Accommodation is in twin rooms with host families living all over Greater Toronto. The maximum journey time for students is 60 minutes. Single rooms are available at the supplement price quoted in the EF brochure.
Host Families (HF)
Unless you have paid the single room supplement, you will be accommodated in a double room with another student. Your host family will provide you with breakfast and dinner during the week and breakfast, lunch and dinner at the weekends. You are responsible for your own lunch during the week.
Your host family will provide linen, but you will be responsible for cleaning your own room and doing your laundry. If the hosts prefer, you may be required to take your laundry to a nearby Laundromat for washing. Often your hosts may ask you to help out with household chores.
We recommend that you purchase phone cards for making calls. Any phone calls that you have to make from the host home should be via your phone card or collect calls, charged to the person you are calling. You are responsible for all phone calls made from the host home and you must leave money upon your departure to cover the cost of any phone calls you have made
Homestay Information and Advice
It is the responsibility of the EF Accommodation Coordinator to find homestays for EF students before they arrive in Canada. EF looks for families who are, if not native speakers, then highly proficient in the English language. In addition, the family must provide a friendly and safe environment for EF students as well as good, nourishing meals.
Participation in family events is also an important part of the home-stay experience although the frequency of joint outings may vary depending on individual schedules. Your HF welcomes you into their home and you can depend on them to help you adjust to your new surroundings so don't be shy, now is your chance to improve your English. At the same time, they must continue with their daily schedule as well so please don't expect them to be your tour guide. Everyone needs privacy and quiet time on occasion - both children and adults - so please be respectful and sensitive to all household members.
Please be polite and remember to inform your HF of evening, i.e., dinner, or weekend plans. Feel free to inquire about their plans as well. Good communication - and this is not a time to worry about grammar mistakes - almost always guarantees a happier stay. And by adding a "Please" and "Thank you" at the beginning/end of your sentences, regardless of content, we can almost guarantee nobody will get mad at you! They just want to know you are trying your best!
The Accommodations Coordinator also helps communication between the HF and the student should any difficulties arise during the student's stay. It is up to the student and the HF to develop and maintain an honest and comfortable relationship. However, the Accommodations Coordinator will intervene at either party's request if necessary.
If the student needs to change HF, the Accommodations Coordinator will find a new HF according to EF guidelines. Under normal circumstances, you will be required to give proper notice to the HF of your potential move. In the case of Academic Year students, four weeks notice is required and for ILS students, the required notice is two weeks, except in the case of an emergency. The student is also required to pay a Change of Accommodation Fee, with the exception of emergencies. Fees may differ depending on the course in which you are registered. Please be aware of this Fee if you are considering a move.
The Accommodations Coordinator is available to meet with students on a drop-in basis or by appointment at the Accommodation Office. Counselling hours may change according to the summer/winter schedule so please check the Accommodation Office for current hours. In the event of an emergency during offhours, please contact the School Director for information and advice.
The policy for International Language Students is you must have a valid reason to request a change, you must give 2 weeks notice and the change fee is $80.00
Laura Hawkins, Accommodation Coordinator, laura.hawkins@ef.com
Tammy Peixoto, Residence and Student Services; tammy.peixoto@ef.com