English for Beginners: Homestay Life

Dialogue

Alice: Hey Bob, how was your weekend?

Bob: Oh, hi Alice! Mine was okay, but yours looks… interesting. Did you wrestle a bear?

Alice: Worse! I survived my first week of homestay. It’s an adventure!

Bob: Oh, right! How’s it going? Are they nice?

Alice: They’re super nice! My host mom, Mrs. Daisy, is a fantastic cook. But she thinks ‘dessert’ means ‘second dinner’.

Bob: Second dinner? Sounds like a challenge!

Alice: It is! Yesterday, she made me eat two slices of apple pie after a huge roast. I almost exploded!

Bob: Haha! Good luck with your stomach, Alice. Any other surprises?

Alice: Well, their dog, Sparky, sleeps on my bed. I woke up with a furry roommate this morning!

Bob: No way! That’s… cozy?

Alice: It’s certainly warm! And the host dad, Mr. John, tells me bedtime stories. He’s 60, I’m 20, but the stories are pretty good!

Bob: Bedtime stories? That’s hilarious! What kind of stories?

Alice: Mainly about his pet goldfish when he was a kid. Very dramatic stuff.

Bob: Sounds like a unique experience. Are you practicing your English a lot?

Alice: Oh yes! Mostly at the dinner table, trying to explain why I can’t eat a third slice of pie.

Bob: That’s a useful skill! Are there any house rules?

Alice: Definitely. No shoes inside – which is common here. And I have to feed Sparky in the morning. That’s my main chore.

Bob: At least it’s not washing dishes for an hour.

Alice: True! And Sparky is cute, even if he’s a bed hog.

Bob: So, all in all, would you recommend homestay?

Alice: Absolutely! It’s a bit crazy, a bit new, but I feel like part of the family already. And my English is getting better, even if it’s just from talking to a dog.

Bob: Talking to a dog counts! That’s immersive!

Alice: Exactly! And I’m learning new words like ‘gargantuan’ for Mrs. Daisy’s portions.

Bob: Haha! You’re making me want to try it!

Alice: You should! Just be prepared for surprise desserts and furry bedmates.

Bob: I’ll keep that in mind. Do they have Wi-Fi at least?

Alice: Yes, thankfully! Otherwise, I’d probably write letters to my actual family complaining about pie.

Bob: Good to know they’re not completely old-fashioned.

Alice: Well, Mr. John still uses a flip phone. But he knows how to share Wi-Fi!

Bob: That’s a win! Glad it’s going well, Alice.

Alice: Thanks, Bob! See you later!

Current Situation

Homestay is a popular way for students and travelers to live with a local family in a foreign country. It offers a unique opportunity for cultural immersion and language practice, allowing you to experience daily life, customs, and traditions firsthand. While it can be an enriching experience, it also means adapting to new house rules, different foods, and sometimes overcoming a language barrier. Many people choose homestay to improve their language skills faster and get a more authentic local perspective compared to staying in hotels or dormitories.

Key Phrases

• How’s it going?: A common, informal greeting asking “How are you?” or “How are things?”

  Example: “Hey, how’s it going? Long time no see!”

• Super nice: Very kind, friendly, or pleasant.

  Example: “My new neighbors are super nice; they even helped me move boxes.”

• Fantastic cook: Someone who cooks very well and makes delicious food.

  Example: “My grandma is a fantastic cook; her pasta is the best!”

• No way!: An exclamation of strong surprise, disbelief, or excitement.

  Example: “You won the lottery? No way!”

• Hilarious: Extremely funny.

  Example: “That comedy show was hilarious; I couldn’t stop laughing.”

• Unique experience: Something special, uncommon, and different from others.

  Example: “Visiting the ancient ruins was a truly unique experience.”

• House rules: Specific rules or guidelines for behavior and activities within a home.

  Example: “In our house, the main house rule is ‘no shoes inside’.”

• Part of the family: Feeling accepted, included, and belonging to a family group.

  Example: “After spending a month there, I truly felt like part of the family.”

• Keep that in mind: To remember something important, especially for future consideration or action.

  Example: “The concert starts early, so keep that in mind when you plan your evening.”

• Bed hog: A person or animal that takes up too much space in a bed, leaving little room for others.

  Example: “My little brother is a total bed hog; he always pushes me to the edge!”

Grammar Points

1. Simple Present Tense

We use the Simple Present Tense to talk about habits, routines, facts, and general truths.

• Structure: Subject + base form of the verb.
  • For “he,” “she,” “it” (and singular nouns), we add an “-s” or “-es” to the verb.
  • For “I,” “you,” “we,” “they” (and plural nouns), the verb stays in its base form.
• Examples from dialogue:
  • “She thinks ‘dessert’ means ‘second dinner’.” (Habit/belief)
  • “Sparky sleeps on my bed.” (Habit/routine)
  • “Mr. John tells me bedtime stories.” (Routine)
  • “It is an adventure!” (Fact)

2. Present Continuous Tense

We use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about actions happening right now, temporary situations, or ongoing events.

• Structure: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing.
• Examples from dialogue:
  • “How’s it going?” (Action happening now)
  • “Are you practicing your English?” (Ongoing action/temporary situation)
  • “My English is getting better.” (Ongoing process)

3. Adjectives for Description

Adjectives are words that describe nouns (people, places, things, ideas). They give us more information about the noun.

• Examples from dialogue:
  • “They’re super nice!” (“nice” describes “they”)
  • “My host mom is a fantastic cook.” (“fantastic” describes “cook”)
  • “I woke up with a furry roommate.” (“furry” describes “roommate”)
  • “That’s hilarious!” (“hilarious” describes “that” – the situation)
  • “Sounds like a unique experience.” (“unique” describes “experience”)

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb (Simple Present or Present Continuous).

1. Alice (live) __________ with a host family.
2. She (practice) __________ her English every day.
3. Mrs. Daisy (make) __________ delicious food right now.
4. The dog, Sparky, always (sleep) __________ on Alice’s bed.
5. Right now, Alice (talk) __________ to Bob about her homestay.

Exercise 2: Match the phrase with its meaning.

1. Fantastic cook
2. No way!
3. Hilarious
4. House rules
5. Bed hog

• Very funny
• A person who cooks very well
• An expression of surprise
• Rules for a home
• Someone who takes up too much space in bed

Exercise 3: Write a short answer to the following questions.

1. Who is a fantastic cook in Alice’s homestay?
2. What is one of Alice’s chores?
3. What kind of stories does Mr. John tell?

Answers

Exercise 1:

1. lives
2. practices
3. is making
4. sleeps
5. is talking

Exercise 2:

1. 1: b (A person who cooks very well)
2. 2: c (An expression of surprise)
3. 3: a (Very funny)
4. 4: d (Rules for a home)
5. 5: e (Someone who takes up too much space in bed)

Exercise 3:

1. Mrs. Daisy is a fantastic cook.
2. Alice has to feed Sparky (the dog).
3. Mr. John tells stories about his pet goldfish.