Thursday, April 13, 2017

Homestay or College Dormitories: Which helps more?

Many international students assume that living in a college dormitory or staying with a family is the magic wand or key to improving their English. In some cases, it can help, but there is no guarantee. For example, some international students get discouraged when their native-speaking roommates at college don't hang out with them, but instead, are gone to jobs or just spend time with their other friends. This is the reality: native speakers often live busy lives and don't have time to be conversation partners to students who are just learning English. Futhermore, some native speakers feel that internationals students just want to be their friend to practice their English. Besides all of this, if students have to choose between a homestay experience and living in a college dorm, which would be the best choice in terms of convenience, opportunities for language and cultural experience, cost, and even safety? Please share your ideas on the topic.

Randall

85 comments:

  1. In my personal opinion, living in a college dormitory is better than staying with a family for foreign students.

    Staying with a family has some limits. First, staying with a family makes it possible for students feel restricted. For example, students have to be care for with their behavior such as without making noise, bringing their friends to home for a visit. They would be uncomfortable to do anything in the living room such as watching TV and reading newspaper. Next, while eating with a family can save students’ time not to cook by themselves, they cannot but follow the family’s taste. It is too hard for a foreign student to change their dietary habit to have each strange meal. Furthermore, it is also not good that students speak to certain people to exercise their second language. One of my foreign friends who used to live with a family during her college told me that she understood well the family members with whom she lived, but she have big trouble with understanding other people. She rarely had opportunities to talk others after school.

    On the other hand, living in a dormitory has many advantages. For one thing, students feel free when they are in their room and student lobbies. They can freely talk without worry about making noise; they can also go out with friends to have fun. Besides, Students can cook whatever they want; they can share their individual international cooking receipt one another. They improve not one their language skills, but also have fun. Most of all, students have many opportunities to talk multi people. For example, they share their ideas, do their project together,and talk about their cultures, etc.

    Although living in college dormitory has some disadvantages such as drinking, smoking, and other bad habits, it is depend on individual. I lived in a college dormitory for years and loved it, because I learned so much knowledge which could not find in books.

    Haidan from New Mexico

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  2. In my experience and opinion, I definitely prefer to live in Dorm. Because when I lived with a family, I couldn't choose what kind of food I wanted to have. Plus, two small kids and the host fater is very nosiy for watching the sports channel on TV even the mid night.
    One day, I ate too much for lunch then, the host mother told me I had no dinner on dinner time. It was hard for me to go shopping food at midnight because no walking distance to any food shops, of course no transportations so, I had to wait until next day without eating food at the day.
    I strongly feel like homestay is just business in Australia. Most of them don't care about students... they just think about money only.
    If you live in Dorm, you can get freedom... you can eat whatever you want to and you can invite your friends there, plus, you can make a alot of friends there. That's fabulous.

    I never recommend to everybody to live with a family because they are just doing for money.

    I would like to hear your opinion.

    Cheers.

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  3. From my experience, young people aged under 17 should live with a homestay as they have to learn about descipline and stay away from some troubles like drinking, using drug, smoking, and sexual harrassment. If you are a grown-up, you can stay on your own or flatting with mates. Living in a homestay helps me learn a lot of english so far. It's not just the language but about the culture, learning how to share, and being considerate about the others.

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  4. In my opinion, I think living in the homestay is not so bad. I'm an international student studying in USA and living in a host family. I know that some people don't like to live in a host family but I think it depend on the style of each family. I admit that there are some problems here such as the food, the freedom, the languge... but not every native family is bad. Some really take care of you and make friend with you. According to my experience, I think students should live with the hosts who don't have children or their children are living far away, so they can take more care about you. May be, living in the dormitory is good but living with a family is not so bad.

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  5. In think it is more helful for an international student to stay at College Dormitories. It is more convenience in a shool dormitory than homestay because you don't have to commute from your home to your school. You have also more opportunities for language and cultural experience because in a dormitory you are surrounded by many students where English language is a medium for communication especially when you are mingling with a native-speaking English. So, you can practice in actual what you've learned in English. Aside from that, since you are an international student and perhaps having a cultural shock because you are not used in American culture, then, you are given more chance to get used with American culture which is helpful for you to gain more self-confidence. Staying at school dormitory is also at lesser cost compare to homestay because you don't have anymore traveling expenses and can focus on your study without hampering your performance at school due to long commute from home to school. It's more safe at dormitory also because you are free from any untoward accident when you go home from school and vice versa.

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  6. Cindy:

    In my opinion, I think living in a college dormitory is better than staying with a family. It is free, funny, and to have more opportunities to communicate with different people, of couse, can make a lot of friends. In a dorm, something needs to be done by oneself. while we can understand others, and to know ourselves.

    But it doesn`t mean that I negate homestay. To a young student, homestay is necessary. They will learn more from a family, maybe they will be cared well by this family.

    In any event, whether to live in a college or to stay with a family, all of these are all our experiences not to be copied in our lives.

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  7. Cindy:

    In my opinion, I think living in a college dormitory is better than staying with a family. It is free, funny, and to have more opportunities to communicate with different people, of couse, can make a lot of friends. In a dorm, something needs to be done by oneself. while we can understand others, and to know ourselves.

    But it doesn`t mean that I negate homestay. To a young student, homestay is necessary. They will learn more from a family, maybe they will be cared well by this family.

    In any event, whether to live in a college or to stay with a family, all of these are all our experiences not to be copied in our lives.

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  8. I consider that the best way to learn english is to stay in the enviroment in wich this language moves. In my opinion to be in a homestay is the best way to learn for several reasons:
    The first reason, is because you are sharing your home with a lot of people that have other languages, so you need to talk in english if you want to comunicate.
    Also your houseparents are natives, so they can help you at home if you have mistakes.
    In addition, you are more safe because if you have a problem, you have someone at home that can help you.
    Whatever if someone wants to learn a new language doesn´t matter if you are in a homestay or in a dormitory, you can obtain all the knowledge if you want.

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  9. AS for me, I prefer living in a college dormitory. The reasons are as follows.
    Firstly, it may be difficult for us to adapt to the family's lifestyle. Don't you think it's a waste of time? Secondly, that staying with a family means losing the chance to make more friends from different classes. What's more, that staying with a family may limits our knowlege,while living in a college dormitory,we can get different views from different people and broaden our eyes.
    So, don't you think living in a college dormitory is a better choice?

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  10. Zamira.
    Living in the house better than in the apartment or the domitory.
    In my opinion there are more advantages inthe house, but it has some disadvantages,too. Ex. more expensive, and ugually houses are fare from colleges or the univercities.

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  11. I requested searching apartment in U.S.A. That person searched some apartment, told me the information. I chose one apartment, I’m living now. I’ll live until at April in next year. That time I’m searching best apartment.

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  12. I live in a rental apartement. i have 3 roomates. Now, I’m unable to communicate with each other because of my language skill. But I know they have good personality.
    In the future, I make use this site, I can smoothly conversation in English.

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  13. In my opinion, if I choose the thing, I choose living in a college dormitory.
    There are many college students who are many county people. So, it is that ESL students achieve more good chance learning English. Because they are same college and have many common interested points. So, they have a good chance to speak English.

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  14. In my opinion, I think homestay is better, but, it depends on the host of the family. I have ever lived in New Zealand. The experience is wonderful. So, it depends.

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  15. It is difficult for me to choose homestay or college dormitory. Because I never have experence in studying abroad.But for teenagers, I perfer to college doritories better. The main reason is to give chances for them to live independently. Of course, they can absorb the knowledge of culture, habition and English from the roomates. Also, they must learn how to share and build social nets.
    Maybe parents criticize that they change bad because of peer lure. But you can ensure your children cannot become bad guys in homecountries?
    Otherwise, Homestay is not a good choice. Because teenagers have capabilities to be independent. Certainly, teenagers are not raised by 'second foreign mothers'.

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  16. well, i feel that home stay is really better as, i improve my langauge that's my opinion
    finally,
    i feel pleased to be happy when i'm attending on this site
    thanks

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  17. I didn't know exactly because I have never been that experiences. But If I have to choose one between the two, I prefer college dormitories than home stay. I think speaking & listening are
    the most important thing of learning English. So, If I living in foreign country for learning English, I choose a college dorm because it can promote speaking & listening English as much as possible. Because living with native friends has more opportunities than living in home stay.
    Even if native speakers feel that internationals students just want to be their friend to practice their English, a number of native speakers who think like that are very small if internationals students are fond of talking, playing, and outing with native speakers. Do you agree with me?

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  18. In my idea, I'd prefer to live in a dormitory than a host-family. It will be great if u meet kind and nice family that they don't mind you, but generally it is kin da hard to live with anothers u dont know before especially if they dont care of you. For example, they just think you are only a tenant and pay your money. You should be considerate of them when u do everything becuase it isnt your home such as bringing friends into home, eating, so on. But staying in your dormitory at least it is yr temporary own room so you can relax or do some activities without afriad of any hosts such as u can come late at night, can cook whatever u want. Moreover you will have friends as u want, u can choose them, if u dont like just stay alone.

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  19. If let me choose, I should choose dormitory. As I like freedom and equality, homestay means restrict and inequality to me - whenever and whatever you do you should think of the host's thinking and sometimes adapt to the host's habit, and you are always a guest ,the host is always a "host", unless the relationship between you and the host is like parents and children, sisters and brothers,you can exchange the thought freely,absolutly trust and tolerate each other...otherwise, I think it is not a good thing for homestay. On the contrary, in the dormitory, all of the roommate have righ equalities, you can do anything you like based on the basic principle... And I am sure the teenage who study aboard is not the majority, most of the students are adult, they have the ability to identify what they should do and not do, so it's not nessary to worry about...Aside from this, colleague dormitory will be much more safe, convenient and cheap, no trafic accident,no commute expense... and you can learn from your roomates from any country, in a word, more opportunity to communicate and speak English. Anyway, I like dormitories.

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  20. The two methods both have advantages and disadvantages. If time is allowed, I will spent half time for homestay, and half time for dormitories.

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  21. in my experience , live in dormitory is better then homestay.
    I felt very uncomfortable,when I was living in homestay. maybe I think I am a guest not a "family". so I could not done any things I want to do. but my english was improve a lost when I was living in there. Regarding the dormitory, If your room-mate are different nationality that speak english is not problem. you can practice your listening (differenct country has difference pronounce) and speaking. also you could have difference country's friend. that's what I enjoy live in dormitory.

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  22. As a exchange student in a foreign country ,I think the choice of homestay and living
    in a Dorm is either bad or good.But considering the question which way helps more that
    means we the students can adjust quickly to the school life , learn the culture ,
    mingle with the people here ,i'd say choosing to live in a dorm is a better way for
    students.The reasons reasons are as follows:
    First,consider the price,it is much cheaper to live in the dorm with classmates than
    renting the house in the family.students are supposed to save money .
    second,let's look at the enviorment.Nowadays,the homestay is no better than the dorm.
    The dormitory has all the advanced equipment likeTV,Computer,bathroom and comfortable bed.
    I bet you can have a really sound sleep and great fun here.because it'sou relaxing comparing
    the strict rules at other's house.
    third,the place you like to live depends on the relationships.we are students ,we should
    communicate more with the people as the same age and have the same hobbies.It's terrible
    to imagine you want to watch the sports game but the housewives addict to some boring soap operas.
    haha,so let us build our own space.young people,live in the dorm.

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  23. I dream to study English in usa . and complete high study in computer science. so , i well rent a small house . it 's suitable for my family because i have two child. anther factor location .

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  24. hi everybody, that's my second time with that wonderful site, and about our topic today, I think that to stay in a dormitory is better than homestead because you will feel free without any problems, just you and your friends, so you can eat what you want.
    on another hand, the practice will be on the street with the people.
    and in my country (Egypt)there’s no hosting family.

    Mostafa Elsawwa
    Egypt

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  25. In my opinion, staying with a family is better than living in a college dormitory for university students.
    Before studying in university, I spent a lot of time on my examinations and friends. After graduating, my job will occupy most of my time. It can be seen that the university life is the best time to show filial piety for my parents.

    Everyone knows these sentences:

    A tree desires to stand still, but wind does not stop.
    A son desires to serve his parents, but they do not wait.

    However, how many people can feel no regrates?

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  26. For me, living in a city is great. I don't like cottages in forests and that's just my opinion. I was born in the city and I don't mind city commune. I move by the underground. It's a very fast and comfortable. The flat I live in is verz old, but I live here since fourteen years.

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  27. Hi, Randall!

    It's really a real topic what interantional students meet usually. I think there are advantages and disadvantages both in homestay and campus residence.

    Let's say the homestay first. Since students live with native people, students will have more time to communicate with native speakers. This will improve students' English more quickly than living in campus. It will also help students to understand native culture more detailedly, since they are among it closely. However, homestay sometimes bring inconvenience, like be far away from the school or college. Students have to spend more time to get to the school. Sometimes, international students also cause problems ,like cannot get along well with the homestay members. Then they have to move out and seek another suitable place.

    On the other hand, living in campus will save more time which is spent on the way. Nevertheless, we also shouldn't ingnore the disadvantages. Students are more likely to live with their own county students which means they speak their own language when they are together. This seldom helps practise English and get familiar with the native culture.

    We cannot get the fish and bear's paw cocurrently. So just choose what suits you. I believe that's the most reasonable decision.

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  28. Personally, I'd like to live in school dormitory because I want to have my own space and a quiet surrounding without disturbance.

    I think I'll feel restricted if I stay with a foreign family. First of all, living in a family, you should adjust your daily schedule to the family's. You have to wake up before the breakfast is ready and be quiet when other family members are sleeping. Furthermore, you have to be customed to the family's taste. I have a friend who live in an American family. Each time he telephone to me, he complains that he always eats snaks in his room after the meal, because he doesn't like the food the host makes.

    Generally speaking, a majority of houses are far away from school so if someone live in family, perhaps she or he has to pay an extra trafic expense and spend commute time from home to school.

    For the issue of improving foreign language proficiency, I think there is no difference between dorm and familystay. What's crucial is that foreign student shoudn't live someone with the same mothertone.

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  29. I had experience for both of living in college dormitoriy and at homestay. Honestly, I had some terrible memories with the family with whom i'd lived for 8 months. First, i had no freedom, i couldn't make noise after 9 pm ( so i didn't watch TV at night => then improvement in English??? ) and i couldn't cook and eat what i like ( but it's not very important). Plus, it was out of question to have friends at home, that why i didn't make many fiends that time and it made me terribly sad and boring, especially for who living aboad, have fun is really indispensable when your family is not around! Next, the family didn't care about me but my money, they rarely talked with me, they talked with each other at the time of dinner but not me. They're the worst! Then, it couldn't be help and i moved out after 8 months of nightmares!

    It depends clearly on how the family you live with but i definitely not recommend the homestay (unless for the minors, it's a must)

    And the advantage of living in a college dormitory, everyone talked about. It's the best way to make friends, to improve your English skill and to talk about your country and others one. There're anyway some disadvantages. According to my experience, if in the dormitory where you live has a lot of students who come from your country, it can't be help, you'd have tendancy to regroup and speak your native language all the time! And this would be avoid if you want to improve your English skill.

    There are some of my opinion about homestay and college dormitories and i would like to hear your opinion.

    Cheers

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  30. i thinl that to live a house is the better opcion, a house is very confortable, ample, have many places where you can to stay... i like so much the houses, the apparments are very small for my likes

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  31. I think the same of the last april 22, 2009 (anonymous) said. I never stayed out of my country by studying English or other languages, but I think in dormitories students will talk with others within the original languages they come from. And, this is not adequate.

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  32. I amnot an international student. But I would like to give some of my opinions. If I had to choose between staying in a homestay and a dormitory, I would rather choose the dormitory. It will be more convinient not only for your studying but also your living. Living in a dorm can help you make friends easier so that you can improve either your Emglish or your awareness of life. Futhermore, when you have some hard problems which you cannot solve on your own, you can ask for your mates' solutions. And it will be more easy for you to join a self-studied group in which you can discuss and exchange your study experiences.
    But everything has weakness. Staying in a dorm takes away your discipline. Because you are accustomed to live without supervising, you sometimes can control yourself from a lot of traps. If you are a person who cannot set up the rules for yourself, you had better live in a homestay.
    In summary, both has their own strengths and weaknesses. Which is better still depends on what kinds of person you are. If you are a self-discipline person, you should choose the way living in a dormitory. otherwise, you had better live in a homestay.

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  33. In my oponin,home stay is not a good place for learning English,because I lived in home stay for four months. Living in home stay means you will lose freedom and friends.

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  34. in my oponion, home stay is bad choice for students,unless you are a young children.

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  35. Hi everybody, In my opinion, there are several reasons that make me likes living at apartment than staying with a family. First, i think that i am protected by the guarder. Second, i can share room with my roommates. Sometimes i can go home late when i go out to eat dinner, or go to movies with foreign students. Finally, i can unwind by swimming pool, gym room....

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  36. hey everybody,
    i am not an international student but i would like to share my personal opinions on this topic. accomodation is one of the most important issues that students are faced with. living in dorms or staying with families are options but the main problem is which one is better for you. At this point, character and personality become more important. If you are someone who likes to be stable, it is more ok for you to live with a family but if you like spending much time with your friends and being active, you should choose to stay in dorms. It depends on you. People should try to make sound decisions all their lives by understanding their nature and pondering on it.

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  37. In my opinion, the important thisgs are: security, cleanness and localizantion. I think that to stay with a family is very interesting, but the hause need to se near of university. I feel insurence because this families are registered in cadastre.

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  38. The first time I went to Canada, I choose to live in a homestay, in a private room and restroom. First of all, I’m not 22 anymore. Second, I can stand sharing restroom with another strange. And ultimately, I really appreciate my privacy. When you are abroad for studying, it’s very important to seek a place that can guarantee some private space, and above all, it must be a quite place. After all, you will need some privacy anytime to get concentrate in your studies. Another important thing you should consider is the people that invariably will be living with you. Think about noisy people, smoke people, drunken people and so on. The question is: what king of stuff you can’t stand, or what will be impossible to cope with for you? Sometimes, you might think ‘OK. I’m out of my country, thus I wanna rock’n roll all night, I can deal with everything bla bla bla…’, however, when you realize that you will have to share that spot, for a couple months, with somebody’s style of life that you are not used to, you start to think: ‘why didn’t I search with more criteria?’.

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  39. I think that apartment is really well because i can improve my langauge with another freinds who lived with me
    and i will not have homesick if i have a lot of friends

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  40. I did not really have the experience to live in a college or family but, I guess both options have their own good things, in the college you have a apropiate localed just there, family for a foreing person have the charm to know how works a american family.

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  41. I think that each student would like to have a large furnished apartment with parking place, a cheaper rent and near the university.
    I live in Paris, France. I can say that in this place, it's not possible to have this kind of ideal apartment for a student.
    In my opinion, university should have to rent more rooms in CROUS to the students with a cheaper rent.
    Like that, students will just have to study. Actually in Paris, students must working in generally fast food area to pay their rent when they have a place to live.
    And it will be continued.
    But maybe like that, they are learning the real life.

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  42. Hi everyone,

    I don't have experience leaving in a college dormitory but I think is better than leaving with a family because in the first one you will meet people from different country and you need to speak a common language to understand each other. In a family you could have oportunity to practice de language but you should adapt to their habits, foods, etc.

    So, in my opinon college dormitory is the best place to share your culture, to practice de language and make friends.

    Ivonne, Australia

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  43. Yes, I absolutely agree. When I study at college, native English speakers never try to hang out with international student. Even I am the best in class.

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  44. I'm not studying yet, but I will next year. I haven't decided yet where I will live in the apartment or in a dormitory. I'm going to study in my country, which is Poland but I planning to go to study abroud during my studies (e.g. scholarship departure) for one term.
    I believe the best way to learn foreign language is speaking, speaking and one more time speaking :) Therefore I intend to stay in dormitory and have as many as it's possible occasions to speak English.
    And the statement that internationals take advantage of native is silly as for me, because the greatest fun is meeting someone from another country and getting know about his different culture and world-views. It's unusual experience for both.
    So open yourself for people and have fun! :)

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  45. I haven't studied abroad yet, so I would like to describe about students living in my country, Vietnam.
    In my country, an ideal living place for students who are away from their families is furnished, including utilities, located in walking distance to their school, and it costs under USD30 a month per person. Normally tenant does not include gas and electricity in renting, and dwellers have to pay per their usage capacity.
    Comparing to others, living in dormitory is the cheapest. Normally it cost around USD70 a month per person including electricity and water. The benefits of dorm are that it locates next to the class and students can interact much more in academic environment. It is especially good for first-year students because it helps them faster acquire with new school environment. But students are not allowed to cook and coming back late at night, and limited in using electric equipments. Moreover, they have to share sanitary. So most students, who can spend higher budget for place renting will not prefer to live in dorm.
    Apartment is popular option for students because it is more private living space for them. To have a suitable apartment, students may ask the help from student community, friends who know more about housing situation near their school, or scan on local newspaper, or surf web. Some may post a notice of looking for their required apartment or roommates in public areas such bus stop or school. Normally, students share room with one or two roommates. And they can take turn to do cooking, so they don’t have to face to same boring meals in canteen as when they lived in dorm, or expensive meals in booths. They can spend their electric equipment within their budget. Beside that some of them have to get part-time job to cover for their expenses. Anyway it is good for them to have some working experience during study.
    The most comfortable and expensive living place is house. Normally a rented house costs more than USD500 per month without utilities and enough space for about 3 or 4 dwellers. Not like others, a house is furnished and cleaner, and living space is totally separated from the host. And just a few students can afford for rented house.

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  46. I think it's really nice to live alone because you have your own space and you can do whatever you want and not have restrictions,you only worry about your own things . But if you share an apartment try to look for a roommate that has the same habits and likes that you, specially in food and cooking time.

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  47. My nephew planned to America for English learning in one year. She lives in Germany. The first month in American she lives together with a congregational family. Twice a week this family go to the church. As you know with this, my nephew can not understand because she hasn't to be bounded this matter before.So she feels something strange in this family , any thing she did or want to do, have to follow this family rules. This makes her upset.

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  48. It's hard to make a decision. I think both are good for learning English and experiencing different culture and life. I'd prefer staying with a family, though there are some disadvantages and restriction.

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  49. In my case, I rent one of the three rooms in a family house in Canada. There were some common areas like kitchenette, dinning room, living room, bathroom and laundry. All the roommates turned chores for clean common areas and chopping clean products. I liked because I found it very organize house.

    By the way, I had the opportunity to practice English with one of my roommates. Fortunately for me my roommate wanted to learn Spanish so some times I taught her Spanish and sometimes she taught me English and helped me with my homework. We could learn also about culture of other country that I found it very interesting.

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  50. In my opinion, staying with a American family is better than living in a dorm at beginning for an international student. First, you get more chances to listening and speaking English. That is like you go to two schools. you have to talk in English every day, and you can hear a lot of life language that you probably can hear from your classrooms.You really experience american culture as well: you can see how americans live, what they eat, what their social, how they teach their kids and what they like to do in their free time. I feel it's lot different with Chinese people and it's interesting.
    I agree some people host international students just for making money. But there are lot of sweet people in America, and they host students because they want their kids to experience different culture, or they are interested in different culture, or some people don't want to live lonely. My home stay mother live at a big house just by herself. When I visit her with my agent and decided to stay with her, her tears out. I'm very happy with her now. My friend also found a sweet family.
    Some people's comments are right. There are some limit that living with other family. But you are also learning how to live with society and improve your people skill. I get benifit from living with family. I improved my English speaking and listening a lot.

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  51. There are a lot of opinions...But as for me - I would like to live in my own apartmant, of course it has many adventages: u don't have to cook a lot, wash or clean, everything is ready for u, u have your people near u, u feel save. Its much better!
    But in dormitory u have a chance to communicate with other students a lot - its absolutelly another life - u spoil and share everything with your roommates u live with them, cook, clean, communicate. Its good for English practise and for other things, but as for me - I prefer my own apartment with my family - the closest people near me!

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  52. I think that two possible variants are good or bad for different people. Living on campus in dormitory is a part of crazy students life. Students often make parties which produse a big noise and it will disturb you if you're getting ready for your exam or just want to relax. People that like quiet life should stay in apartment. There aren't any annoying students.
    But there is another problem - money. Living in partments often is more expensive than staying on campus. So more students choose dormitory. Although the apartments can be far from school. So you won't avoid commute.
    In dormitories sometimes are absent some utilities and it's also uncomfortable for students. An important thing for young people is the place to go out. So it can also affect on their arrangment.

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  53. I would say living in an apartment is probably cheaper and international students will be free to do what they want to do without a Room Advisor checking in on students and taking away the full freedom students should be able to enjoy. On the contrast, if students live in the dorms and they'll have to follow the dorm and schools rules for everything while living in an apartment would give students a chance to be independent. Students can invite people over without having to pass everyone's room and it may be a little hectic in the morning trying to get ready with everyone else even though the space should be okay but no privacy for bathroom, showering should be okay but there might be a line at some point in the day. However, the benefit of the dorm would probably be free laundry rooms because most apartments might not have personal laundry facilities and have to pay for it.

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  54. I will arrive US in month and I've applied a single room from university dormitory. I will never choose homestay because, like those above me said, some families cares money more than students. However one concern for choosing a dorm is whether your roommates have the same lifestyle as you. I'm a graduate student-to-be, so many assignments and homeworks awaits me and a quiet environment is a necessity. In conclusion I believe a single room dorm is a best choice.

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  55. Want to live in a college dormitry ? or staying with a family?

    Living in a college dormitory and staying with a family, both have a good side and bad side.
    In a college dorm, you might see so many parties in there. If you are party animal, this situation is great to you. In addition, you can make many friends and talk them in English through the parties. But if you are serious about studying from your class's assignments, and much preffer studying with sitting in quiet sitution, you might believe that living in a college dorm might be really not good idea.
    How about staying with host family? They prabably give you a space to study that you can concentrate. There is no pary, no noise which can bothers you. You can study by your own as much as you'd like. However, you might have a less oppotunity to make friends outside, then you might feel you are isolated.
    Which do you preffer, living in a dormitory? or staying with family? Anyway, both have a good side and bad side.

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  56. Hello!I'm Anna from Russia.

    As for me - I would choice a dormitory, I think its more suitable, cause u woudn't pay much money for commute and for living in family house.

    Its much more interesting to get experiance of communication with other students. I agree nativ talkers don't want to make friends with foreigners, but if u stranger and person who is learning English u can make friends with another students who are strangers too! I think its very important to have friends in foreign country.

    Furthermore this foreign student need differant communication, cause he is young and he is in new worldwith absolutelly new rules and rights! and in my opinion he can get it only in dormitory with students like him!

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  57. In my point of view, I'd rather choose to stay at home in order to get away from distractions. There are so many temptations if you are living with friends of yours. They could invite you easily to go to the party instead of just staying in a dormitory and do your homework or studying for your class tomorrow. In addition, it has several restrictions if leaving in an apartment. There are times that you need to lower down the level of noise especially when you are inviting your friends over.
    Lastly, saving money is really important when studying in college. we all know that tuition fees are extremely expensive. Therefore, choosing a dormitory is not advisable when your house is just few kilometers away from home.

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  58. I believe college dormitory would be better for an international student. As mentioned above, some native people don't want to be involeved in the life of a foreigner. If the international student meets a nice family, he or she can have a wonderful experience with them and learn more English. However, most people are busy living the own lives and cannot be kind and generous to all the things about the foreign student. Therefore, living in the dorm will be better for the student. He or she can get the help of other students and make friends more easily in the daily life who are in the similar situation.


    A girl from the East

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  59. For me, living in a dormitory is a better idea than living in a homestay since it is cheaper, more comfortable, and convenient. Another advantage is to make a lot of friends both native and from overseas.

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  60. I think to live in a college dormitory has more advantages than live in a homestay, because you are close to the college and also because is easier to find all the documents and the ways to study the language. I could think that the students that are living there are deeply motivated to learn the language and this is an enough reason which they would be practicing every time.
    However, perhaps to live in a homestay has also nice things like: to stay in a safe place, in a familiar environment, where you can be quiet if you are that kind of person, the contrary… you can drive crazy! Also the student would be always in touch with the real ways to talk the language, the slangs and the customs.

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  61. n my experience and opinion, I definitely prefer to live in Dorm. Because when I lived with a family, I couldn't choose what kind of food I wanted to have. Plus, two small kids and the host fater is very nosiy for watching the sports channel on TV even the mid night.
    One day, I ate too much for lunch then, the host mother told me I had no dinner on dinner time. It was hard for me to go shopping food at midnight because no walking distance to any food shops, of course no transportations so, I had to wait until next day without eating food at the day.
    I strongly feel like homestay is just business in Australia. Most of them don't care about students... they just think about money only.
    If you live in Dorm, you can get freedom... you can eat whatever you want to and you can invite your friends there, plus, you can make a alot of friends there. That's fabulous.

    I never recommend to everybody to live with a family because they are just doing for money.

    I would like to hear your opinion.

    Cheers.

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  62. I think that everything has good sides and band sides but I prefer to live in a college dormitory.
    First, I have more freedom. I do not need to care what people think and do what I like.
    Second, having opportunities to meet many people and learn their cultures because they come from many different places in the world
    Living with a family can help you to learn English, to be cared and other good things but it is much better to experience life by yourself and live the way you like.

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  63. i think that is very important to select a good apartment, with a good location, a good price, where there are good neighbors. I like quiet, peace, harmony,security. For me is very important the floors, my favorite floor is the second because it is a little cold. The apartment should be nice, clear, big and it should have a big terrace, bigs windows, and a good landscape

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  64. hi all. ı think there can be some advanteges and dis advantages living in dorm or with a family as we meet in every case.but if you are one who are fond of privacy ,you can have some difficulties with family life.we can guess that our life will be resricted by the family rules even for watching tv or eating food for the family members' taste even in this basic things.but you will have opportunities to speak to native speaker if learning english is important for you.and one negative thing came to my mind ,you dont have chanse to make friends easily in comparison with living in dorm.

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  66. i was staying in my apartment which is too steep for me,and i think i should change the apartment.Even though it is steep ,i have no utilities so i was paying gas and elecrtricity. now i got a new apartment which it include utilities like gas and electricity and another tenants who is sharing the rent for my new apartment.They are also allowing pet like dogs ,cats, which is deneid by previous apartment. i am so glad for my new apartment beacuse it is also sturdy.

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  67. In my opinion, the most important advantage to live on campus is nearness to University. You haven't to spend much time on road for classes. But if my house is not very far from campus, If prefer to live at home

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  68. Hello everybody.
    I'm a student and I prefer to live in apartment off campus, but near the university. One advantage to live off campus is that I can to be more independent and I can know more the city. One disadvantage is that I am far of the university and I take a bus to going the school.

    Regards!

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  69. It is my great pleasure to visit your website and to enjoy your excellent post here. I like that very much.

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  70. i like in the college dormitory. Before i lived it but now i living a house. The limite when live in the collefe dirmitory is you can meet a lazy person. They go to school late, sleep very much and often go out to party, make noise You Cant lazy like them

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  71. In my opinion the homestay is better because is an different experience. Maybe you can better work instead of speak with anybody.

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  72. Everyone has their own preferences whether to stay in the dormitory or stay home with their family especially for university students. In my opinion I would rather choose to live in the dormitory than to stay home with my family.I say this for several reasons; First, to stay in the dormitory is I have all my means and time to focus on my studies. For example instead of spending time travelling by the bus to go to school to stay in the dormitory is I can spend that time to prepare and study more of my lessons.
    Secondly, from my experience I learned how to become more independent like doing my own chores preparing and cooking my own food and washing my own laundry. Moreover, I also practice self discipline like what time to go to bed in the night and when to wake up. On the otherhand, I can also make time to talk with my roomates in this way I can improve my English communication skills better and at the same time making friends with them as well.
    Thirdly, staying in the dormitory helps me to become better person especially for my social life because of meeting new friends and learning new things from them which otherwise I cannot learn that from staying home with family.
    In conclusion, to stay in the dormitory gives me a freedom to learn things by myself and how to get along with other people and learn from them and that's why I can say that this is one way to improve my English communication skills.

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  73. i think maybe we live in homestay for first year college, while we can find informations about the college dormitory. then in the next year we make decision. is that college dormitory convenience or not for us?

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  74. Which is better? Living in a dorm room or at home
    I personally never experienced living in a dorm room. I think that both things have pros and cons. The pros of studying and living at your house are lot. Let us start by saying that you are with your family and you can save a lot of money by eating homemade food. Another good idea for you to stay at home is that if you are sick, you can recover and your family is going to help, but if you are at college and you are sick, the only thing I can say is good luck! One last pro for living at home is that you are going to get less distracted and you are going to have less pressure on you. One of the biggest cons is that you are going to waste a lot of time driving there and you will probably be late for your first class. So now, I am going to tell you the pros of living in a dorm and the first one I can think of is you are going to have a social life. Nor like home, you can talk with your friend in real life a lot more often. One other pro is that you are not going to be late for class…well unless you oversleep which can happen if you live at your house too. You will probably find someone with who you can learn your lessons too, which will most probably not happen at home. Now the cons of living in a dorm room are lot. There is one that everyone knows-a lot of noise. Let’s face it, you will probably have a hard time studying for a test, while in the next room the students there are listening too loud music, which is going to distract you several times and it will mostly give you a headache. One other con is less privacy. You for sure are not going to be able to lay on your bed with your pajamas and sing something or just do something simple like dress and undress.

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  75. hallo
    my name is jessy
    I live in a big house

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  76. Well, i think homestay is better if you have a family that support you and have a good space to study, and, mainly, if you live close to college.

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  77. Good day.
    My English is awful. wherefore? Because I had no one month of practice with native speakers. I had practice during travels only. It is not enough.


    When I was litlle girl I dream about living in native family only one month. But it was so expensive. So, in mine opinion homestay and college dormitores are more better to learn English then stay home.

    Lilya from Russia

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  78. Personality i think live in dorm is better.i asked some classmates live in dorm about that and they said live in dorm more convenient and safer. Especially the cost is cheaper and they can reserve some money for studying. Moreover, the roommates is the amazing teachers help them to improve themselves.

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  79. In my view, it seems College Dormitories is way better. It is really safe for students both native and international than homestay because the school will take care carefully other than bad people stay in homestay. But there is one thing about dorm, it is not as cheap as homestay. But it is in my view, what do you think?

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  80. Hi! Actually,I do not like any roommates or neighbours. I like to be alone. So I have my own flat, but I dream about own big house with large territory.

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  81. Hi! I am from viet Nam. Now, i am a student and studying away from home. I think live at homestay better than at college dormitories.
    Because, it is more comfortable than dormitories, i can mature by i must do all the housework and at the dormitories have some problem indeterminable. In general, everything depends on you.

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  82. I think college dormitory is better. You can practice English with your friend and learn everything easily.

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  83. I honestly believe that living in a apartment by yourself is better. Living with somebody who you don't know is risk, you have no clue about this one habits, etc, and sometimes you can get annoyed about his/her behavior. Despite living with a family can be great, you have also to behave yourself like this family way of life. It's hard to tell what's really better or not, it depends on the people/person who's living with you. If I am a foreign student, I take the risk. Furthermore, if I don't like the person/people I only can make do stuff because I'm a foreign and it makes thing more difficult, I think so

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  84. i prefer to stay in college dorm why because you will communicate with different cultures and languages and know the habits of every cultures it will be good experience and renting an apartment on the campus it will be very cheap than stay with homestay with family

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  85. I like to live near to the University because I have most time for study, share with the friends for english practice, rest and go to the cultural activities.

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Thanks for posting a comment. I appreciate your interesting in sharing your ideas.

Best,

Randall

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