We consider it very important that you feel ‘at home’ while attending a course at CELT. We carefully select homestay providers for both our adult and teenage students and do everything possible to ensure that our students enjoy their stay with us.
Many of our families have been hosting for several years and are experienced in helping students from different countries and cultures feel comfortable. Living with a host and taking part in their daily life provides students with the opportunity to constantly practise their new English language skills and learn more about British culture. CELT recommends staying in homestay accommodation as the best way for you to improve your English outside the classroom and to learn about our country and its culture.
We can only provide homestay accommodation if you are a student at CELT and studying on a full-time course (minimum 15 hours per week).
Please note that we require at least 3 working weeks to arrange homestay accommodation, which is subject to availability.
Please see our full terms and conditions for more details.
Important information
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Meals: |
Half-board for over 18s Full board for under 18s |
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Location: |
Approximately 5 miles from the school |
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Travel time: |
Bus journeys can take between 15 and 45 minutes (on average) |
Questions
All homestay accommodation is arranged and regularly inspected by CELT to British Council standards. The Accommodation Officer arranges the homestay accommodation and we check students are happy with their accommodation. Our feedback is consistently good with 98% of students happy to recommend their homestay providers to others. We do not allow students to inspect accommodation themselves, but students are asked to evaluate their accommodation at the end of their course.
Students have a bedroom with natural light, equipped with a full-size bed, plus hanging/drawer space for clothes. There is also a table for private study, either in the bedroom or in another room in the house. Adult students will have their own room, unless they specifically request otherwise. Teenage students will share a room with another student/s of the same gender and similar age. The bathroom will be shared with everybody in the home.
As very few families live in the city centre of Cardiff, most students in homestay accommodation travel to school by bus. Bus journeys can take between 15 and 45 minutes. The cheapest way to travel is by buying a weekly bus pass which costs £17.50 for adults (16+) and £12.50 for under 16s.
The bedding and towels will be washed/changed every two weeks. Clothes will either be included with the homestay’s laundry, or the homestay will explain when the student’s laundry will be done.
For adult students, homestay accommodation is half-board (bed, breakfast and evening meal) on weekdays, and full board (all meals) on weekends, if needed.
For young learners, homestay accommodation is full board every day. (bed, breakfast, packed lunch and evening meal)
We encourage our hosts to eat with their students therefore communication is very important, so students don’t miss their meals! Please remember that all students will experience different meals with their homestay.
A typical breakfast will include cereal or toast, with tea/coffee/juice.
A typical packed lunch (for young learners) will include sandwiches, crisps, fruit and water.
A typical evening meal will include meat, potatoes/pasta/rice, with vegetables/salad.
Yes, students can state on the application form if they have any dietary requirements such as vegetarian, lactose-intolerant, halal, etc. Please see our price list for up-to-date costs.
Yes, the homestay will show the student how to access the internet when they first arrive.
This will vary for each student. Some homestay providers have one bedroom available, and others have more.
There will be a maximum of 4 students in homestay accommodation at any one time, but only one student per nationality (unless otherwise requested).
We ask our students to be flexible when living with a homestay and understand that there may be cultural differences to adapt to, both within the UK and in their homestay.
Homestay accommodation is charged per week and is inclusive of all fees for bills and Wi-Fi. Please see our current price list for details.
Homestay reviews
I studied at CELT on summer in July for about 1 month for Holiday Language Course. I decided to live in a host family, because I wanted to know about culture, how is it feel to live in a family of another country, and for speaking English after courses. Well firstly when I moved into a host family, I was bit nervous, however we get it touch quick, also I met home-mates who like me came to study at CELT, and we became friends. Living in a host family is very exciting and funny, because in a host family where I lived, we always had exciting evening, and calm atmosphere in a host family, while host family took care about us, we also helped them with different tasks. Living in a host family helped to improve my English a lot, I even started to forget my native language, most of your time you will speak on English only, and that’s great, because you always consolidate your knowledge.
I didn’t expect that I would have such housemates, and woman who I lived with was very pleasant, talkative and caring. She tried do everything the best for me and girls all the time. I liked the house and my room, as well. She always gave me tasty food, tips about school and helped with buses and city.