There are many ways of improving language skills; some students prefer to find a host family and book directly, other visits are arranged by the school and the whole class arrive by coach, meeting a Local Organiser or LO, upon arrival.
Many agencies around the world who organise courses and tours for students use or employ an LO who becomes the vital link between the agency and host family. Their job is to liaise with the agency, find suitable host families, introduce the student to their host family and help with any questions or problem which may arise between host and student.
As mentioned, the job of the LO is to find suitable host families by advertising and speaking on the telephone to give a rough outline of what becoming a host family entails. If the prospective host family wants to take it further, the LO will then arrange a convenient time to visit the family and check out the suitability of the family and accommodation. Generally the LO expects to be at the prospective host families house for around an hour.
It is important for the LO to establish a relationship with the host family from the offset. Finding and keeping good host families is worthwhile. Once a family is set in motion and is happy with their student, they are much more likely to host for you again. Repeat hosting enables you to spend more time running your business.
The amount paid to the host family is generally set by the agency. Agencies generally, but not always, operate from the country the students are sourced and you will have to decide at the onset of your contract, whether or not you think the amount per night paid to the host, is viable.
Take also into account the amount paid to you overall; your first year will be hard as you will often be starting from scratch finding host families and so many hours will be spent pursuing new host families. However if you manage to maintain a large portion of your current families on an annual basis, plus find new students each year, it makes the effort more worthwhile.
Your own costs will be made up of petrol, telephone calls (landline and mobile), stamps, advertising (newspaper adverts, printing/flyers and distribution), plus your time which you will have to decide how much you want to work for per hour and whether the hundreds of hours involved are indeed worthwhile.
Some areas of the country are used to having foreign students and are much more open to new LO's looking for business. However, in areas such as Bournemouth where a lot of foreign students visit, you may find families receptive but will encounter much competition and may have to pay more to attract families away from their current supplier.
Likewise in regions which do not have so many tourist attractions, you may have much less completion but may be able to find families who are fantastic host families.
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Alex Logan offers tips & advice on hosting foreign students, what to do, what never to do & most importantly where
to find fee paying students. You can download my free eBook '50 Essential Tips BEFORE becoming a Host Family'.
http://xilfee.eu/static/ebook/50Tips.pdf => FREE eBook 50 Essential Tips BEFORE becoming a Host Family.
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