Host Families

Say Failte, Hola and Bonjour to new experiences!

 

Edgewater College invites you and your family to enjoy an enriching and rewarding experience of becoming a host family. Every year, Edgewater College welcomes many foreign students to the town of Drogheda. Staying with a family is a very important part of learning English and becoming familiar with Irish culture and way of life. For both our culture and our economy, it's a mutually rewarding experience.

 

For the host family, it's a fascinating and rewarding experience, and an opportunity to see Ireland, and Drogheda through fresh eyes and to get a window into another culture. For your generosity of spirit, you'll be financially rewarded for each student who stays with you.

 

Edgewater College Host Family Rates:

€160 per student per week for full-board accommodation - (this includes Breakfast, a packed lunch and Evening Meal)
Or
€140 per student per week for half-board accommodation - (this includes Breakfast and and Evening Meal)

 

Edgewater College have a dedicated Student Welfare Officer who ensures that our Host family standards are maintained.
Host families will be visited and inspected by EDGEWATER COLLEGE to assess their suitability and monitored on a regular basis.

 

Who can host?

Our Host Families come in all shapes and sizes, and can include:
• Working parents
• Couples without children
• Singles and single parents
• Adoptive parents
• Empty-nesters
All Host Families must be located within close proximity to Edgewater College in Drogheda – ideally within walking distance

 

What is expected from the Host Family?

First and foremost, the student should feel welcome and be well looked after and treated as a member of the family during his/her stay.
The family must be friendly and interested in the students they host.The Host Family accommodation should be clean and well-maintained throughout.

 

Students must be provided with:

  • comfortable bed with good supply of quality bedclothes and weekly change of bed linen
  • adequate space for clothes storage
  • laundry or reasonable access to a washing machine
  • table and chair in bedroom for private study or access at all times to another room with facilities conducive to study
  • free access to bathroom and bath or shower daily
  • adequate heating, lighting and ventilation
  • a well balanced and varied diet

 

Three is the maximum number of students which may be accommodated in any household and it is strongly recommended that only one student of any particular mother tongue should be hosted by a family. Not more than two students should be accommodated in the same bedroom.

 

Keep in Mind:

Your student will probably find it difficult to understand spoken English for the first few days as he/she may have been trained through American or British English and will be a little confused with Irish accents. You just need to speak slowly and encourage the student to use their dictionary to find the key words he/she needs.

 

It is also important to consider that your student may be a little shy and overwhelmed with the cultural differences at first. We find that students usually settle in after about four days. Activities such as watching television, reading newspapers and interacting with native speakers are the most natural ways to learn a language.

 

Please ensure that your student carries your name, address and telephone number at first, as Irish names will be difficult for them. Please also make sure that the student knows some basic directions, for example, the way to town, local shops etc.

 

What is expected from the student?

  • Be responsible and respectful towards the host family
  • Attend classes and try their best
  • Share his/her culture and customs
  • Participate fully in family and school life

 

If you want to apply to become a Host Family: