Ideas for au pairs to get out and about and learn English during the day/in the evenings?

[MrsFogi]

We've had au pairs for a number of years and will be getting our next in September. I've recently found myself wondering about making a little list of ideas for them to get out and about to speak more English i.e. give them conversational opportunities apart from with us, at the gym and with other au pairs (obviously this would be ideas and would be totally up to them). So far I've thought of:

• local elderly people's home - maybe they would like someone young popping along occasionally for a chat with residents?
• local scout, brownie etc group - they often seem to need helpers;

Can you think of any other obvious places that need volunteers and wouldn't mind someone who doesn't speak masses of English?

Fist off you talk about an au pair as though she is your property which is a bit rude. Also why would you make a list of things for them to do when they are not working for you? Have you had au pairs asking you for ideas before?

English language lessons? Groups like knit and natter, exercise classes and sports clubs, whatever might appeal to them. Not sure scouts, care homes etc are appropriate especially as they will not satisfy dbs checks.

Maybe better to ask if they are into any particular sport or hobby and find them a list of clubs or classes in the local area?

Since when is it weird to think of things locally that your au pair might enjoy doing/might help their English that also don't cost an arm and a leg? It sounded like suggestions to me, not as if the OP thinks she 'owns' the AP. Really no need to be quite so aggressive.

And also - yes, it's among the first things an AP might ask when they arrive, if it hasn't come up in the interview. The one we have coming next year asked about courses in her academic subject!

OP - our APs have volunteered with local theatre companies, played in orchestras, worked in cafes (jobs tend not to be a good idea) and went to dance classes, joined rock bands, or did roller blading in town in those big groups. A friend's AP volunteered at a local charity shop.

They usually did express an interest in something and we helped them identify where to go but if they are not doing that I certainly think it is a good idea to get them thinking about it. Does the activity have to be free in fact? Is the AP taking an English class at all?

Scouts/Brownies probably a no go as they'd need to be DBS checked. Maybe yours have a criminal record from their country. It might work but I can see it also might not. How weak exactly is the APs English?

The ones with weak English can hide in their rooms at the start of the year and never really integrate if they don't have something to go to. So it is worth encouraging this for sure.

I meant criminal record check!!!!

A couple of ours have worked in charity shops. I also insist that they attend language courses, if they aren't fluent.

We wouldn't take someone with poor English on as a leader for Brownies, its manic enough without having to explain things twice to someone and also the timings wouldn't work as I presume you'd need then after school.

😂😂 this thread is mental. People are not your property to insist they do anything out with the job you have hired them and paid them to do. Their free time is their own. I very much hope you were paying them to go to these courses. Snobs at their very best on here

Ha ha I haven't been back for a while but see that people have read all sorts into my post. My au pairs do whatever they want with their spare time. I am simply trying to think of some more "learning English" activities because our current au pair and the next one coming had no English when they arrived and because we live in a bilingual house I want to ensure that they have as much opportunity as possible to learn and practise English as possible (in addition to at home, in English classes etc).

@timeisslippingaway tell us sbout your experience hosting an au pair by all means. Your comments are very odd. Of course you would want someone to enjoy their time as much as possible and get something out of the year that is not only babysitting for your family. Of course I feel great when someone who has come to us with moderate English leaves pretty much fluent, having met lifelong friends here. Why wouldn't you???

I think you don't understand the role. A live in nanny is a different story. Childcare is their career and it's a different relationship. I look forward to hearing about what your experience with au pairs is.

Timeisslippingaway

The main purpose of the au pair placement is a cultural exchange, which gives the the au pair an opportunity to improve his or her language skills. For this reason child minding in your own country doesn't count as an au pair stay. The au pair should also attend a language course in the host country.
Hth

The tone of the thread is that the au pair shpuld be doing volunteer work on top of the job they are already doing, it has been suggested several times. Really are there no other activities anyone can think of?
I have never had an au pair and never will but if I did I would never insist they did anything outside of the job I was paying them for.

Perhaps best not to speak with such authority then? Your views might well change if you had one. But if you've never had one and say you never would maybe it's hard to judge????

And no one's 'insisting' on anything. Au pairs usually enjoy having another activity to do - certainly it's made a huge difference to the ones who have stayed with us. It can be a life changing experience fir a young person and helping them facilitate this is really the very least a host family can do.

A couple of ours have worked in charity shops. I also insist that they attend language courses, if they aren't fluent.

^ someone insisting.

Authority? It's called an opinion.

Whatever. You have no direct experience of any kind here. No idea of the basis for your interest in this topic tbh. Maybe I should wander over to the legal board or the step parents board and start offering my opinions there.

OVienna, if you wanted to you could. You are allowed an opinion on anything on MN.
I don't need experience of having an au pair to get the impression from people on here that they see their au pairs as their property. No one can seem to think of any other activities for them to do other than extra work for free, or go do exercise (any other paying job doesn't seem to be deemed a good idea, volunteer work however that's ok and must be the only option for them).

This is so ridiculous I cannot believe that I am bothering to respond. When I first joined MN this board was filled with people who actually had live in childcare of various forms and were well informed on the various issues/circumstances. They seem to have gone and there are loads of people now piling in with basically nothing whatsoever to offer posters in the actual situation described. It seems quite specific to this topic too you don't find it so much elsewhere. It's really a shame and hugely tedious. So host families do it feel they own their au pairs. You're talking shite.

OVienna, why are you responding then? Maybe there is a reason people do not think this way anymore. What situation? It's hardly a bloody crisis is it?
You told me no one insisted their au pair did anything, I proved otherwise and you can't seem to deal with it so you are losing your rag. It seems you are the one "talking shite"

No the reason is their kids grew up! I think this topic is better generally in with the nanny threads.

Anyway I wish you well.

😂😂 ok then, and no one since then has any knowledge of having an au pair.
You're leaving because you know I'm right.

Sure thing.

Let me know when you open your agency so I can recruit through you. Feel free to pm me.

Timeisslippingaway

I see you ignored the definition of au pair that I posted.

You are allowed an opinion on anything on MN.

You know what they say about opinions.

You've never been, nor every had, an au pair
Why do you arrogantly pretend to know more about au pairs than ex au pairs and ppl who have or have had direct experiences with them?