English Language Homestays

Last week we had two large coaches from a French school ( 19th May ) …….here is their response after the visit..

Hello Jackie !   I just wanted to thank you once again for your warm welcome and your great job last week ! Our students will never forget their host families , who were really great ! So I hope we’ll come back next year ! and the Agent reports… Seriously, they were enchanted of their stay, the famillies were excellent and the local organiser & her husband were always ready to listen to their news each evening  They’ve asked about going back next year !!! So get prepared to hold an option for them J

Hello and Happy Easter

I don’t have a funny story to recall this time around. You will remember that last time everyone was having a chuckle over my running Tim over in my car.   He now ensures I have him in my sights if I am reversing.

URGENT, URGENT PLEA

( beds for 15 and 16 April required )  

ELH, and by default, yourselves as Host families have become a victim of our own success.  We are now in the position of having regular groups return to us as well as attracting lots of new clients.  This means that now, more than ever we are in need of BEDS, BEDS and MORE BEDS!

If any of you have been thinking about adding another bed to your usual quota then please let us know. ( telephone 01273 595900 or e mail toaccommodation@englishlanguagehomestays.co.uk)

Likewise, any Friends and Family that would be interested in earning some extra holiday money, please ask them to call us.  As always, we are happy to repay the favour by paying you a Finders Fee of 10.00GBP for every new family that we can use.   This is particularly relevant for the Hove/Portslade Centre ( Sainsbury Supermarket) where we are having frequent requests for groups to be placed here, but we are rather thin on the ground regarding the number of beds available.

Face Book

We have begun a Facebook Page for many reasons.  One is that we can update families on an informal basis on news and happenings and the other is that the Students ask to put their photos on an ELH page to show their friends and families back home.  This is a new idea and one which Anya will begin to work on for this season.  It also has updates on other things that ELH does, such as our Charity Work in South Africa and sponsoring Host Families should they be raising money!  Please click on it and “LIKE” us so that we can start to add more information and build it into something useful and informative rather than a short Home Page.  The link is

https://www.facebook.com/pages/English-Language-Homestays/391632924180963

New Hosties !!

We have some lovely new host families and the feedback from the Agents and Leaders has been terrific.  So thank you all.   The only small request would be to ensure that older boys are given a substantial packed lunch and breakfast, as they often scrounge extra food from their classmates.  I know that host families often say “help yourself” but I am sure you can understand that many are shy and reluctant to do this, so just placing some toast on the table alongside the cereals often solves the problem  

Likewise, could you possibly ensure that the packed lunch contains a minimum of 3 slices of bread – even if the 3^rd slice only contains Jam or Peanut Butter because most continental children are used to a hot meal in the middle of the day.  Another tip is to put some plain bread on the table with dinner.  This is something that they are used to and again, does help to fill larger stomachs.

Special Diets

Can I tongue in cheek mention that when we say : vegetarian or no meat” then offering them sausages is not a good idea…. Unless they are Lynda McCarty ones.   L  So although its reassuring when host families ring up to question something, the two things I would like to clarify today are:

A Vegetarian Diet doesn’t include Sausages

and

No Pork in the diet also means No Ham, because although sometimes it is hard to imagine Ham did start its life off as a Piggie… and therefore No Pork means no Ham; Salami; or anything else that has previously used trotters to walk with

No meat is simply that – NO MEAT PLEASE !

Summer School

We will soon be starting to work on the Summer Allocations with the usual glut of students arriving in July.  This year, more than ever can we please ask you to let us know your available dates and if you can increase your bed allocation, just for July, from 2 to 3, this would be very helpful.  Additionally, any friends or relatives who are saving towards a holiday may find that taking a student for three or four weeks in the summer, does increase their spending money.  If you have any special requests or dates when you are unavailable, please let Elaine know (operations@englishlanguagehomestays.co.uk) as she will be working on the them

The Ham Road stop has been quiet for the past few weeks but this will be back on in May.  There has been some conflict with drivers hours and them having to finish somewhat earlier than normal, so having Total as their one and only meeting place, helped them keep within their contractual hours.  Thank you to all of the Town families who have come to Total, this has really helped us and we do appreciate it.

South African Charity

We will give you more information about this when Anya writes the next Newsletter, but in the short term, there are some pictures on the Facebook page.  Our current projects are building a sun canopy for the HIV Orphans to be able to play outside and supplying fresh fruit for the After School Dinner Club.  As we said, more info next time.

Finally if you have reached the bottom of this Newsletter, then I thank you as it seems to have grown and grown in length.  If you have any ideas or tips to share with other host families, please let me know and we can add it next time.   Meanwhile, I hold my breath for phone or e mails regarding those very needed, extra beds…

Until next time, thank you all once again

Jackie, Vicki, Elaine, Sally, Anya, Chau and Tim                                   who all wish you a very restful Easter and plenty of Eggs  !!

We are now in the process of becomming accredited by the British Council and to do this we need a reliable and experienced DOS.    

If you are looking for a seasonal challenge then get in touch with us!!   We require someone on a part time basis between now and early June and then full time until the end of August.  Thereafter, hours would be by arrangement as we continue our teachign stays until early December.  This is a seasonal school with peaks and troughs but we aim to offer courses from February through to December each year.  if you have the experience and right qualifications then please send us your CV    Jackie@englishlanguagehomestays.co.uk

Dont Faint!  It’s not the title of a dubious website, but more the name for a new business venture of one of our Host Families.  Chrisse and Malcolm Collins have begun a bespoke business selling Chopping Boards.  But not any old chopping boards but ones made from Oak Beech and Cedar and all finished with tonge oil, which is used safely when placing food on these boards.    

A huge range of sizes from small ones for chopping herbs and garlic to large ones for serving Cheese and Biscuits on.  Some of them even have discreet drip channels for juicy offerings and all come with handles for easy transportation.  

If you would like to know more, please give them a call on 01273 453891 – a simply beautiful idea for Christmas