Acorn English Homestay teachers are professionally trained with many years experience in both a classroom and one-to-one environment. They all have university degrees as well as qualifications that make them English language specialists. At its core, our teaching team has an ethos of lifelong learning: training is ongoing as our teachers work constantly to expand their skills base, learn new methods and keep up to date with new teaching materials and practice.

We only recruit teachers who are committed to the principle of total immersion language learning, enthusiastic about welcoming guests into their homes, keen to engage in cultural exchange, passionate about sharing their language and culture, with the training and skills set to do so effectively. Many of our teachers are aged 50+ with a rich resource of life experience to draw on as they teach. Some of them have been teaching English all their professional lives, in classrooms and 1:1. Others have trained to teach later in life, after a successful working life in another field.

For your security, all qualifications and references are checked and a police check is conducted on all our teachers when they have successfully completed our application process.

A successful, happy, productive student-teacher relationship lies at the very heart of what we do and we take a lot of care to get your placement right. We know all our teachers well and use this personal knowledge, as well as our experience with past students, to choose the best teacher for you. This judgement is based on careful analysis of the information you have provided, the dates you wish to study and your food and accommodation needs. Some of our teachers have a preference for the type of student they welcome into their home and teach, based on their own interests and experience. If you are unhappy with our selection, we will look for a suitable replacement.

From the moment you book, for the duration of your course, the Acorn English Homestay office team are here to support you and help in any way that we are able. We want you to know that you can speak to us in confidence about any problems that might arise. If you provide all the information requested when you make a booking with us, this is a situation that can be avoided. However, in the very unlikely event that you are unhappy with your teacher, we will discreetly move you to an alternative teacher's home.

Courses usually start on any Sunday and finish on any Saturday. However, there are other start dates available. Please ask and we will let you know if a suitable teacher is available for you.

On your first day, your teacher will assess your level and your oral fluency. This will highlight your strengths and areas that need particular emphasis. The teacher will then work with you to design a personalised Study Programme that suits your level and study needs, fulfils your objectives, takes into account your priorities, and makes effective use of your lesson time.

Depending on how many hours of lessons you book, you can expect to eat breakfast with your teacher, the begin work at 9.30am. You will work through the morning, with a couple of short coffee breaks, eating lunch with your teacher at 1pm. If you book twenty or more hours per week, you will have more lessons in the afternoon. There will also be time scheduled for excursions and private study, as well as time to relax and socialise with your teacher and family. For more of a time table, please look at the page for the course you want to book.

All course timetables include time for private study. You will have your own study area, where you can do homework, revise and prepare. You will also be encouraged to read English newspapers, magazines and websites and to watch TV or listen to the radio, either with your teacher and family or in your own room.

Most language schools specialise in group language courses, which cost less money but do not give you total immersion in the English language that studying and living with your teacher provides. Classes are made up of between 10 – 20 students, all with different needs and abilities. When 1:1 lessons are available, they usually work out considerably more expensive than Acorn English Homestay’s courses. Our fees include tuition, meals and accommodation, as well as the invaluable time you will spend conversing and interacting with your teacher, family and other native English speakers.

Brighton is less than 30 minutes from Gatwick airport, with excellent transport links to other airports and the ferry port at Newhaven. We will pick you up from the train or coach station. Or for a fee, we will meet you at the airport. Please get in touch for airport transfer fees.

Perhaps you want to study with someone else, or perhaps you want to study on your own but travel with a family member. Perhaps your child will be studying and you would like to stay with them while they take the course. Whatever you want to do, we will work with you to find a solution that suits you. Please just get in touch and let us know what you want.

Yes, of course. Your teacher will have a washing machine, an iron and ironing board that you can use.

All of our teachers have internet access at home and many have wireless internet connections. Let us know if you need wireless access and we will make sure that it is available for you.

Check with your mobile phone provider to make sure you have the roaming facility and check their international calling rates. Bring a charger and an appropriate travel adaptor for the UK. It will also be possible to receive phone calls on your teacher’s landline.

No. All teachers have a 'no smoking' policy inside their homes, but you are welcome to smoke outside the house.

If you have any special dietary requirements, please just let us know and we will make sure your teacher is aware when they cook for you.

All European Union students travelling within the Eurozone are advised to get the European Health Insurance Card, in addition to personal travel insurance cover. If necessary, we can arrange for you to visit a doctor.

You will be able to make cash withdrawals in Pounds Sterling from ATMs and Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted. Ask you bank or credit card provider to advise of any charges you may incur. Remember all excursion costs are not included in the course fees.