TRAVIS HOMENUK

Living in homestays is the best option for students who come to Canada to pursue post-secondary education. The many benefits for both students and host families should encourage the University of Saskatchewan community to consider hosting a student.

The U of S Language Centre offers intensive English as a Second Language classes for international students. They must work through multiple levels of study to satisfy their conditional admittance into the U of S. Progress can take months or years, depending on the individual’s English ability upon entry, social integration and motivation, among other factors.

Students at the USLC not only take classes from qualified instructors, but they are also required to take part in cultural programs and activities, all of which are rooted in improving their English. Activities range from Saskatoon Blades hockey games, trips to Shekinah Retreat Centre and adventures in ice skating, salsa dancing and cookie decorating. Through these activities, students are able to use English in numerous settings with a variety of people.

Even though these activities are undoubtedly helpful in improving the English proficiency among students, those who live in a homestay frequently have stronger English language capabilities, especially verbally.

From the fall of 2012 to the summer of 2014, the USLC conducted research regarding the success rates of students enrolled in the ESL program. The study looked at students who lived in homestays, on-campus residences and personal residences.

The pass rate of students living in homestays is 79 per cent. In contrast, the pass rate of students who did not live in homestays or residence was only 59 per cent. Frankly, the numbers are quite telling.

Paulette Wallace has taken in international students since 1997. She notes that mealtime is very important for homestay families, providing students with the chance to practice their English, hear spoken English and of course, eat a delicious home-cooked meal. This kind of practice is normally non-existent for students who choose not to stay with homestays.

The USLC also looked at the percentage of students who did not complete courses, in conjunction with their living situation. Of these students who did not complete courses, 13 per cent did not live in a homestay or residence. This number looks large when compared to the three per cent of homestay students who did not complete their programs. Needless to say, a homestay environment seems more conducive to student success. 

In particular, male students benefit most from the Homestay Program. While 75 per cent of male students in a homestay completed their program, only five per cent did not and instead opted to drop out of the program. This number is impressive when compared to the low 54 per cent of men who completed the program and did not live in a homestay, with a whopping 13 per cent incompletion rate. Notably, 62 per cent of the ESL students at the USLC are male, so this is a significant demographic to analyze.

The most impressive success of the Homestay Program is attributed to female students who have an 83 per cent success rate, with an extremely low 0.5 per cent incompletion rate.

If the numbers aren’t telling enough, the feedback from students and families is certainly indicative of why the program is so important to the success of ESL students.

Wallace estimates that she’s hosted over 50 students.

“The first girl I had was from Mozambique and she was with us for 15 months. Since that first experience, I have had more students than I can keep track of,” Wallace said.

Wallace noted that her

biggest regret as a homestay family is that she has not kept a guest book of sorts with pictures and writing from all of her students. She claims the Homestay Program is an absolute benefit to students and that she’s made some lovely friends through the program.

Nettie Cherniatenski, another homestay mother, has hosted about 29 students from 2002 onward, all of whom “have blended into [her] family.” While travelling to a few of the native countries her students are from, Cherniatenski said the homestay experience has been beneficial to her family.

“It opens the door to a family bond with different cultures that says there is no room in this world for discrimination,” Cherniatenski said.

Both Cherniatenski and Wallace produced a laundry list of benefits for their families and the students alike. Whether it’s meeting friends and family, travelling to another city, grocery shopping, running errands or talking about English idioms around the dinner table, there’s a cultural exchange taking place that works for everybody.

Cherniatenski recalls a time when one of her students wanted a picture with a “real cowboy.”

“So off to Moose Jaw we went and lo and behold there was a boy in his 20s wearing blue jeans, a cowboy shirt, boots and a hat. What a dream come true for her,” said Cherniatenski.

In many cases, the homestay family acts as parents to their student.

“A few of my girls needed doctor visits, so off we went as mother and daughter,” Cherniatenski said. Similarly, Wallace has been invited to numerous weddings all around the world and is planning a trip to Ecuador to visit former  students soon.

International students Da Liu, Yingxin Wang and Hui Jiao from China also highlighted how the program has benefitted them.

Jiao notes that homestay families are able to correct spoken English which helps students become comfortable interacting with Canadians.

Liu enjoyed the homestay experience because it provided a family-like environment.

This “was the first time for me to go abroad and stay by myself, but with homestay, I didn’t feel lonely. When I get sick, they take care of me and provide special food for me. When I feel upset, they try to talk with me and help perk me up,” said Liu.

Wang noted the importance of a homestay family from her immediate arrival in Canada.

“When I walked out from the door at the airport, my homestay mom, Sharlene, was already there and waiting for me. We started talking and it just made me feel more comfortable and less nervous,” Wang said.

Jiao sincerely enjoyed learning about Canadian customs and holidays, which helped with socializing in different settings.

“If I have to go to a party, I know what I should do,” Jiao said.

Jiao’s homestay also encouraged getting involved in different volunteer-based activities. This helped Jiao meet Canadian friends, while having fun and speaking English.

Liu, Wang and Jiao all noted the safety and convenience of their homestays.

“When I go out for activities, my homestay always asks when I’ll come back. If I do not come back on time, [they] will phone just to make sure I am okay,” Jiao said.

In Liu’s case, there was an interest in attending church.

“Over two weeks, we went to five different churches,” Liu said, while also listing the many other cultural activities the homestay arranged.

The most important thing about the Homestay Program for students, families, and organizers is that it’s not about assimilation into Canadian

culture, but rather about the

cultural exchange that takes place. In many cases, the students become true family members.   

“I do not even remember when I started to call it home instead of my homestay, and [when I started] to call them family instead of my homestay family,” Wang said.

Being a homestay family is an added responsibility with a good deal of organizing, but worth it in the end. Families can host students for short-term or long-term periods and they’ll receive $26 per day. The Homestay Program is always in need of families with furnished rooms and the ability to provide three meals per day; lunches consist of packed lunches during the school week. The true sentiment of a homestay family is to provide students with an authentic family experience.

Location is also an important factor for homestay families, as they must be 30–45 minutes by bus to the university.

“Students are very keen to live as close to the ESL school as possible,” said Debra Marshall, who works for the Accommodation Office at the USLC.

“Many of our students plan to attend the U of S eventually, so being able to live with a family that is very familiar with university life — and being exposed to it — takes a lot of the unknowns and apprehension out of making that transition from being an ESL student to undergrad,” said Marshall. 

Ideally, more faculty and staff from the U of S would play host to international students in the future. After all, so many U of S staff members and professors live near campus.   

I implore the staff, faculty and students of the U of S to consider being a homestay family in the future. There are clearly cultural benefits for families and academic benefits for students. In this case, the potential pros outweigh the cons.

 The many benefits for both students and host families should encourage the University of Saskatchewan community to consider hosting a student.

The U of S Language Centre offers intensive English as a Second Language classes for international students. They must work through multiple levels of study to satisfy their conditional admittance into the U of S. Progress can take months or years, depending on the individual’s English ability upon entry, social integration and motivation, among other factors.

Students at the USLC not only take classes from qualified instructors, but they are also required to take part in cultural programs and activities, all of which are rooted in improving their English. Activities range from Saskatoon Blades hockey games, trips to Shekinah Retreat Centre and adventures in ice skating, salsa dancing and cookie decorating. Through these activities, students are able to use English in numerous settings with a variety of people.

Even though these activities are undoubtedly helpful in improving the English proficiency among students, those who live in a homestay frequently have stronger English language capabilities, especially verbally.

From the fall of 2012 to the summer of 2014, the USLC conducted research regarding the success rates of students enrolled in the ESL program. The study looked at students who lived in homestays, on-campus residences and personal residences.

The pass rate of students living in homestays is 79 per cent. In contrast, the pass rate of students who did not live in homestays or residence was only 59 per cent. Frankly, the numbers are quite telling.

Paulette Wallace has taken in international students since 1997. She notes that mealtime is very important for homestay families, providing students with the chance to practice their English, hear spoken English and of course, eat a delicious home-cooked meal. This kind of practice is normally non-existent for students who choose not to stay with homestays.

The USLC also looked at the percentage of students who did not complete courses, in conjunction with their living situation. Of these students who did not complete courses, 13 per cent did not live in a homestay or residence. This number looks large when compared to the three per cent of homestay students who did not complete their programs. Needless to say, a homestay environment seems more conducive to student success. 

In particular, male students benefit most from the Homestay Program. While 75 per cent of male students in a homestay completed their program, only five per cent did not and instead opted to drop out of the program. This number is impressive when compared to the low 54 per cent of men who completed the program and did not live in a homestay, with a whopping 13 per cent incompletion rate. Notably, 62 per cent of the ESL students at the USLC are male, so this is a significant demographic to analyze.

The most impressive success of the Homestay Program is attributed to female students who have an 83 per cent success rate, with an extremely low 0.5 per cent incompletion rate.

If the numbers aren’t telling enough, the feedback from students and families is certainly indicative of why the program is so important to the success of ESL students.

Wallace estimates that she’s hosted over 50 students.

“The first girl I had was from Mozambique and she was with us for 15 months. Since that first experience, I have had more students than I can keep track of,” Wallace said.

Wallace noted that her

biggest regret as a homestay family is that she has not kept a guest book of sorts with pictures and writing from all of her students. She claims the Homestay Program is an absolute benefit to students and that she’s made some lovely friends through the program.

Nettie Cherniatenski, another homestay mother, has hosted about 29 students from 2002 onward, all of whom “have blended into [her] family.” While travelling to a few of the native countries her students are from, Cherniatenski said the homestay experience has been beneficial to her family.

“It opens the door to a family bond with different cultures that says there is no room in this world for discrimination,” Cherniatenski said.

Both Cherniatenski and Wallace produced a laundry list of benefits for their families and the students alike. Whether it’s meeting friends and family, travelling to another city, grocery shopping, running errands or talking about English idioms around the dinner table, there’s a cultural exchange taking place that works for everybody.

Cherniatenski recalls a time when one of her students wanted a picture with a “real cowboy.”

“So off to Moose Jaw we went and lo and behold there was a boy in his 20s wearing blue jeans, a cowboy shirt, boots and a hat. What a dream come true for her,” said Cherniatenski.

In many cases, the homestay family acts as parents to their student.

“A few of my girls needed doctor visits, so off we went as mother and daughter,” Cherniatenski said. Similarly, Wallace has been invited to numerous weddings all around the world and is planning a trip to Ecuador to visit former  students soon.

International students Da Liu, Yingxin Wang and Hui Jiao from China also highlighted how the program has benefitted them.

Jiao notes that homestay families are able to correct spoken English which helps students become comfortable interacting with Canadians.

Liu enjoyed the homestay experience because it provided a family-like environment.

This “was the first time for me to go abroad and stay by myself, but with homestay, I didn’t feel lonely. When I get sick, they take care of me and provide special food for me. When I feel upset, they try to talk with me and help perk me up,” said Liu.

Wang noted the importance of a homestay family from her immediate arrival in Canada.

“When I walked out from the door at the airport, my homestay mom, Sharlene, was already there and waiting for me. We started talking and it just made me feel more comfortable and less nervous,” Wang said.

Jiao sincerely enjoyed learning about Canadian customs and holidays, which helped with socializing in different settings.

“If I have to go to a party, I know what I should do,” Jiao said.

Jiao’s homestay also encouraged getting involved in different volunteer-based activities. This helped Jiao meet Canadian friends, while having fun and speaking English.

Liu, Wang and Jiao all noted the safety and convenience of their homestays.

“When I go out for activities, my homestay always asks when I’ll come back. If I do not come back on time, [they] will phone just to make sure I am okay,” Jiao said.

In Liu’s case, there was an interest in attending church.

“Over two weeks, we went to five different churches,” Liu said, while also listing the many other cultural activities the homestay arranged.

The most important thing about the Homestay Program for students, families, and organizers is that it’s not about assimilation into Canadian

culture, but rather about the

cultural exchange that takes place. In many cases, the students become true family members.   

“I do not even remember when I started to call it home instead of my homestay, and [when I started] to call them family instead of my homestay family,” Wang said.

Being a homestay family is an added responsibility with a good deal of organizing, but worth it in the end. Families can host students for short-term or long-term periods and they’ll receive $26 per day. The Homestay Program is always in need of families with furnished rooms and the ability to provide three meals per day; lunches consist of packed lunches during the school week. The true sentiment of a homestay family is to provide students with an authentic family experience.

Location is also an important factor for homestay families, as they must be 30–45 minutes by bus to the university.

“Students are very keen to live as close to the ESL school as possible,” said Debra Marshall, who works for the Accommodation Office at the USLC.

“Many of our students plan to attend the U of S eventually, so being able to live with a family that is very familiar with university life — and being exposed to it — takes a lot of the unknowns and apprehension out of making that transition from being an ESL student to undergrad,” said Marshall. 

Ideally, more faculty and staff from the U of S would play host to international students in the future. After all, so many U of S staff members and professors live near campus.   

I implore the staff, faculty and students of the U of S to consider being a homestay family in the future. There are clearly cultural benefits for families and academic benefits for students. In this case, the potential pros outweigh the cons.