Learning English on the Au Pair Program
Improving English language skills is one of the main reasons au pairs to join the program. Learning English, not just from a book but by living in the country and getting fully immersed in language and culture, will be beneficial for their future careers. By expanding vocabulary, improving pronunciation and gaining confidence in speaking, they will be well equipped to make their ways in a global world.
Host families should be patient at first, as au pairs might be shy to speak or might be afraid to make mistakes. By helping them practice and by encouraging them to ask questions or to ask for clarification, they can support the au pairs to improve their skills quickly, which will then help them to communicate more efficiently and easily.
Improving English Skills Starts Upon Applying to the Program
As part of being an au pair with Agent Au Pair, applicants have the opportunity to already assess and improve their English language skills upon applying for the program!
Recently, Agent Au Pair started to have applicants take the iTEP Au Pair English Test as part of their application process. The test is specifically catered to the au pair program and helps to evaluate the applicant’s English language skills, focusing on speaking and listening skills, as those are most important when applying to the program and living in the US. Agent Au Pair advises that a solid B1 (intermediate) level of English is needed to be successful. While we understand that au pairs come to the US to improve their skills, an intermediate level is important to handle daily situations, communicate with the family and children, and navigate emergency situations. The result of the iTEP test is reflected in the au pair’s application, giving host families the opportunity to compare skills more efficiently. While tests may differ in questions, the level of difficulty and grading scale remain the same. Score reports detailing results of the speaking and listening portions will be included in the au pair’s documents and can be reviewed by host families. Au pairs can use the test result to get an objective evaluation of their skills and work on speaking or listening more effectively while waiting to match. The test is administered online; au pairs must upload an official form of identification and keep their camera on for the duration (about 30 minutes). If outside help is detected (such as a translation device or assistance from another person), the test will be invalidated and must be taken again.
An additional tool that Agent Au Pair recently started to provide their au pairs with, is a 1 month use (paid for by Agent Au Pair) of the FLOW speak app. This app is offering online lessons to improve speaking skills and pronunciation and helps applicants to gain confidence in speaking. Au pairs will get direct access to an au pair course, but they can also access the entire library of courses and can take other courses, based on interest (everyday life, travel, around town, making plans with friends and many more). Lessons are split into different levels- beginner, intermediate and advanced and include different lesson types such as listening, expression, conversation, AI talk etc. Within the 1 month of access, au pairs can use the platform as often as they like and can complete as many lessons as they want. Access to the FLOW speak app will be given either when an au pair has not yet reached the B1 level on their iTEP test or upon matching, to better prepare them for their departure and first weeks in their host family. If au pairs wish to use the FLOW speak app even after the 1 month is up, they can subscribe at a discounted rate to continue using this learning tool!
When in the US, what are the best ways to improve language skills quickly?
Rule #1: Don’t be afraid to talk and to ask questions!
Even if your English is not yet perfect, you are here to learn and you are brave for doing so in a different country. Even if you make mistakes, if you mispronounce a word or if your grammar is off- just talk and do your best. Do not apologize for not speaking well yet or for making mistakes. It is most important that you try and that you are eager to learn. If you do not understand something or if someone is speaking to fast, ask them to clarify or to slow down. It is not rude or embarrassing to ask for clarification but shows that you want to understand and improve.
Take English classes
Even when in the US already, take classes if you want to or feel like it will help you. If you find an English class offered by an accredited US university or college, your course may even count towards your educational component. If you find an English course but are not sure if it qualifies for some of your educational component hours/credits, reach out to Agent Au Pair to get clarification! Even if the hours might not count towards your mandatory credits, still consider taking classes for your own, personal benefit. Many community colleges, libraries or churches offer ESL (English as a second Language) courses- some of them might even be free! Look on the internet what is available in your area and sign up- this is also a great opportunity meet people!
Speaking with your host family and host kids
An easy way to practice daily is to speak with your host children (depending on age) and to have conversations with your host parents! Simply talk about your day, ask questions to get to know them better, make plans, have dinner together or join a family outing. Use every opportunity to practice your English, to gain confidence in speaking and to expand your vocabulary. Through this, you will also bond with your host family and get to know them, their interested and lifestyles better! Even if your host family might speak your native language, try to stick to only speaking in English with the host parents so you get to practice. Also remember that even if your host family asks you to teach their children your native language, you will still get plenty of opportunities to speak English with the parents or outside the home so don’t be concerned that if you teach your language to the kids, you will miss out on the opportunity to improve your English!
Find international and/or American friends
While it is always fun, comforting and easy to mainly hang out with other au pairs, especially when they also speak the same language as you, if you only speak your native language with them, you will miss out on opportunities to practice your English. If you have lots of friends who speak your native language, try to still speak as much English with them as you can. Even better, find local/American friends or an international group of friends who do not speak the same language as you. If you do not have the same native language, you will be forced to speak English and naturally improve your skills while hanging out and having fun.
Being active and participating in different activities
Remember that just by living in the US and by participating in day to day activities, you will need to use your English and hence will improve it quickly. Asking for directions, ordering food, watching a movie or going shopping- you will have to navigate every-day life situations in English. Try to be active and to get out of the house and participate in different activities- you will see that, without you even noticing, it suddenly will become easier and easier to understand people and to reply spontaneously. While at first you may be nervous to order food at a restaurant or struggle to understand the questions from the waiter, it will suddenly become normal and you will just do it with ease. The more you get out and use the language, even when just ordering coffee, you will get to practice and will become more confident in speaking.
As you can see, au pairs will have plenty of opportunities to work on their English- even before coming to the US. How much their English will improve, will largely depend on them and how much they embrace the opportunities around them. If au pairs are eager and open to learn and are not afraid to make mistakes, they have the opportunity to become fluent in English. It is important to remember that even small conversations will help to improve and practice. Also, since English will need to be spoken daily au pairs will practice naturally through day to day conversations and situation and they may not even realize how much they improved even in a short time. Au pairs may be shy to speak English at first and may be afraid to make mistakes or to not understand the other person so it is important for the host family to be patient and understanding. In a short time, and even without the au pair even noticing or recognizing it, they will improve their skills and will gradually become more fluent. By the end of the year they will be much more confident in speaking. While in school, it is easy to measure progress by regularly taking tests and receiving a score or grade. While in the US and practicing by using the language on a daily basis, au pairs may not always recognize how much they have improved already so it is always great for host families to acknowledge even small improvements in speaking or confidence in using English to make au pairs aware of their progress and to encourage them to improve further.