FAQs

FAQ's

Accommodation Questions
Will my Homestay be close to the school?	Homestays are always within walking distance of the school and usually between 10 & 30 minutes on foot. There is also a good bus service.
Will there be any pets in my Homestay?	Not necessarily, but many English families like to have a dog or a cat. We never choose homestays where we consider the dogs or cats to be unclean or dangerous.
Will I be able to smoke in my Homestay?	Usually not - you will probably have to smoke outside in the garden.
I don’t want to stay with a family who smoke – is that possible?	Yes – definitely. Very few homestays permit smoking in their houses.
Will my hosts do my laundry?	Your host will do light laundry but you are expected to do your own ironing.
Should I bring towels?	Your host will provide towels and sheets which will be changed weekly.
Do I have to clean my bedroom?	Your host will clean your room every few days but you are expected to keep it tidy and to leave the bathroom in a clean state. Please make your own bed.
Will I have a key to my Homestay?	Yes, you will be given a key to the front door and you are free to come and go as you please.
Will I be able to cook my own food?	No because your host will be cooking for you each evening. However, hosts do enjoy their guests cooking a “speciality” meal occasionally.
I need a special diet – will the host family help me with this?	Yes, we have some host families who can manage special diets but it is very important that you tell us in advance what your needs are. Even if you are a vegetarian it’s important that we know this before we arrange your host family.
Will my host family (Homestay) meet me when I arrive in Torquay?	Yes, they will come to the bus or railway station but you should give them your arrival information as soon as you can so they can be sure to be there to meet you. Don't leave it until the day before you arrive!
Do I need to bring sheets and towels for Rosa/Cedar Cottage flats?	No, everything will be there for you.
Are the apartments close to the school?	Cedar Cottage Apartments are 2/3 minutes on foot and Rosa is 15 minutes on foot
How far is Club TIS Hotel Residence from school?	Club TIS is almost opposite the school. It is
Do I need to bring sheets and towels for Club TIS?	No, sheets and towels are provided daily and your room is cleaned every weekday and bedlinen is changed once a week. Towels are changed twice a week.
If I only stay for 20 nghts do I have to pay for a full three weeks.	No, so long as you let us know your arrival and departure dates in advance then we will charge you pro rata for the number of nights you book.

General Questions
What should I pack or bring with me?	Visit our 'What to bring' page for more information
How can I get to Torquay?	Visit our 'How to get here' page for more information
What will the weather be like?	Two good places to go for weather information: www.englishriviera.co.uk and www.bbc.co.uk/weather
How much money will I need each week?	We think around £16 per day minimum if you buy lunch on weekdays and use public transport and up to £160 per week (updated 2011) if you want to include a Saturday or Sunday excursion with the school. But of course it depends on what your personal needs are. The following site will give you a good idea of the cost of living in Britain on a daily basis. www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk . It's a very good site for information about life in Britain. You'll also find up to date information on our Downloads page.
I want to take Cambridge Proficiency in English. Do you have a course?	Yes we do – see (Examinations link) for dates and details. The Proficiency Class can be a very small class and before you enrol for Proficiency you need to talk to us first, please contact judith@tisenglish.co.uk for more information on Cambridge Proficiency classes.
Are the Cambridge examinations held in Torquay?	Yes, FCE, CAE, CAE, BEC and IELTS are all held in Torquay - either in the town centre or at the school.
Can I take IELTS and BEC in Torquay?	Yes you can and you can also take TOEIC at the school.
Do you have any disciplinary procedures?	Yes we do. We take care to see that all students arrive at class on time and take action if they are persistently late. We also have a policy document on behaviour in the school and you can read it here.
Is this school recognised by the British Council?	Yes it is and we are also members of IALC, The English Network, English UK, Business English UK and English UK South West.

We are members of the following organisations and accreditations: