Homestay in Montreal

Homestay in Montreal

Every year, Montreal welcomes above 350,000 international students. Indeed, the city ranks sixth in the world according to the QS Best Student Cities 2022. Montreal has outstanding study opportunities in various fields, whether it is secondary or post-secondary educational institutions. Moreover, international students have many accommodation options. Still, most students choose a homestay in Montreal since it allows them to experience a multicultural environment and improve their French. Before discussing homestay in Montreal in detail, it is worth learning more about the city.

Overview of Montreal

Centered on the Island of Montreal, it is the most populous city in Quebec and the second-most populous city in Canada. The total area of Montreal is 431.5 km2, where reside about 1,762,949 people. The major ethnicities of residents are French, Italian, Irish, English, Scottish, and Spanish. About a quarter of the Montreal population are members of a visible minority, including Black Canadians, Arab Canadians, Latin Americans, South Asian Canadians, and Chinese Canadians.

Montreal is one of the bilingual cities in Quebec and Canada, with English and French as the main languages of communication. The other spoken languages are Italian, Arabic, Spanish, Creole, Chinese, Greek, Portuguese, Berber language, Romanian, and Vietnamese.

Historically the commercial capital of Canada, Montreal remains an important hub of finance, technology, education, culture, tourism, and world affairs. Nicknamed the Festival City, Montreal hosts the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the biggest jazz festival in the world; the Just for Laughs festival, the biggest comedy festival in the world; and Les Francos de Montréal, the biggest French-language music festival in the world.

Secondary and Post-Secondary Schools in Montreal

As a rule, homestay in Montreal is the best option for minor international students. Mandatory elementary education covers Grade 1 to Grade 6. The secondary school has five grades, from Grade 7 to Grade 11. The education system of Quebec does not have Grade 12. After graduation from Grade 11, students receive their high school diploma from the provincial government.

Currently, the city has three French-language school service centres: Centre de services scolaire de Montréal, Centre de services scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys, Centre de services scolaire de la Pointe-de-l’Île, and two English-language school boards: English Montreal School Board and Lester B. Pearson School Board. Montreal also has several English-language and French-language private schools.

The best French-language schools for international students, which provide options for homestay in Montreal, are École secondaire Marguerite-De Lajemmerais, École secondaire Marie-Anne, Collège Saint-Louis, École secondaire Antoine-de-St-Exupéry, and École secondaire Henri-Bourassa.

Among French-language schools, international students prefer to apply to Lakeside Academy, LaSalle Community Comprehensive High School, LaurenHill Academy, John Grant High School, and Royal West Academy.

Private schools which can help with a homestay in Montreal for international students are West Island College, Lower Canada College, College Prep International, St. George School of Montreal, and Kells Academy.

By the way, Quebec’s higher education system differs from other systems in Canada. Between high school and university, students complete an additional school called CEGEP. This type of school offers two-year pre-university and three-year technical programs. In Montreal, eleven CEGEPs offer courses in French and four in English. The most popular schools among international students are Collège Ahuntsic, Cégep du Vieux Montréal, Collège de Maisonneuve, Dawson College, and John Abbott College.

Homestay in Montreal is also available for international students who decide to pursue post-secondary education. International students who complete CEGEPs can apply to McGill University and Concordia University, the leading comprehensive universities with English as a medium of instruction. Students who want to study in French can consider high-ranked Université de Montréal and Université du Québec à Montréal.

Arrangement of Homestay in Montreal

When international students apply to educational institutions in Montreal, they ought to ask them about accommodation options. As a rule, the homestay in Montreal is provided by the school or a third-party organization. It is done under one of the following administrative models.

1. Schools run their homestay programs.
2. They cooperate with providers of homestay in Montreal. They are organizations or agencies that arrange safe accommodation for international students.
3. Schools have a list of approved homestay agencies for parents and international students.

In addition, there are private homestay providers and websites which offer homestay in Montreal. However, they might not cooperate with K-12 schools and post-secondary institutions. Hence, parents of international students who consider using the services of private agencies or placing children with relatives must consult with the school administration before making their decision.

Requirements for the Host Family

Whether it is the school or the approved provider of homestay in Montreal, they want to assure international students that they will have an unforgettable life and study experience. Thus, they carefully select the host families through a selective process.

1. Potential families complete a questionnaire about their relations and domestic life. It includes information about how many people live in the house, their birth dates, occupations, hobbies, what kind of students they prefer, when they started to be hosts, and so on.
2. Homestay coordinators interview the selected families to verify the information and ask for a criminal record given by the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal.
3. The school or the homestay provider checks whether the houses of the prospective families are in good condition and whether private rooms are equipped for international students.
4. Coordinators score potential host families according to the designated process to decide if they can be selected for the homestay in Montreal.
5. Homestay coordinators match international students to the approved families who live a maximum of 50 minutes far away by bus or metro from the school.

Facilities of Homestay in Montreal

When international students consider the option of homestay in Montreal, they need to know about the facilities. In general, the host family offers the student a private room with a bed and a desk. Normally Canadian homes have a shared bathroom. International students have access to the internet, but many national internet services have maximum limits for downloads, so it should be discussed with the family. Also, international students will be able to use the laundry machines to wash their clothes.

Speaking about the meal plan, international students can choose one of the three plans. Those who want to have three meals a day should choose the full-board homestay. International students who tend to have breakfast and dinner with the host family and eat lunch at the school need to opt for the half-board homestay. By the way, vegetarians and students with food allergies must specify their eating options in the homestay application to get matched to the right family. The roomstay option of homestay in Montreal does not include a meal plan and is only available for international students who are above 18 years old.

Homestay Fees in Montreal

It is obvious that the most popular question of parents refers to homestay fees. Service fees for homestay in Montreal depend on facilities, meal plans, and location. On average, the roomstay option costs 700 CAD, while a homestay with a three meals plan can cost about 1,200 CAD per month. Nevertheless, homestay in Montreal is totally worth it since students will be taken care of by the approved family.

General Recommendations for International Students

All host families want to make international students feel comfortable. At the same time, every family has its own rules and ways of living. They will explain it at the beginning but do not be shy about asking questions if you do not understand something. The first weeks of homestay in Montreal can be difficult. You may feel homesick and frustrated with the new environment and the language. Give yourself time to adjust to life and study in new surroundings.If you are concerned about something in your homestay in Montreal, you can also ask your teacher or one of your coordinators for advice and an explanation.

 

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