Below are some useful phrases and manners to learn before you arrive in New Zealand.

Practise these at home with your family members and take turns saying them! Once you arrive in Auckland, you can say these to your homestay family.

• When you meet someone for the first time, or your teacher says hello to you, it is polite to answer back with “Hello.”

• When someone asks you what your name is, say “My name is…….”.

• Whenever you leave the house, say “Goodbye” to your homestay family before you leave.  This is normal practice in New Zealand and it is polite. 

• When you come home from school, or when you have been out, and a homestay family member is home, greet them by saying: “Hello” or “How are you?” or “Hi!”

• Make sure you thank your host family for any meals, especially dinner by saying “Thank you for dinner.” 

These simple phrases will let your homestay family know that you are a polite student and have good manners.