If you wish, accommodation in German host families can be provided (subject to availability). While improving your language skills, this will also give you an insight into everyday German life. Host families can easily be reached with Darmstadt's public transportation system, which students are free to use as part of their Summerschool registration fee.

If you won't be needing accommodation provided by the Summerschool, please contact us E-Mail for special arrangements.

Host Families – What to Expect

Accomodation with the German host familiy is intended to give you the opportunity to practice your language skills and experience everyday culture first-hand. In order to optimize this experience, it is expected that all students will plan to spend some time with their host families, whether that be sharing a meal together, visiting a castle or doing sports.

The primary interest of your host family is to have interaction with someone from the United States as well as a native speaker of English.

Many host families have sons and daughters of your age who are interested in American culture, are learing English at school, or plan to spend a year in the United States or Canada. Host families are mainly interested in getting to know you and are looking forward to interacting with you – in German as well as in English!

Host families do not see their home as a hotel but at the same time fully understand that you have a busy schedule with the Summerschool and in addition plan to travel with friends or family members. With this in mind, host families also expect that you will want to interact with them as „family“ members.

All host families are responsible for providing you with:

• a room, including a bed and storage space for your personal belongings.
• a kitchen to share with other family members, including space in the pantry and refrigerator.
• a washing machine where you can wash your own clothes.

Host families are not responsible for:

• cooking your meals OR washing your clothing.

Upon arrival make sure to:

• ask your host family about guidelines using the telephone, washing machine, or other appliances you may need.

As a rule:

• keep your room relatively clean during your stay. It is your personal space, but your host parents should not be expected to clean up after you.
• let your host family know where you are, in case you will not be spending the night at home (a note or quick phone call should suffice)
• turn off lights when you leave a room and watch your use of water. In Germany there is sort of forced environmental consciousness: electricity and water costs are rather high.