Homestay in Alberta

Homestay in Alberta

Named after Queen Victoria’s daughter, Alberta is known for its natural beauty, richness in fossils and nature reserves. The province is home to six UNESCO sites, namely the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, the Canadian Rocky Mountain Park, Dinosaur Provincial Park, Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, Wood Buffalo National Park, and Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park. Other popular tourist sites are Banff National Park, Elk Island National Park, Jasper National Park, Waterton Lakes National Park, and Drumheller.

Besides the developed tourist industry, Alberta is known for having one of the best education systems in Canada and the world. Each year, above 25,000 international students decide to study in the province, and one of the challenges for them is accommodation. Fortunately, most schools in the province offer homestay in Alberta. International students appreciate this service since they can live with the local family and experience their traditions firsthand. But before discussing homestay in Alberta, it might be interesting to discover the peculiarities of the province and its schools.

Overview of Alberta

Alberta borders British Columbia, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, and the US state of Montana. The Great Plains span the eastern part of the province, while the Rocky Mountains border its western part. Alberta has a predominantly continental climate but experiences seasonal temperature swings.

Alberta is the fourth biggest province by area at 661,848 km2, and the fourth most populous, being home to 4,543,111 people. The capital of the province is Edmonton, while the largest city is Calgary. Both cities are Alberta’s biggest metropolitan areas, where more than half of the province’s population live.

The province has considerable ethnic diversity. Many Albertans are descendants of immigrants from European countries, namely England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France, Germany, Ukraine, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

English is the official language of the province. The other most spoken languages are French, Tagalog, Punjabi, Spanish, Hindi, Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, and German.

The economy of Alberta is based on the petrochemical industry, hydrocarbons, agriculture, and livestock. Since the province is rich in hydrocarbons, it provides 70% of the oil and natural gas exploited on Canadian soil. Alberta is also a major transportation and distribution hub in the western part of the country. Hence, the province is not only beautiful and diverse, but it also offers job prospects for international students.

Secondary and Post-Secondary Schools in Alberta

Now, it is worth discussing the education system in Alberta. The province has forty-two public school boards, seventeen separate school boards, four francophone school boards, thirteen charter schools, and 153 private schools. All of them follow the Program of Studies and the curriculum approved by Alberta Education. They employ certificated teachers, administer Provincial Achievement Tests and Diploma Examinations, and grant high school graduation certificates endorsed by Alberta Education.

As a rule, international students apply to public secondary schools, which run from grades 7 to 12. The best public schools which also help with a homestay in Alberta are Old Scona Academic High School, Westmount Charter Mid-High School, Henry Wise Wood High School, Western Canada High School, and William Aberhart High School. International students who want to study at the best private schools with the service of homestay in Alberta can choose Renert School, Webber Academy, Calgary French and International School, Rundle College Jr/Sr High School, and Tempo School.

International students who decide to attend post-secondary schools in the province can also use the option of homestay in Alberta. The oldest and biggest post-secondary school in the province is the University of Alberta. The second-biggest institution is the University of Calgary. The other high-quality educational institutions are Athabasca University, the University of Lethbridge, Mount Royal University, and MacEwan University.

Alberta is home to two public technical institutes, namely Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. The province also hosts 15 colleges, two of which, Red Deer College and Grande Prairie Regional College, are approved by the Alberta government to become degree-granting universities.

Alberta also has numerous private post-secondary schools, such as Ambrose University, St. Mary’s University, and King’s University. However, international students should check whether these institutions have a service of homestay in Alberta.

Arrangement of Homestay in Alberta

Public and private schools tend to offer homestay in Alberta for all international students. If prospective students consider this option, they can ask the chosen schools to tell them more about the available accommodation options before confirming admission. Homestay in Alberta has four models.

1. Secondary and post-secondary schools have a list of approved host families for international students.
2. Schools collaborate with local homestay providers. These certified agencies guarantee to find a safe homestay in Alberta for international students.
3. Schools have a list of approved service providers that can find a homestay in Alberta for international students.
4. Private agencies offer to find a homestay in Alberta, but they do not collaborate with schools. International students who consider using the services of private homestay providers must consult with the school admission committee to avoid any misunderstandings.

Requirements for the Host Family

Since international students will spend free time with their host families, they should be matched with the right family. Thus, students need to send a detailed homestay application, specify their eating options, describe their interests, and include other essential information.

In their turn, the prospective host families must pass a comprehensive selection process administered by the school or the approved provider of homestay in Alberta.

1. Host parents ought to be at least 25 years old and speak English, French, or both.
2. They need to fill out the application that includes family-related questions.
3. Homestay coordinators should check the criminal records of each family member over 18 years old.
4. Coordinators ought to schedule an interview with potential host families.
5. Homestay coordinators need to assess whether the households follow Alberta’s National Building Code.
6. Coordinators must score prospective host families according to the designated selection factors.
7. Homestay coordinators ought to match approved host families with international students.

Facilities of Homestay in Alberta

Considering homestay in Alberta, parents and international students should check what facilities can provide the host family. All approved homestays always have tidy and cozy private rooms with a bed and a desk. Still, the widespread practice in Canadian households is a shared bathroom. International students also get access to the internet and laundry facilities.

To find a perfect homestay in Alberta, students need to choose the most suitable meal plan. International students who want to get three meals a day should select the full-board homestay. The half-board homestay has two meals a day: breakfast and dinner. As a rule, students have lunch at the school or cafe. The roomstay homestay in Alberta does not include a meal plan and is offered only for international students who are above 18 years old.

Homestay Fees in Alberta

Fees for homestay in Alberta depend on several factors, such as location, meal plans, and facilities. On average, the roomstay can cost about 800 CAD, the half-board option costs 900 CAD, and the full-board homestay can cost over 1,000 CAD per month.

Responsibilities of Host Families During the Homestay in Alberta

To guarantee a comfortable homestay in Alberta for international students, approved host families must follow several rules.

1. They need to offer a caring and supportive environment for international students.
2. The host family must abide by all guidelines set by the homestay program provider or school.
3. They ought to inform the school and homestay agency about the law violation or inappropriate behavior of international students.
4. The host parents need to have a reasonable curfew and house rules for international students.

It seems hard to get used to the homestay in Alberta. International students can feel lonely and frustrated, but they usually adjust to the new style of life within a month. By the way, students can ask a coordinator or mentor for help during the study and homestay in Alberta.

 

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