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 5 & 25 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.
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 but you are expected to keep it tidy and to leave the bathroom in a clean state. Please try to 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 the apartments?	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 60 seconds on foot from the school.
Do I need to bring sheets and towels for Club TIS?	No, towels are provided.

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 £14 per day minimum and up to£140 per week (updated January 2009) 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.
I am trying to find a course for Cambridge Proficiency in English. Do you have these courses?	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

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