FAQs

Why is the homestay option more expensive?

Staying with one of our carefully-selected homestays is not like renting a private room. You become a member of a family, and the rest of the family will go out of their way to make you feel welcome. Your hosts know you are in China to learn about the Chinese language and culture, so they will teach you new vocabulary, explain local customs, and if you’ve chosen the half- or full-board option, cook you delicious Chinese dishes too! In many cases families invite students to share in other aspects of their lives too – school events, family reunions and local festivals, for example. You’ll leave with a valuable insight into modern China, and memories to last a lifetime.

Will I have any information about my homestay family before I arrive?

Approximately one week before you arrive you’ll receive some information about your homestay family – the members of the family at home, their names, a photo of your bedroom and the family’s contact details. If you’d like to talk to the family before you arrive then don’t hesitate to send them a message – they’ll be glad to hear from you.

Will my host family talk to me and help me with my Chinese?

When we select our homestays we make sure that their motivations to become a host family fit with our school’s ethos. We don’t work with families who just want to earn some extra money by renting out a spare room – only those that are genuinely interested in meeting foreigners. The majority of people in China have rarely or never been abroad themselves, so our families are very keen to host international students and hear about their home countries. At the same time, they love introducing foreigners to their own culture. That means you will have plenty to talk about!

Even if your Chinese is not advanced enough for lengthy discussions on cultural differences, your family will still teach you a lot about their culture. We’ve been working with the same homestay families for a long time, and they are very patient with students in the first stages of learning Chinese. They will especially enjoy introducing you to Chinese food, and teaching you the names of dishes on the dinner table!

How many students live in each homestay?

We never place more than one student in the same homestay at the same time, unless you request to live with your friend or partner. For us it’s important that the homestay provides a genuine Chinese immersion environment – with a second international student this would not be the case, as you would inevitably talk in English or your own native language together.

Can I stay in the same homestay as my friend / partner / family?

If you’re coming to Shanghai with a partner or family group and you wish to live together, we will do our best to find you a suitable homestay (subject to availability). There is a 20% discount on rent per person if you share a bedroom.

However, if full Chinese immersion is what you’re looking for, be aware that living with another person who speaks your language is not ideal. There will be the constant temptation to speak in your own language to each other, and you will probably spend less time speaking in Chinese to your hosts too. We would be happy to organise one homestay per person – we even have junior-approved homestay families specifically vetted for minors, so older children can live in their own homestay if you would like.

What are the facilities like? Will they have a squat toilet?

The homestay families we work with are all middle / upper class and have a very high standard of living. We visit each homestay family at their apartment before selecting them for our program and check the quality of the accommodation. All have modern facilities such as central heating, air-conditioning, a television, refrigerator and wifi. The toilets are Western-style (not squat). Of course, the apartment may look very different to apartments you have seen at home in terms of design, but they are all clean and comfortable.

Will I have enough privacy? Sometimes I may want to go to bed early or Skype people back home.

Our families respect students’ need for privacy and quiet time. You will have your own room and your hosts will not enter without asking you first.

Do I have to be home on time every night for dinner? Is there a curfew if I want to go out?

We strongly recommend that you spend as many mealtimes as possible with your homestay family, because they are a fantastic opportunity to practice your conversational Mandarin and learn first hand about Chinese food and culture. However, your host family knows that there will be days when you have other plans – for example, we have regular Wednesday night social dinners at LTL Shanghai. If you do plan to eat out, we simply ask that you contact your host family in good time to tell them you won’t be back in time for dinner.

You are free to socialise and go out as and when you want to, including travel at the weekends if you’d like. You will have your own key and there is no curfew. Of course, it’s important to respect your hosts and keep quiet if you return late at night – that’s just common courtesy.

Are bills and WiFi included in the price?

Yes, all bills and home WiFi are included in the prices above.

What if I have difficulty communicating something to my host family?

Especially for beginners, there will be many times during your stay that you struggle to communicate exactly what you want to say. However, don’t be disheartened, because this process is what will push you to progress in the language. We highly recommend that even complete beginners live in a homestay where no English is spoken for this exact reason.

However, if there’s something important that you want to communicate to your family, but your language skills don’t yet allow it, just let us know and we will be glad to help you.

We also work with some families where at least one family member speaks some English, so if you are especially worried about communication, please indicate that you’d like to be placed with such a family.

If you’re a complete beginner and you’d like to get a bit of head start before you come to China, you might be interested in our Online Preparation Course which will teach you some of the basics before your arrival.

And what if I’m really not happy living there?

If there’s something about your homestay that you don’t find satisfactory, please let us know immediately. We will either talk to the family and work out a solution together with them, or help you move to a new homestay if necessary.

I’m aware there will be cultural differences and I’m scared of offending my hosts – is there anything I shouldn’t do?

Moving in with a strange family in a new city may seem daunting, especially if you’re afraid of offending them in any way. But our homestay families have plenty of experience with foreign guests and they are aware of cultural differences. They are very unlikely to be insulted by anything you do, and indeed they will more likely be interested in how you are different. As long as you show common courtesy to your hosts – respecting their own privacy, wording requests in a polite manner etc. – then you will not cause any offence. If you have any specific questions after arrival, or you would like us to communicate something particular to your family, let us know and we will help you.

Should I bring a gift for my host family? If so, what sort of gift?

You do not need to bring a gift, but your family will appreciate it if you do. Usually small, simple gifts such as local food or souvenirs from your home country go down well.