GERMAN students are looking for a new home in York.

The group of youngsters are part of visit organised by Embrace England Language Holidays, a York company which provides educational opportunities for German pupils aged 13-18 to study in the city.

More than 250 Germans now visit annually to study English at York St John University for two weeks and all of the students are hosted by local families who provide full board accommodation and a home from home environment.

Some of the host families also enjoy the challenge of hosting for a year as between ten - 15 German students return to study at Huntington School’s Sixth Form each September.

Managing director, Jim Tomlinson, said: "We have a range of hosts, from single parents to traditional families but they all have one component in common, they provide a clean, hospitable house and try to refute the German notion that the English have chips and beans with every meal.

"If the student is happy at home it really helps them achieve an educational journey that they probably never thought was possible.

"This provides Huntington School with a real international flavour as there are currently 12 German students studying A-levels. One of the second year students Julius, completed three short stay language courses with Embrace England which inspired him to apply to Huntington School.

"Here he has fully embraced both school life and living with his adopted family. Julius is now applying to study a science degree in a top English University and all this from starting his time with us as a 13-year-old."

Host coordinator, Lou Knott, said: "I visit each host at their house and provide lots of information on the process of hosting for either the short or long stays. For the short language holiday stay each host has two students per room and we pay £19 per night per student.

"For the long term stays we pay £500 per month. We really want the host to be actively involved in the lives of the students as this makes a real difference. To help prospective hosts we have organised a host information evening at St John’s University main reception on December 11 at 7pm."

Alternatively, interested hosts can contact Lou on: 07846350454 or email lou@embraceengland.co.uk