally and linguistically.

To find out more about becoming a host family contact Ms Dalli on 2379-0861 or e-mail mariadalli@ecenglish.com. Read about other host families at www.ecenglish.com/en/testimonials.