HOMESTAY PROGRAM
Benefits:
When you host a student, you and your loved ones gain knowledge about different cultures, languages and people. Establish friendships around the world with this rewarding cultural experience. Share your family's traditions while enriching the life of a student. This is an opportunity for life long memories. Students will be selected by Polar Trails from carefully screened applicants from Japan, Korea, China, Mexico, Brazil, and all over Europe. Your family benefits from experiencing first hand the language and traditions of other cultures while opening doors to international opportunities.
Remuneration $550/ month.
Short & long term stays available.
Applications accepted from families with or without children
What It Means To Be A Homestay Family:
The Homestay program is intended to help international students learn and practice English and learn about Canadian culture. Consider what it must feel like to travel overseas to an unfamiliar country with a culture and language different from yours, away from family, friends and all that you are used to. It's exciting yet terrifying at the same time. Or perhaps take everything you have learned, all that seems logical to you and throw it out the door, it's a whole new ball game with a whole new set of rules. This could describe how one feels when traveling to another country. To have a family in that country that can offer guidance and support is crucial to one's positive cultural experience.
Besides support and guidance a homestay family is required to provide:
Provide an English-speaking environment
3 nutritious meals a day.
A clean comfortable home.
A separate room with bed, desk and chair.
Directions for how to get to and from school.
The level of English, the age, cultural background and often the personality of your homestay student may determine the level of interaction your family will have with your student. Younger students with limited English may rely more on family support to help them through their stay and therefore more interaction will result. An older more independent student who's English skills are better may not require as much support and perhaps less interaction may result. Although most homestay students are adults there is an understanding that while staying in your home they should abide by the rules of the household as a family member would, these rules should be explained at the beginning of their stay in order to avoid any confusion later.
The benefits of becoming more culturally aware, making new friends, learning new languages and practicing your cross-cultural communication skills are all part in parcel to being a homestay family. it is an enriching experience that can last a lifetime.
Homestay Application Process:
If you are interested in becoming a homestay family please follow the steps below.
Contact Polar Trails Inc. to set up an interview and home inspection.
Fill out the application form provided by your Polar Trails representative or apply on line.
Submit the application with a copy of the applicant(s) valid passport or drivers license and an up to date criminal record check.
(obtainable from the Public Safety building at 151 Princess Street 4th floor)* and an up to date child abuse registry check (obtainable from the Child Abuse Registry suite 201-114 Garry Street) Telephone # 945-6964
Submit 1 personal and 1 professional reference and their phone numbers
Once we have reviewed your application and found you to be a suitable family we will contact you with further details regarding your future homestay student. Polar Trails Inc. will do its best to inform you of a student's arrival at least two weeks in advance.
*You will need to bring 2 of the following pieces of ID for your criminal record & child abuse registry checks, a valid drivers license, birth certificate, and passport.
Please note: There is a processing fee for these checks.
Phone: 204- 479- 9946
Fax: 204- 284- 4174
Email: polartrails@canada.com , www.polartrails.com
POLAR TRAILS INC. 148 BARTLET AVENUE, R3L 0Z1, WINNIPEG, MB CANADA