ÉCOLE DE LANGUES Information for students Homestay program Explore Spring semester only - 2018 February 15, 2018
Summary Host families... 3 Terms of stay... 3 Payment... 5 Enrollment process... 5 In case of difficulty... 5 Disclaimer... 5 2
Information about the homestay program Our homestay program is a service that offers students enrolled in French-as-a-Foreign Language Intensive Programme the opportunity to live in a Francophone environment during the spring (May-June) session. Students enrolled in the summer (July-August) session must be hosted at the Résidences de l Université Laval. The homestay program is managed by the École de langues de l'université Laval, which oversees the pairing between families and students. The goal of our hosting service is to provide an additional component to the immersion program. The École de langues believes that having daily contact with residents of the region encourages social and cultural exchanges, and helps students further improve their knowledge of the French language. This program is limited to the number of available hosts and different living options are available to the students. Conditions are established in advance, particularly regarding the number of meals with the family and the costs. Dietary restrictions as well as allergies are considered when selecting a host home. Given the objectives of our homestay service, Quebec hosts must communicate exclusively in French with students and have exchanges with them every day. Host families The families on our list are diverse. For example, they can consist of one or more people, a couple, parents with young or older children, or older people, and some also have pets. This diversity allows students to have different experiences. To ensure a pleasant and enriching stay for the student, families are selected according to specific criteria while having at heart the student s academic success and well-being. All family residences are located within a reasonable distance from Université Laval, and are easily accessible on foot or by bus, within 30 minutes. All families speak French, and must speak in French at all times when communicating with the students. Some families do not speak or understand English, so if you need help communicating with them, before your arrival or during your stay, you may contact the person in charge of the accommodation service. Terms of stay There are two possible options for family accommodation: 1) cohabitation in the family s living quarters; or, 2) renting a room in the house or in an attached apartment. In the first option, the student resides in the same part of the house as the family, and shares common areas (living room, bathroom and kitchen). In the second option, the student is housed in a part of the house reserved for rental purposes, and may share common areas with other tenants. Meal plan and kitchen access With both options, accommodation can include a meal plan consisting of supper only, or breakfast and supper. Lunches are always the student's full responsibility. 3
Families are encouraged to provide students with meals that meet Canada's Food Guide 1 standards in terms of both quantity and variety. Students choosing a meal plan should have the same food as the family and not have to cook their own meals, except in special circumstances. The kitchen access option, regardless of the chosen meal plan, allows for access to a kitchen and its preparation area, storage, appliances and utensils. It may be the family s kitchen or one located elsewhere in the house. However, students must provide all their own food, including condiments, snacks and drinks, and use the kitchen to prepare their lunches or all their meals if they did not select a meal plan. Dietary restrictions The École de Langues cannot guarantee that a host will be able to meet your dietary restrictions or provide allergen-free meals. Therefore, students with major dietary restrictions (vegan, vegetarian, no pork, gluten free, major allergies, etc.) are invited to choose the Accommodation without Meals option, or consider staying in one of the university residences where it is possible to cook for oneself. Cleaning and housekeeping Students must pick up after themselves after using common areas such as the kitchen, bathroom, or living room. They are also responsible for maintaining and keeping their room clean and in good condition. However, they are not responsible for the maintenance of the house, for watching over the house for extended periods of time (24 hours or more) or for supervising children or pets. Additional fees If a family wants to charge additional fees for the use of the washer and dryer, Internet or any other service, they must notify the student before arrival. No extra fees can be requested during the session. Transportation Families live within a reasonable distance of Université Laval whose campus is easily accessible on foot or by bus. A bus stop is located near host families homes. If you need to take the bus to the campus, the host family will provide you with the necessary information and schedules, and will help you get familiar with the bus system and its web site. The fares for using the Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC) are $ 87.50 CAD for a monthly pass (first to last day of the calendar month), $ 29 CAD for a 5-day pass (5 consecutive days following the date of purchase), $9 CAD for a single fare, or $3.50 CAD with exact change. Public transit costs are assumed entirely by the student. 1 http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/index-eng.php 4
Payment The homestay accommodation fees are paid by your Explore bursary. However, the calculations are based on a 35-night stay. If there is an agreement between the student and the family, the stay can be of a different duration, with additional nights being paid directly to the family. Enrollment process Students who wish to take part in the homestay program must: Read this information document; Complete and sign the registration form, and send it to the École de Langues. An e-mail confirming reception of registration documents will be sent to you. This is not a guarantee that you will be staying in a family. Pairing process The École de Langues begins the pairing process based on the applications received, and it follows up on the student s request by e-mail. Therefore, it is important to check your e-mail messages regularly. Once you receive a message from us offering you a host family, you must respond promptly and communicate with the family as soon as possible. If we do not receive confirmation by the prescribed date, another student will be assigned to the selected family, and it may be impossible for us to find another family for you. Please note that when the demand exceeds the availability of families, or when there is no family compatible with a student s meal and/or accommodation preferences, we cannot offer the student a host family. In case of difficulty If a difficult situation arises between a student and the host family, we suggest that the two parties first discuss the problem together. This is usually the best and easiest way to resolve any issues. However, if speaking about the problem does not bring about any change, the student must contact the person in charge of accommodation by phone or email so that he or she can act as a facilitator. In the rare case where no resolution is possible, the student s homestay reservation with the family is cancelled. Such a decision is always taken in the interest of the student s academic success, and with respect for the host family. Disclaimer The student understands that Université Laval is not responsible for loss or damage caused during his or her stay. The student alone is responsible for his or her debts, conduct and actions during the homestay. Université Laval protects information about the students and families enrolled in the program. Your personal information will not be shared without your permission. At the time of pairing, you will receive the name and contact information of your host family so that you can initiate the first contact, allowing the family to receive your name and contact information. Université Laval does not disclose birth dates, school results and other information irrelevant to the planning of the stay. 5