Expectations for Families
CultureWorks is a private, English as a Second Language, school located on the grounds of King's University College and Brescia University College at The University of Western Ontario. CultureWorks is affiliated with King's, Brescia, main campus and the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies whereby academically admissible students who successfully complete our program can enter King's Brescia, main campus or the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at Western, without writing the TOEFL or any other English proficiency exam.
Our students come from all over the world and range in age from approximately 17-30 years old. Students attend school for anywhere from 3 months to 12 months, depending on their own needs or goals.
Our academic calendar consists of four 3-month terms. New students arrive at our school in January, April, July and October. There is a 1-week holiday at Christmas, a 1- week holiday in February and a 2 -week holiday in July. Students who commence studying at our first level, and pass each subsequent level, will complete our program in approximately 12 months.
When students register with CultureWorks, they are offered the choice of residence, staying with a Homestay family, either in a Homestay or Roomstay arrangement, or living on their own. While we do offer the choice, we believe that the Homestay family experience is the best choice in that it gives a student more of an opportunity to speak English and also gives them more support in an often strange, foreign country. Our Homestay families are a very important part of what we do. Without a good Homestay our students will not be happy or successful. This is why we strive to find the very best Homestay families for our students.
The following are our expectations from our Homestay families:
- Acknowledge that the primary consideration in hosting a student is for the cross-cultural experience;
- Treat the student with kindness and respect and expect the same in return;
- Interact with and speak English with the student whenever the opportunity arises;
- Acknowledge that you will be involved in "life skills training" for your student, particularly with respect to food. This involvement is also expected with Roomstay students.
- For Homestay, provide three meals a day, and snacks. On the rare occurrence, if you are not able to prepare an evening meal there should be adequate food and instructions available for the student to make their own meal or prepared meals left;
- For Roomstay, provide the student with access to the kitchen and facilities to store and cook their own food.
- Provide the student with a private bedroom, which should include a study area;
- Provide a house key to the student;
- Provide CultureWorks with a current Police Records Check for Vulnerable Screening for Employment ("police check");
- Acknowledge that all costs associated with hosting a CultureWorks student are to be covered by the daily fee paid by CultureWorks.
The following sets out the homestay family's expectations from CultureWorks:
- CultureWorks requires that once we place our students with a family the student commit to a one term stay with that family. However, CultureWorks reserves the right to move a student if a situation is unsatisfactory or if problems cannot be resolved between family members and student. This move will be the sole decision of CultureWorks but will include consultation with the family. When a student is moved, the Homestay family will not be paid any further hosting fees.
- CultureWorks pays the Homestay family $25.00 per day for Homestay and $15.00 per day for Roomstay. This amount will be directly deposited to the Homestay family’s bank account every four weeks. The first four-week cheque will be deposited on the Monday following the student’s first day of school. The subsequent four-week payments will be direct deposited on the Friday, one day before they are due, for that upcoming four-week time period. There will be times that you will be paid for five weeks if the period includes school holidays.
- Students pay CultureWorks an administration fee of $3.00 per day for Homestay and $2.00 per day for Roomstay.
- Situations sometimes arise where, through miscommunication or inadvertence, a Homestay is arranged by CultureWorks and the student does not intend to move there. Often the student has already made alternate arrangements (i.e. signed a lease for an apartment, etc.). In situations such as these, it is CultureWorks’ policy that we will pay the Homestay family a 30 day cancellation fee and that no further commitment exists between CultureWorks, the student or the Homestay family.
- If a Homestay or Roomstay is arranged and a student is unable to obtain a study permit to come to Canada, the Homestay will be cancelled with no penalty to the student or compensation to the family. We strive to avoid these situations but sometimes they are unavoidable.
- At the end of the first term, your student must either commit to another term with you, ask to be moved to a different Homestay family or move independently. CultureWorks will continue to invoice students and pay the family directly for all Homestay/Roomstay arrangements made.
We further confirm the following:
- The Homestay family agrees that CultureWorks is not liable for any loss or damage to their home caused by the student. Students are responsible for their own debts, conduct and actions while in the Homestay program.
- Homestay placements and/or removals will be conducted at the sole discretion of CultureWorks and CultureWorks will never guarantee a Homestay placement.
- I hereby give permission for my photograph to be used for referential purposes connected with CultureWorks’ Homestay program. These photographs will become part of my host file.
