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We are a warm and friendly family-oriented household. We have 3 children and 2 grandchildren. We have three rooms available for hosting and summer is especially busy with lots of trips and activities. We host students from China, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Austria, France and Germany. We enjoy the countryside, family get-togethers, quizzes and good food. Contrary to popular belief I am said to be a great cook, often creating dishes with an international flavour. I also make jam and chutney and I am an artist.
I am Michelle, I work from home looking after students from around the world. I also paint, pyrograph and draw. My husband, Matt, works full-time for a disaster recovery and cleaning company. We love Nottingham and enjoy showing people around the city and countryside. We live close to the southern tip of Sherwood Forest, Matt walks the dogs there in the evening. Our house is near Sherwood, Arnold, Bulwell & Nottingham City Centre. We have an Instagram page "hosting_in_nottingham". You are welcome to message me and ask any questions.
Description as a Host
As hosts we are a warm and friendly family who have three children, two grandchildren and we have various pets. We welcome students into our home and treat them as one of our family. We get many students returning the following year or recommending their brothers and sisters to stay with us . We enjoy socialising with our extended family; parents, friends, children and grandchildren. We take our students out to see places of interest in the area: Nottingham Castle, the Justice Museum, The City of Caves, Newstead Abbey, Wollaton Hall and Deer Park and many more. We take students to our local pub quiz and we sometimes go bowling, boating or to indoor golf. We love good food, movies, music, nature, arts, crafts, games and quizzes. Michelle makes jam and chutney often using fruit and vegetables from our garden. Michelle teaches English as a second language and she has taught arts and crafts in schools and community centres and Matt has taught "bushcraft" at Scouts.
Number of years hosting experience
20
Will Host
Males, Females, Age 14 - 15, Age 16 -17, Adults (18+ Student Guests), School Tutors / Group Leaders
Teacher has following skills
TEFL Teacher (for foreign students), Talkative - Chatty person, CELTA Teacher (for foreign students)
Language at Home the Country's official
Yes
All Members General Description
Living at the house: Michelle (Mum), Matt (Dad) and International students. Visiting the house: Margaret (Michelle's mum), Jade (daughter), Jack (son), Oliver (son)Luca (grandson), Lilah (Granddaughter) and other relatives and friends.
Family situation at Home
Pets at Home
Cat, Dog, Other Pet
Pets Description
We have a young cat and two dogs; a friendly labradoodle and cockerpoo. We have a parrot and chickens in the garden.
Home Type
Semi-detached
Description
We live in a four bedroom property There is a shared bathroom with shower and toilet, plus a small shower room and toilet. The three guest rooms are a room with a single bed. a second guest room with a small double bed and a small single bed and the third bedroom has twin beds. We have a garden with herbs, fruit, vegetables and chickens.
Facilities
TV, Fridge, Other
Description
The rooms have fast Broadband, Wi-Fi, hairdryer, bedside cabinet, wardrobe, drawers, lamp, small table, chair. Towels and robes are provided. We have a small garden back and front. Guests have access to the family lounge/living room and kitchen facilities if required, and the gardens. Laundry can be washed and dried with the family laundry. You will be like a member of our family. We offer a trip out at the weekend and guests are welcome to join in all family activities.
Smoking
No
Time Limits (Curfew, meal and other time limits)
No smoking in the house. Meal times can be agreed and are flexible for guests with prior notice. Family evening meal time is usually around 18.00hrs - 19.00hrs. Breakfast whenever you wish to eat, toast, chocolate spread, eggs from our own hens, good Italian coffee, Moka pots available and English tea. A full English breakfast on a Sunday morning is provided if you would like it. A packed lunch to take to work is provided, let me know the night before if you wish to eat out at lunch time or for your evening meal.
Five 30 minute conversations
10 hours of face to face English language lessons per week, Monday to Friday at £25 per hour (can be shared with up to 4 students). Two hour lessons during the day e.g. 10.00 hrs - 12.00hrs or 13.30hrs - 15.30 hrs. Lessons will be interesting and include debate, discussion, quizzes and assessment to ensure progression
Wide variety of activities; Nottingham Castle, Newstead Abbey, Justice Museum, City of Caves, Indoor Golf, Calke Abbey, Brewhouse Yard Museum, Bowling, Horse Riding, Pyrography, Rufford Abbey, Boating, Art Galleries, Table Tennis, Dog Walking and more
Sports available in the local area: Gym, Swimming Pool, Leisure Centre, Tennis, Table Tennis, Bowling, Pool (snooker), Rowing, Horse Riding, Football, Basket Ball, Trampolining
These diets are included in the price of your stayThese are included in the price of your stay
Full board accommodation, with a packed lunch is included. We eat traditional British and International food; Chinese, Indian, Italian, Thai, breakfast is light and dinner is our main meal. Your packed lunch will include sandwiches or flatbread plus fruit, chocolate and a drink. There will be a warm welcome for you at the specified point for our area or upon direct agreement; a stop along the airport shuttle/bus connection. If you have specific dietary requirements please advise us as soon as possible to ensure we can cater for them.
These are included in the price of your stay
Transfers
Town Centre/Main public transport spot Pick up ad Drop off,
Transfer Description
On arrival to Nottingham you will be collected from the Skylink drop-off by us. When it is time for you to leave Nottingham we will take you to the group drop-off point.
Tours
Tourist Attraction, City centre visit, Other City visit, Shopping, Market place, Castle, Museum, Night out, Day out, Eating Out / Restaurant, Historical village, Local Tourist Attraction, Other,
Tour Description
We are happy to provide cultural visits, take guests on days/evenings out, where possible we have a party to say goodbye to our long stay guests but where admission fees are applicable guests will be expected to cover their own costs.
WOW
Academical, Folkloristic, Really Local, National relevance, Party, Religious,
Wow Description
We can help students with their written and spoken English, we also enjoy taking students to local tourist attractions, we are happy to take more than one student, so you can bring your friends, your friends are also welcome to visit you at our home.
Italia
Age 17
Michelle and Matt were a fantastic second family for me. They helped me in some circumstances, they involved me in their family, we spent some good times together even outside the home. Furthermore, Michelle is a very good cook.
Italia
Persone molto disponibili, si preoccupano per i loro ospiti, si accertano che tutto vada bene e cercano di farti sentire accolto/a al meglio. Se hai bisogno ci sono sempre. Cercano di coinvolgerti e di farti sentire a tuo agio. Aperti al dialogo. Cercano di rendere la tua esperienza migliore possibili. Hanno molti animali. Sono per carinissimi, mi sono trovata molto bene. Ve li consiglio caldamente, avrete un ottimo ricordo.
Italia
Age 18
è stata un'esperienza molto utile e divertente, le attività organizzate nel fine settimana sono state molto gradevoli. Inoltre è stato utile per migliore il mio inglese
Thank you for this lovely review Giovanni. We hope to see you again in the future. We wish you every success in all you do.
Italia
Age 16
Michelle e Matt sono stati molto accoglienti, ogni volta che avevo bisogno mi hanno aiutato, mi hanno fatto esplorare le meraviglie della città e anche piccoli angoli stupefacenti che non avrei mai visto senza il loro aiuto. Mi hanno aiutato molto anche con la lingua, coinvolgendomi con dialoghi anche molto semplici, ma educativi. Consiglio vivamente questa famiglia soprattutto a chi piace visitare città nuove e sentirsi in compagnia.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review. You became like a family member to us and will always be welcome back here.We wish you every success for the future. Best wishes, Michelle and Matt
Italia
Michelle and Matt were very welcoming and available all the time. When I arrived to the meeting point they showed me how to reach my workplace and where I had to catch my bus. They talked to me a lot about many topics and they were always available. I really liked them because they are so cute and funny, so I really recommend them. (They are really good chefs)
Hi Ilaria, Thank you so much for your lovely review. It was a pleasure to host you and you are welcome back anytime. We wish you every success for the future.
Member since 8th September 2018