Staying With a Host Family: The Good and the Hard Parts

Full script

Read the whole talk.

All slides in one place. Read it through once, then practice slide by slide.

1. 01Staying With a Host Family

   Hello, everyone. Last year, I studied English in Brisbane for three months and stayed with a host family. Today, I'll share the good parts and the hard parts of a homestay.

   大家好。去年，我在布里斯班学了三个月英语，住在一个寄宿家庭里。今天，我来分享一下寄宿家庭的好处和难处。

2. 02Good: English Every Day

   The biggest advantage was speaking English every day. At dinner, we talked about our day, the news, and even football. I learned expressions that my textbook never taught me.

   最大的好处是每天都说英语。吃晚饭时，我们会聊当天的事、新闻，甚至足球。我学到了很多课本里从来没教过的表达。

3. 03Good: A Window Into Local Life

   I also saw real local life. My host family took me to weekend barbecues and markets, and I joined their birthday celebrations. It felt like having a second family.

   我也看到了真实的当地生活。寄宿家庭周末带我去参加烧烤和逛市场，我还参加了他们的生日庆祝。感觉就像有了第二个家。

4. 04Hard: House Rules

   However, there were hard parts. Every family has its own rules. Mine asked me to take short showers and to be home for dinner at six, which was sometimes difficult.

   不过，也有难处。每个家庭都有自己的规矩。我住的那家要求我洗澡时间要短，并且六点要回家吃晚饭，这有时候挺难做到的。

5. 05Hard: Less Freedom

   I also had less freedom than in a dormitory. I couldn't come home late easily, and at first I always felt like a guest rather than a member of the house.

   我也比住在宿舍时少了一些自由。我不能随便很晚回家，而且一开始，我总觉得自己是个客人，而不是家里的一员。

6. 06My Tips

   If you're planning a homestay, here are my tips. Ask about the house rules on the first day, help with chores, and share something from your culture, like cooking a dish from home.

   如果你们打算住寄宿家庭，这里有几个建议。第一天就问清楚家里的规矩，帮忙做家务，还要分享一些你们自己文化里的东西，比如做一道家乡菜。

7. 07Conclusion

   In conclusion, a homestay isn't always easy, but it's one of the best ways to learn a language and a culture. With an open attitude, the hard parts become part of the adventure. Thank you.

   总之，住寄宿家庭并不总是轻松的，但它是学习语言和文化最好的方式之一。只要保持开放的心态，那些难处也会变成冒险的一部分。谢谢大家。