Household Rules and Expectations (Intermediate)

Practice on Your Own

Imagine that you will be living with a host family in a country where the language is spoken. When you first arrive, you will need to familiarize yourself with the household rules and expectations.

• What do you know about family life in this country? What differences do you think you may encounter in terms of the physical layout of the home, daily schedules, household chores, gender roles, etc.?
• Write a list of questions to ask your host family. Your questions may address life in the home as well as the surrounding community. Possible topics include:
  • Modifications to your bedroom (moving furniture, putting up decorations, etc.)
  • Where to keep your towel, toiletries, etc.
  • Whether to use the family’s supply of certain items (shampoo, etc.) or purchase your own
  • Whether/when you may use appliances (stove, washing machine, etc.)
  • Household chores (dishes, cleaning, etc.)
  • Whether you are responsible for doing your own laundry, and if so, how (by machine or by hand, in the home/at a laundromat/hiring a laundry service)
  • Daily schedules (when family members usually get up and go to bed, mealtimes, etc.)
  • Whether you may help yourself to food between meals
  • Using the phone and/or internet
  • Inviting friends over
  • Shared family activities (sporting events, religious services, etc.)
  • Rules/expectations around smoking and/or drinking
  • Expenses you will need to cover
  • Keeping your belongings safe (money, passport, computer, etc.)
  • Whether you will have a key to the house and/or your bedroom, when to lock doors and windows
  • Answering the phone or door if you are home alone
  • What to do in case of emergencies (emergency phone numbers, location of nearest hospital/clinic, etc.)
  • How to get around the community (walking/biking, public transportation)
  • Safe/unsafe parts of town
  • Locations of banks, stores, etc.

Practice in Conversation Session

• Be prepared to role play a conversation with your host family using the questions you have prepared and any others that you think of. Your conversation partner will play the role of your host parent.
  • You may want to add to this activity by describing life in your own family and community and discussing the similarities and differences.