Learn English with a homestay in Ireland's second city

When Luisa decided she wanted to spend part of the summer improving her English, she started looking for affordable accommodation in Ireland. A student from Germany studying Business Administration, Luisa spent one month in the home of our host Peggy in Cork while she completed an intensive language course nearby. Read about her homestay experience where she explored the best of Cork and discovered a home away from home.

---

-

Why Ireland?

I chose to visit Ireland as I wanted to spend a month during the summer improving my English. I’d heard a lot of good things about Ireland from friends and registered for a language course at University College Cork (UCC).

-

Why did you choose to stay in a homestay?

I decided that a homestay was definitely the best option for me to improve my English. It was affordable to stay for the month of my course and I got to speak English with my host family every day which was exactly what I needed. My host family were able to help me get settled when I arrived and were very patient with me during my stay as my English improved.

-

What is your best memory from your month in Cork?

One of my best memories from my time in Cork was baking cupcakes with Peggy in her home. We had so much fun and they were delicious!

Why did you choose Peggy as your host?

Having looked at lots of different hosts in Cork that were close to UCC I chose Peggy as she seemed very friendly in her profile. The pictures of the room were very nice and she had a lot of positive reviews from other guests that had stayed with her. As I was booking a room for a month, I was conscious of the cost but Peggy’s room was very good value.

-

Tell us about your homestay experience.

Peggy’s house really felt like home to me. She was very helpful and interested in how my day went. Before I went to Ireland I was worried that I might have problems understanding Irish people, because the accent can be very strong. But Peggy always spoke to me very clearly and explained words which I didn’t know. She has two rooms in her homestay for guests and so I also met other interesting people throughout my stay. It was great fun and never boring.

-

-

What is something that surprised you about Cork?

One thing that surprised me about Cork was just how friendly all the Irish people I met were. When I first arrived at Peggy’s home I got there much earlier than planned and so I started to wait for Peggy to arrive home. But then her neighbour saw me and came over to talk to me. When I explained that I had arrived early and was waiting for Peggy, he asked me if I wanted a cup of tea or coffee! After that experience I felt very welcome in Cork.

-

What would you say to anyone thinking of trying a homestay and would you use a homestay again?

I’d definitely recommend staying in a homestay. My roommate back in Germany is actually looking to stay in Galway soon and I told him he has to choose a homestay. I found it easy to book and the prices are very reasonable. There are no extra fees and you can stay in a homestay for a few days or even months at a time. I would choose to stay in a homestay again.

-

What advice would you give to others visiting Cork or Ireland?

Cork was nice and is a great city to explore lots of interesting places. As I was studying for the month in UCC I had lots of outings with my classmates to explore the local area. I’d definitely advise visiting Kinsale, Dingle and Spike Island. My favourite place that I visited was Blarney Castle, it’s beautiful and romantic. There’s a great atmosphere in Cork City Centre which is well worth experiencing and I found Cork City Gaol a good place to learn more about the local history. Apart from the tourist sights, there are so many pubs with brilliant live music so I’d advise others travelling to Cork to see that side of the night-life. All in all I had a fun time in Cork and a great experience in my homestay.

---

Search our homestays to start planning your next trip.

---