CGE – E-learning - Skills worksheet - Answers
Unit 2 – homestay
Source material: Encounters in the UK (YouTube)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lzLacwh8Xc
This video has English subtitles that you cannot turn off. The first time you watch, stick a piece of paper to
the bottom of your computer screen to cover the subtitles. You can remove it later when you watch again and
check your answers.
Question 1
Why is Cambridge a good pace for young people?
There are English lots of students, both English and international in Cambridge.
Question 2
Complete the table about the four homestay girls featured in the video.
Name
Country
What they say about their stay in Cambridge
1
Christina
Belgium
Doing a one-year foundation programme in English
2
Michaela
Czech Republic Spent a year in Cambridge perfecting her English.
Met her boyfriend and is now studying film and media at
Cambridge University.
3
Carolina
Venezuela
Doing a foundation course to study in the UK.
4
Silvia
Italy
Studied English in Cambridge a few years ago.
Question 3
Why did the third student's parents suggest she studied in the US or Canada?
Because they are quite near to Venezuela.
Question 4
Why did she choose a homestay as her accommodation?
So she could practice with her housemother and housefather.
Question 5
What does the fourth student find particularly important about homestays?
Conversation with the host family.
Question 6
What meals and facilities does a half-board homestay include?
Bed, breakfast, and evening meal. A room, bed, wardrobe, desk, somewhere to work.
Question 7
Internet access, Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, cooking facilities, shared twin room.
Question 8
How do we know that Carolina has a close relationship with her homestay family?
She plays squash with her housemother and has been to the children's birthdays.
Question 9
What do homestay students do in the evening?
Have a meal with the host family, talk about what they have done during the day and discuss different
aspects of English life.
Question 10
How did Christina choose her homestay?
Someone she knew recommended a homestay, as did the school, and it has a kitchen for the students
and good facilities.
Question 11
Why was Christina worried about meals at the beginning?
Because of the stereotypes of English food that she'd heard about, so she expected bad food.
Question 12
According to Silvia, what is the role of the homestay family in her learning?
They enable her to practise the language she has learned at school and correct her mistakes.
Question 13
What is the drawback of staying in a student dormitory?
You're more likely to meet people of the same nationality and not practise English.
Question 14
Why is Mrs Kelly's husband particularly well qualified to help his homestay students?
He was a professor of linguistics.
Question 15
How did the children in her homestay help Michaela?
The children spoke in simple language and drew pictures for her to explain words she didn't know.
Question 16
What advice do the following people give future homestay students?
i.
The homestay organizer (13:53)
Tell the homestay company or the school as much information as possible about yourself and
what you are looking for.
ii.
Carolina
Interact with the family and realize you are not in your own country and adapt.
iii.
Silvia
Don't be scared as the family knows how to make you feel comfortable.
iv.
Michaela
Don't be too shy or too arrogant. Keep a dictionary with you at all times. Interact with the peo
ple. Don't remain within your own culture but open yourself.
Question 17
According to Mrs Kelly, a homestay mother, what do students learn besides English?
You will learn about life and how people live in the rest of the world.