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?

Amalfimamma, didn't ignore just didn't see it.
Where are the au pairs posting on this thread? We're they happy when their employer insisted they did things out with their job?
Sorry how do you know I have never been an au pair? Where did you find that information?

Who made up this definition? You? 😂

An au pair is an unmarried young adult aged 18 to 30 years, who has no children and travels to a foreign country for a defined period of time to live with ahost family. The au pair is considered as a full member of the family during the entire stay. As such, he or she helps the family with childcare and can be asked toassume some light household tasks. In return, the host family provides free board and lodging, as well aspocket money. However, the au pair is neither a housekeeper, nor a nanny.

I love how you missed out the first part of this information and quite a chunk of the last paragraph.

There is the definition of an au pair, yet by the sounds of it most people hire them specifically to be a nanny and house keeper, they just don't want to pay what it would cost to hire a house keeper and nanny.

Very sloppy dear forgetting the second part of that definition

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. He or she should, however, have some basic language skills beforehand. Whether it is the au pair or the host family who pays for the language course depends on the prevailing practice of the relevant host country. The same applies to the cost of travel and insurance.

Sloppy indeed

Why would Icopy and past the bit you already had? You on the other hand were purposely "sloppy" in "forgetting" the first paragraph "dear".

Would that not make you "sloppy" or did you purposely disregard that part of information?

Seems that would make you a hypocrite.

Seems you have serious problems if you're so interested in what an au pair should or shouldn't do if you've never been or had one.

Hth

😂😂 FFS, really now I have serious problems?

My cousin was an au pair for a few years so have had some experience, we are very close and she would tell me everything.

How would that help?

This board has got really weird recently. It used to work like this - someone with an au pair or thinking about getting one came on and posted. Then mners with au pairs or experience of hosting them would come on and give their views. The OP would then decide whether or not to follow advice or not. Job done!

It now seems to work like this - someone with an au pair or thinking about getting one comes on and posts. Then mners with au pairs or experience of hosting them would comes on and give their views. Then......random posters come one and accuse the op and others on the board of exploiting au pairs and/or reads lots of stuff into the original and other posts.

I'm totally lost why the latter group of posters waste their time doing this. Is there an ulterior motive/vested interest? It feels like the TRAs piling on the threads where women are asking for a say in the proposals around self-id on the feminist chat board background for anyone interested.

Anyway - thanks for the suggestions, my question came from a genuine concern to improve the experience of each au pair we have and when I sat down with our current au pari who is going home soon she mentioned this as an idea.

@Timeisslippingaway thanks for your contribution to the thread. Can we look forward to you offering advice on every post on the topic given that you have a cousin who was once an au pair? Given that you seem to be so generous with your advice I will return the favour - whilst you may of course post on any thread you please, your time may be better spent commenting on topics/threads where you have more relevant or direct experience.

Well I hope your bot giving your opinion on any other threads.
Get a grip. The reason you take such offence is because you know there is truth in what I say.
So now no type of experience of a situation is good enough? You assumed I had none, turns out I had a little second hand knowlege but not good enough 😂 people are never happy.

"My cousin was an au pair for a few years so have had some experience,*

I don't know whether to laugh, cry or reply with my cousin is a cardiac physiologist so I am qualified to give advice on heart disease. Another cousin is a lawyer so ask me anything on the law. I myself was an au pair and have placed many au pairs as well as hosting them too. But obviously your cousin and by proxy yourself, are much more qualified in your opinion

I'm totally lost why the latter group of posters waste their time doing this. Is there an ulterior motive/vested interest? It feels like the TRAs piling on the threads where women are asking for a say in the proposals around self-id on the feminist chat board background for anyone interested.
I had though exactly the same thing

This thread also reminded me of the discussions I find myself embroiled in with US relatives on the NHS. They know it all, they do. Dangers of European socialism etc. Nothing you can say will make a difference.

Amalfimamma,
😂🤔 you need fuck all qualifications to be an au pair. Don't be an idiot now.

Don't be an idiot now.

Don't worry I won't be an idiot,

I wouldn't want to set on your toes seeing as you're doing such a great job .

Now I'm going to lie back on the beach here in amalfi while my an pair takes my kids to lunch

Amalfimamma,

Set on my toes?

Well if that's what you are actually doing right now then I feel sorry for your children.

Step on your toes.

You feel sorry for my kids that they went to at with someone they see as a big sister? They had fun, they had l7nch and came back to the beach, had a nap and are now playing in the Mediterranean with my husband . I'm here with the mil, pil, bil organising this evening seeing as there's the "festa del paese" or the village festival with fireworks, the religious processions etc......like The Two Greedy Italians showed in their programme a few years back..

But please.......do continue giving your opinion

I'm a little scared by this thread (!) and the way it is going, but I'll PM you now with a thought, OP.

Amalfimamma,
And you felt the need to justify yourself to me and give me a run down of everything you are doing, why?

God what on earth is going on on MN at the moment? Must be the heat. OP, church is also a good place for some au pairs to meet people. Also uni clubs are good at allowing au pairs to speak to non English and English speakers. All five of my au pairs have gone down that route to meet people and practise their English. But a language school is ideal, or FB groups for local au pairs. Let's them practise their written English too. Or they could come on here and add their opinions to it all if they fancied

Enjoy your hols-
I am 🏖