Available to teenagers from 13 to 17 years old over the summer months

Homestay

Why TOTAL LANGUAGE IMMERSION with us? From the moment you step into our home, you will speak English. As the days go by, you will become more fluent and confident. You will surprise yourself. Homestay is not only for practising English; it is also a life experience where you get the opportunity to develop soft skills.

My house is a 3-bedroom cottage with a beautiful English garden, where we often play croquet or swing ball with our students. We offer a private and comfortable double bedroom with a family bathroom. A young lady called Daniella comes and cleans the house every Friday so you can expect a clean house. Laundry is free of charge.

As a rule, those under 18 are never left alone, and we regularly send photos to parents on WhatsApp. I have a clean driving license, Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance and a Gas Safety Certificate. Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are fitted around our home.

Details & Prices

I teach online full-time, and to give the best experience to our homestay students, I take time off, so the maximum length of stay we offer is 7 to 8 days, including the day of arrival and departure. Students should preferably arrive after 2 PM and depart before midday. I charge 140€/night and 40€/1 hour compulsory lesson per day and per person except on the day of arrival and departure or over the weekend. I can host one or two guests as I have two spare bedrooms.

Tour our Home

Routine

I provide three hearty meals a day that you will share with us. You can expect freshly made food every day, and you are welcome to cook with us. Breakfast is ready before our daily lesson, which usually starts at 10:30 or 11 a.m. Lunch is at around 12.30, and dinner is between 7 and 8 p.m. Don’t hesitate to tell us about any special dietary requirements and food you dislike prior to your arrival.

After the lesson, we go out for an afternoon activity so you can discover Oxford and the nearby area. Please read the Activities section further below to find out more.

I take my small dog, Saffron, on a daily walk around the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside in the late afternoon. It is an excellent opportunity for us to chat.

In the evening, we select a film to watch together, and we will always take you on any of our outings. We can also play games such as croquet or swing ball in the garden.

This is a list of what you can expect:

Fruits, biscuits, and hot or cold drinks are available at any time.
We make sure we don’t cook with ingredients you dislike.
Lunch and dinner with us and a breakfast of your choice.
Private and clean room with a double bed.
Warm house in the winter.
Clean bathroom with a shower. Towels are provided.
Our house and garden are located in a quiet area.
Laundry is free of charge.
Free WIFI.
We have Netflix and Amazon Prime accounts.
Nintendo Wii with games.
Selection of books that are graded to your level.
Board games and croquet.
Play area with a zip wire, table tennis, and tennis courts nearby.
Parks and shops, including supermarkets, a chemist, a Post Office and a Costa Coffee around the corner.
Local bus to Oxford city centre is a few steps from our close.
Private lessons with error correction to practise and improve.
Activities to discover Oxford, culture and area.
Photos are sent to parents regularly, and under 18 are never left alone.

Activities

I include in the price of the homestay the following activities: walking Guided Tour of Oxford city to see the Bodleian Library, Sheldonian, Radcliffe Camera, Hertford Bridge, St Mary’s Church and Tower, Christchurch College, visit of Magdalen College and New College, Weston Library and exhibitions, Blackwell’s Norrington room, the Natural History Museum, Pitt Rivers Museum, Science Museum and Ashmolean Museum. I usually also book a game at the local Tenpin Bowling Alley. In addition, I will take you on a discovery of Blenheim Palace Grounds, the Marlborough Family Estate, the Birthplace of Winston Churchill, and see the tree featured in the 2007 film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. We will stroll along the Thrupp River Canal with its narrow boats and go to South Park, the shark on the roof in Headington. Andrew will be happy to play a game with you if you are a keen tennis player. Two main shopping centres are nearby, Westgate and the famous Bicester Designer Village for shopaholics.

Several chargeable activities are also available, such as the entry to Christchurch College and Cathedral, St Mary’s Tower, Blenheim Palace and Private Gardens, Bodleian Library with Divinity School, Duke Humphrey’s Library and Convocation House. I highly encourage my students to visit these sites as they are a great way to learn about British history and life and a source of discussion over our dinner table. Once you have confirmed your interest, I will forward details and prices and ask that you bring cash in pounds sterling (£) to reimburse me, as they have to be booked in advance to avoid disappointment. I ask that you pay for all my entrance tickets as well as yours.

How to get to Oxford?

Oxford is one hour away by train from London or Birmingham. It takes 1 hour 30 minutes drive from Gatwick or Stansted airports & 45 minutes from London Heathrow airport. Luton airport is 1-hour drive. We can collect you free of charge from Oxford Parkway Railway station if you are travelling by train or Thornhill Park & Ride in Oxford should you be travelling on the coach.

By Train

There are two railway stations in Oxford: Oxford & to the North, Oxford Parkway. Direct trains operate regularly from London Marylebone. Alternatively, there are good links from Birmingham International Airport. We live 5 minutes away from Oxford Parkway and we can, therefore, collect you free of charge.

By Coach

Coach companies such as National Express operate links from London Stansted or Luton Airport. It is also possible to catch The Airline Coach Service from Gatwick or Heathrow. From Oxford city, you can either catch line 2 or 2A to Chorefields bus stop (Kidlington) which stops just outside our close. Alternatively, catch line 500 to The Black Horse pub bus stop. You can also request for us to collect you free of charge from Thornhill Park & Ride, in Oxford.

Collection

Depending on your place of arrival, I can either collect or drop you off. Prices start at £125 for a single journey to Oxford from Heathrow/Luton or Birmingham airport. Alternatively travel to Oxford Parkway Railway Station by train or by coach to Thornhill Park & Ride (first stop in Oxford) for us to collect you free of charge.