Home Language International courses provide tuition and accommodation in the private home of your teacher. There is no school premises as lessons are taught in the teacher's home where you will be living.


Full immersion:
This is a unique opportunity for a full immersion experience, living with and being taught by your own private teacher. Home language international teaching is different from any other language experience. You live and study in your teacher’s house so there is no travelling to and from school every day.

You will not be led page by page through a text book but be given an experience in living the language you are studying. You will learn it as you learn your own language – and at your own pace. The one to one formula gives you the full attention of your teacher and is not diluted by other students and their needs.

Home Language International tuition is suitable for all ages and types of learners. Mature students need not feel shy or nervous in a large class. The unwilling student cannot hide at the back of the class. Teenagers can also be easily supervised by the teacher, according to their parents’ wishes.

You can choose 15, 20 or 25 lessons per week and stay as many weeks as you like.

Mealtime conversations, visits, television and social contacts are all in the language you are studying. Living with your teacher means that you will be guided and corrected not only during the lessons but all the times that you interact together.

The rate of improvement in your target language accelerates at great pace because you are not distracted by other speakers of your native language.

Qualified teachers:
All the teachers have either a teaching certificate recognised by the state or a university degree (or equivalent) accepted in the private sector. In addition they have all been awarded the Regency Certificate which means the qualifications have been verified and the teachers’ homes have been thoroughly inspected by the local organiser.

Home language tuition is one of the most intensive forms of language training and works best when you really get on well with your trainer. In case a situation occurs where you don't feel comfortable with your teacher host for any reason, please contact Cactus immediately, as, even in high season, it is generally possible to change family should an unforeseeable character clash occur! However if you wait until your return to notify us of any problems, then nothing can usually be done.

Local support:
Each location has a Local Organiser whose job it is to monitor the progress of each student and to make sure the experience is both happy and successful. A phone call to the Local Organiser brings an immediate response and expert help and advice is given readily, even for the smallest problem/issue. The details of your teacher host and the local organiser will be provided in your pre-departure information.

Flexible dates:
You can choose the dates to suit you as the programme operates all year round. You just tell us the number of weeks and the number of lessons per week you would like.

Accommodation:
You live in the home of the teacher in a single room and there are no other students being hosted at the same time, unless you specifically request this. The price includes full board accommodation. With enough advance notice, we also aim to place you with a teacher that shares your interests or is qualified the subject you may like to focus the language on. Other requests such as age, pets, children, smokers etc should also be given to us at the time of booking. You can also request a room with a private bathroom for a supplement of approx £100 per week.

Locations: Most of the host teachers live in the suburban areas of the city. It is not very usual that the accommodation will be in the city centre. You should expect to have to take public transport into the city centres. However, please bear in mind that living in the more rural areas of the country you are visiting is likely to give you a better immersion into the true culture of a country. If there is a location you would like to study in that's not listed, please contact us. There are many more locations available.

Please use the search form below for price for your chosen dates