Additions to Au Pair Education Options

After a lot of discussion with our contacts at the U.S. Department of State, we are happy to say that InterExchange can now allow au pairs to take part in short-term weekend classes as long as they meet all the other program regulations criteria.

What are the criteria?

Acceptable Weekend Classes must be:

1) Run by accredited, post-secondary institutions

2) Must earn the student academic credit

3) Must be academic in nature

Remember, classes should not be recreational in nature (cooking, sewing, exercise). In addition, there are many “gray areas” in what is, and what is not, acceptable education options, such as art and physical education classes. For these to be acceptable, the classes must have a study, lecture, or textbook component that make them “academic”.  There are also many “lifestyle classes” that should be avoided. To be safe, au pairs should always look for the most “academic” classes available and should check with their LC to make sure it is ok before signing up.

Here are some of the more popular institutions offering weekend classes:

Sojourner Douglass College:  http://weekendprogram.org/

Long Island University: http://www.liu.edu/CWPost/About/Offices/Au-Pair/Course-Descriptions

National Louis University: http://www.nl.edu/aupair/

 

Long Island University is the closest available option for Brooklyn based au pairs.  Options take place over a weekend and are available for around $285 – $350 depending on whether or not you want weekend accommodation. Each counts as 3 credits!

 

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

LIU POST AU PAIR PROGRAM

*All of these courses are not offered every semester please refer to the registration form for availability*

 

Child Development – 3 credit course

 

Children are what make the world “go round.” This course will follow the development of children from birth through adolescence. The students will embrace all the various stages of growth and development that children experience. This course will include the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth of children.  This experience will be generated through informative lectures, intriguing documentaries, and hands on activities that provoke creativity and sense of what the whole child is comprised of.

American Government, Politics, and Social Issues-3 credit course

Students will have the opportunity to learn about basic American political principles using a variety of educational methods. By using written materials, class participation audio-visual and Internet resources, and taking advantage of their stay with real-life American citizens, students can learn particularly about American understandings the fundamental features of American government and politics. We will discuss various dilemmas of constitutional democracy, including for example the limits of free speech, the tension between security and civil liberties, and the place of morality in politics. Inquiry based instructional methods will be used when investigating American social issues and how they relate to the recent and current government.

Enhancing your Digital Lifestyle – 3 credit course

This hand’s on course will give the students a better understanding of all things digital and how to create your digital footprint.  We will help you gain a better understanding of how to present yourself online. This course will also help you recognize and better interpret the use of today’s leading social media sites.  Students will learn basic techniques of graphic design, web design, and professional presentations through the Adobe Creative Suite while in the comfort of a state of the art Mac computer lab.

American Fashion through the Decades-History of American Fashion – 3 credit course

Fashion is what has defined America since the beginning of time. This course will follow American fashion through the decades. The students will embrace America’s defining moments through clothing and witness how changes in society allowed for trends to form. This experience will be generated through informative lectures, intriguing documentaries, and hands on activities that provoke creativity and fashion sense.

Marketing and Social Media – 3 credit course

Through discussions, assessments, lectures, interviews, and group projects, this course will allow students  to have an overview of basic marketing and consumer behavior concepts with an exploration of how social media is impacting what, when, where and how we shop.  We will also be researching companies in responds to customer demands relating to pricing, advertising, selling and servicing products.

Critical Reading and Expository Writing – 3 credit course

This course entails critical reading and analysis of the novel of mice and men and classic short stories. Reading and writing poetry on many levels. Study of new vocabulary infused into our readings.

TOEFL/English Exam Preparation Course – 3 credit course

Improve your chances for success on the TOEFL exam. This course will focus on strategies for succeeding on the English language exam required for admission to universities in the United States (TOEFL). In addition, au pairs will practice skills that are stressed on the exam and will be able to monitor their progress by taking and scoring past exams.

History of American Women: American History – 3 credit course

This course examines the historical development of American women and ideals and the evolution of economic, political, and social processes in the United States from American Indian times to the present, particularly with regard to the history, roles and status of women.

Music That Made America: History of American Music – 3 credit course

This course will discuss music in The United States. We will talk about the history of music from the nineteenth century up through the present day.  We will discuss different genres of music, what makes them unique, and what similarities they may have.  We will talk about American popular culture and how it has affected and is affected by the popular music of the time.  In addition, an objective of this course is to offer some listening techniques that you can take with you to gain a deeper appreciation for music no matter what you listen to.

Cultural Dynamic and the American Society – 3 credit course

This course will look at how the various cultures of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean influence the diversity present within the American society of today. The course will provide an opportunity for students to share their own experiences of living in America. The instructor will explore the influence of foreign cultures on the cultural diversity within American through lecture, discussion, personal antidote and interactive exercises.  Other topics to be explored will include the value of cultural diversity in the creation of new social norms; cultural adaptation and coping with culture-shock.

History of American Sports – 3 credit course

The foundation course for the Sports program is a chronological and topical examination of the history of American sport, beginning in the colonial era and ending in the present. The major events and trends in sports history are analyzed and placed within the broader context of American history, considering how historical processes influenced the rise of sport, and how sport influenced major social and cultural developments.

Growing up in America – 3 credit course

This course will examine the changing perception and experience of growing up in the United States from colonial times to the present, assuming that childhood and adolescence are social constructions that have changed over time. The course will explore the emergence of childhood and adolescence as distinct stages of the life cycle, the evolving role of the family in the process of growing up, and the increasing importance of social institutions other than the family in the lives of children. An overview will be given of the difference between growing up rich or poor, black or white, male or female, and rural or urban. Finally, it will consider the reciprocal relationship between popular culture and the lives of young Americans.