Educational Component
The State Department requires that all au pairs take 6 credits or the equivalent (72 non-credit hours) at an accredited college or university during their year in the US. As part of this mandate, host families are required to help the au pairs with this by providing financial assistance of up to $500 and, if the class is local, facilitate transportation to and from classes.
Here are some course options that au pairs in our area have taken to help fulfill this requirement, with testimonials when available!
Community ESL Evening Courses: English Language Institute at the University of Delaware in Newark.
Here’s what Frauke from Germany says about this option:
What classes did you take? I took the “Written and Spoken English.” With the additional project, you get all your 6 credits in 9 weeks! After that I also took the TOEFL preparation class just for fun!
How many credits did you earn? I earned 6 credits with the first class and about 3.5 with the second class.
When did the course take place (for example: two nights per week, one weekend, etc)? I had class each Monday and Wednesday for 9 weeks.
Did you feel these classes were interesting or helpful for you? I started the class after my first 3 weeks with my hostfamily. It was great for me to meet new people, hear about so many different cultures (no one of my class of 13 people came from the same country) and speak to other people of the same English level.
Anything else to add? I would recommend to take the classes as soon as possible. You meet new people and it is a great way to improve your English. I have to add that my teacher was at the ELI for only my session and I don’t know much about the regular staff of the ELI.
Here’s what Nina from Germany says:
What classes did you take? English class at UD
How many credits did you earn? 6 credits
When did the course take place? 2 nights per week for 9 weeks
Did you feel these classes were interesting or helpful for you? They were interesting but I didn’t learn anything new there.
Would you recommend this course for other au pairs? Why or why not? It’s fast and easy to earn all credit points and it’s close. I liked it!
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Harford Community College - Bel Air, MD
The following feedback comes from Ekaterina from Russia.
What classes did you take? I took classes at Harford Community College, but sure they have similar ones at the University of Delaware or Cecil College. So, I took English 101 Composition (3 credits), Introduction into Electronic Media(3) and Intermediate Tennis(1). All the classes were fun! The first one helps to develop skills in written English and analytical writing, though can be a challenge as you will have to do 6 papers 3 to 5 printed pages each, 2 in class ones included. Intro into Electronic Media was my favourite as we watched a lot of tv programs and listened to radio, learned about the history of american tv and radio, did oral presentation as a term paper. And tennis was just for fun)))))))
How many credits did you earn? 7
When did the course take place (for example: two nights per week, one weekend, etc)?
English 101- tu, thu 9:30-11:00
Intro into El. Media fr 9:30-12:30
Tennis sat 9-12
Did you feel these classes were interesting or helpful for you? Absolutely helpful and interesting!
Would you recommend this course for other au pairs? Why or why not? No doubt. English 101 enriches your vocabulary, develops written skills, and you learn the basics of analytical writing. Intro is helpful too in learning English, because there is a lot of listening and watching of American radio and tv and then and then discussing all that.
Here is a fact sheet that will clarify the different types of classes au pairs can take, as well as the consequences for not completing this requirement.
educational20component20fact20sheet
Other options available in this area:
Delaware Technical & Community College — Wilmington / Stanton (Newark) Campus
Delaware Technical & Community College — Terry Campus, Dover
Delaware Technical & Community College Profile
Cecil College — North East, MD (look under “General Interest” for non-credit courses)
Sojourner - Douglass College Au Pair Weekend Course - Linthicum, MD
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