We all find ourselves struggling to make conversation occasionally. Your host family homestay experience might present an awkward silence from time to time. Perhaps you’re hosting a low level English speaker, or a shy individual. Just like the start of a new school year, a couple of games to break the ice can make your homestay accommodation feel warmer and less intimidating.

Recently, we’ve been playing a few English learning games at the dinner table. We’re hosting a teenager and finding the age gap pretty unfamiliar. We’ve discovered our guest is a fast learner with incredible memory.

The favourite English game in our homestay accommodation at the moment is the Shopping Game. It starts with the line “I went to the supermarket and I bought_____”
Each player adds an item to the list after recalling all the previous players items.
Players are eliminated when they can no longer accurately recall the entire list in order.

There are many of these games, some will remind you of your early school years. Below are just a few to get the conversation, and nostalgia, following;
Hot Seat, Word Association, 2 Truths and a Lie, The Mime, Simon Says, I Spy With My Little Eye.
Have fun and happy hosting!