Yearly Archives: 2013

Au Pair Education Program

Au Pair Education Program

English for Internationals

575 Colonial Park Drive

Roswell, GA 30075

www.eng4intl.com     Questions?                              Call 770-587-9640

Au Pair Program Roswell
Dates May 6 – June 26
Days Mondays and Wednesdays
Times 7:30pm – 9:30pm
CEUs/Credit Hours 3 CEUs/36 Credit Hours
Tuition $400

 

 

                 

 Course Description: The class has an academic focus and includes short-term modules covering a variety of topics during the eight weeks.  Students will practice conversing in complex dialogue and reading and writing at an advanced level.  Excursions will provide additional educational opportunities.

 Registration Deadline!           April 23rd – Call 770-587-9640 to register and schedule a placement test.

 Tell your friends!                    A minimum of 6 students will be required to hold the class.

 Accredited?                            Yes!  English for Internationals is nationally accredited by ACCET.

 Free Registration (worth $10) – Please be sure to tell us you are an Au Pair!                     

 Excursions – 4 during the term (2 evenings instead of in-class learning and 2 on Saturday morning or afternoon) Cost not included in tuition.                                                                               

       $50 EFI Bucks – Each student who finishes the program will receive a $50 credit to use toward tuition of the following term.                                                                                                         

  Free Parking

REGISTER NOW!

Lady Liberty To Host Visitors Again!

331

The Statue of Liberty

Our most famous icon symbolizing the American people and culture will re-open on July 4th after damage from Hurricane Sandy.  On October 29th the 820 mile (1320km) wide hurricane brought high winds and storm surges to much of the Eastern United States, including New York City.  The Statue of Liberty is on Liberty Island, a 12 acre island located a mile south of lower Manhattan. Normally, the confines of the New York Harbor protect Liberty Island from extreme weather. However, when Hurricane Sandy hit, Liberty Island was in the direct path of a massive storm surge. Nearby in Battery Park, water rose 13.8 feet (4.2m). On Liberty Island, that meant nearly 75% of the Island was under water.

The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924 and restored for her centennial on July 4, 1986.

th.jpgStatue

Visits to Liberty Island can be planned by going to the website:

http://www.nps.gov/stli/planyourvisit/statue2012reopening.htm

A Treasure Hunt For Your Host Kids

A Treasure Hunt For Your Host Kids

Leah Abernethy, a current au pair, shared a great game to put together for your host kids. This looks fun for you and the children!  Thanks for sharing Leah!

Leah wrote:

About a month ago I started putting together a treasure hunt with rhyming clues for the kids. The kids really loved it! For the treasure at the end I just went to the Dollar Tree and spent $15 ($5 a child) on small toys and a few candies.

You could also bake something or maybe rearrange the clues so the

last clue leads to the car and then you could take the kids out for ice cream.

Sincerely,   Leah Abernethy

leah

You’ve just finished school and it’s been a long day

I’m sure you just want some electronics to play.

But I have a better idea; just wait till you hear,

There are 10 clues for a treasure hunt near.

You must work together to solve all these clues

And then you will find a small treasure for you!

Please take turns and everyone try

Also walk slowly so you don’t fall and cry

1.The first clue is easy; I suppose
it’s found where you wash your dirty clothes

2. Slide and swings and monkey bars
the next clue is where these things are.
3.. When (child’s name) is dirty, it is quite easily seen!

So he’ll (she’ll) enter this room to get thoroughly clean.

4. This clue is difficult to read, but never fear

Simply hold this paper up in a mirror

(Write a word written backwards here)

5. My wrinkly skin is like a dog talking

I am long-lived, but you won’t catch me walking

6. The next clue, if you are hasty
is where we store all things tasty

7. The next clue, if you go look
is where (child’s name) goes to find a good book

8. And now for the next clue that you seek
it’s on something with four wheels that goes beep

9. Some visitors pause here and strangers announce their reason.

Things that decorate me can indicate the season.

10. Find something that comes on a roll

You can find it near the toilet bowl.

11. Here’s the last clue, so please don’t weep!

Look under the place where (child’s name) will sleeps

Thanks for sharing Leah!

New ESL Program Just For Au pairs!

English For Internationals has a new ESL program especially made for those with a high level of English skill. If you speak English well, but want to perfect your skill, consider this class in Roswell or the Lawrenceville campus.  These classes will also offer information about American culture.The class will offer four weekend trips that are sure to be fun! Call for more details.Call 770-587-9640 (Roswell) 678-407-8037 (Lawrenceville)

Registration Deadline!           February 25th

Au Pair Program                                    

Au Pair Program Roswell
Dates March 4 – May 1
Days Mondays & Wednesdays
Times 7:30pm – 9:30pm
CEUs or Credit Hours 3 CEUs/36 Credit Hours
Tuition $400

  770-587-9640           575 Colonial Park Drive          Roswell, GA  30075    

 Course Description: The class has an academic focus and includes short-term modules covering a variety of topics during the eight weeks.  Students will practice conversing in complex dialogue and reading and writing at an advanced level. 

Excursions will provide additional educational opportunities.  

   Extras: Free Registration (worth $10) – Please be sure to tell us you are an Au Pair! Excursions – 4 during the term (2 evenings instead of in-class learning and 2 on Saturday morning or afternoon) Cost not included in tuition.

$50 EFI Bucks – Each student who finishes the program will receive a $50 credit to use toward tuition of the following term.

 Free Parking   Tell your friends!                    A minimum of 6 students will be required to hold the class.  

Registration Deadline!           February 25th  

 Accredited?                            Yes!  English for Internationals is nationally accredited by ACCET.  

 Questions?                              Call 770-587-9640 (Roswell) 678-407-8037 (Lawrenceville)

Make A Homemade Valentine’s Day Card For Your Host Family.

Hap Val day

 

February 14 – Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day is a time of love, friendship, giving, and caring. Americans use Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to tell friends and family how much they care.  Children usually exchange cards at school with classmates and with family.  Host parent’s love homemade cards from children and au pairs! Children really enjoy valentine crafts and projects.

homemade cardhomemade card

http://pinterest.com/aupairinamerica/valentine-s-day/    Follow this link for lots of fun Valentine’s activities for children of all ages.

Are you thinking about extending your au pair experience?

Extension Year Tips

Choosing to extend is a great choice! It does require some planning and thought before you decide. These facts will be helpful in your decision making process. Call or email your counselor, if you need help making the right choice.

  • You must have at least 72 hours of education completed at the time of your request to extend. If you are currently enrolled in a class that will finish, you’ll need two letters sent to your CC from the institution in which you are enrolled.  One letter must confirm that you are enrolled and the hours you will get. The second letter is written when you finish the course and should state how many hours you earned.
  • If you extend for 12 months, APIA will pay for your flight back home, including any surcharge that you may have. This makes your flight back home FREE!
  • You have a choice to extend for 6, 9 or 12 months.
  • You cannot extend your second year, once it begins. If you choose six months, you cannot stay longer.
  • You may change your mind during your second term and still receive your flight back home, if you give your host family and CC at least one month’s notice.
  • If you are not able to give at least one months notice that you need to leave, you will be required to purchase your own flight home to your country.
  • If you leave early in the second term, you will lose your travel month. You will be expected to return home at the end of your one month notice.
  • There is no guarantee that you will get matched for your second year. Many au pairs do not make a match and return home.
  • Once you are matched with a second term family, you cannot change your mind and choose another family that calls later. You must honor your commitment.
  • Deciding to stay with your current family can work well. Sometimes, there are some things that you will want to change about your second year experience. Talk with your host family to see if they are willing to make the changes you need to stay a second term!
  • Many au pairs underestimate the difficulty getting re-adjusted in a new city. You will not have friends. You will not know your way around. Your host family will be new to you. Your host children will be new. All the comfort of your current situation will be gone. You will be starting over!
  • A second term in a new city can be exciting. You will have an opportunity to make new friends, see a new city and learn another way of life here in the USA!
  • The education requirement still applies in the second year. Standard au pairs will have 250.00 education allowance towards a six month extension. You will need to achieve 40 hours of educating.   500.00 education allowance is given towards a nine and twelve month extension. You will need to achieve at least 72 hours of education.
  • Your transfer to your new second term family is on the last day of your contract. You may not join them earlier or later than this date.

Written by AMCMAINS 2011.

Social Security Card Information for AuPairs

Social Security Card Information for Au Pairs

The SS website states that all visitors should not have been out of the USA within the last 5 days, however, because there are delays in the federal verification process, waiting 10 days is recommended to avoid a delay at the federal level to specifically verify your documents when they have not been entered into the USA system yet.  Please wait 10 business days and then go in person to the closest office – Norcross or Kennesaw. The appointment is now made online. 

An Au Pair must wait 10 Business days after the entry to the USA before they can request an SS#. You must print out your I-94 card before you can go. Refer to the resource page for “How to Print your I-94 card”.

  Please be sure to bring all of your paperwork with you to the Social Security Office.  See list below.  All documents must be presented in person.  Before leaving the desk, check your name and address for errors. If you leave, you will have to make another appointment to correct any errors. 

Click below to make an online appointment. You will fill out the basic info and then make an account with the same information before getting to schedule the appointment:

https://www.ssa.gov/number-card/request-number-first-time

These documents are needed: 

1) Passport                                                                                                                                                        2) I-94 Card ( Must print your document. See instructions at top of page).
3) SEVIS DS-2019                                                                                                                                            4) Participation letter from APIA. This can be downloaded from your APIA Au Pair portal in order to have the current date on it. The one you have does not have a current date on it.                        

 

  1. Kennesaw Office:  Address: 200 Chastain Center Blvd Suite 250 Kennesaw, GA 30144 Phone- 1-866-964-4690 office M-F 8:30 to 3:30
  2. Marietta office:   This office is not available for Au Pairs. This office does not accept in-person visits.
  3. Norcross office  4365 Shackleford Road Norcross, GA 30093. 1-877-803-6320. Office hours are 8:30-3:30 M-F.
  4. Gainsville Office- Please hit the link to change the location and visit Norcross or Kennesaw. Gainsville has long waits and is not as efficient for the Au pair process. 

It is best to plan on arriving at the Social Security office early before the appointment time. If you are late, they will cancel the appointment. The office will be closed on any federal holiday. Social Security Office Locator: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/fo001.jsp

The Social Security Administration will mail the card. It generally takes 7-10 days. The Au pair will receive a letter stating that an SS# has been requested. This can be helpful in getting a bank account. Save all mailed documentation from the SS office. This will be used to prove residency for the driving license.

 

Super Bowl Sunday Fun For Au pairs and Host Kids!

The Super Bowl football game is truly a USA cultural event! Many families will host Superbowl parties with lots of good food to eat. Even if you don’t go to a party you’ll want to watch the game. The commercials will be the topic of conversation for many Americans next week!

 

beyonce-super-bowl-2013


  • There is a simple explanation of American Football for au pairs on the APIA website: http://www.aupairinamerica.com/resources/life_in_the_us/football.asp
  • Even if football is not something you enjoy, the commercials are amazing! Advertisers pay about $30 million dollars for a 30 second commercial to be shown during the Super Bowl, so expect great commercials! People will be talking about the commercials as much as the game!
  • Great entertainment during halftime! This year Beyonce is the featured act!

 Football Fun with Kids

wall-football-games-photo-260-FF1108EFA13


Before putting anything on the walls, ask your host family if it OK!!

Wall Football – Football version of Pin the Tail on the Donkey

Supplies:

· Poster board

· Brown card stock or construction paper

· White marker

· Poster tacks

· Blindfold

Instructions

  1. For the game pieces, first create a goal post from two-inch-wide strips of poster board. (The uprights and the crossbar are each 20 inches long, and the post is 6 inches tall.) We attached ours to the wall using poster tack.
  2. For the footballs, cut 5-inch-long shapes out of brown card stock. We found some in the scrapbook aisle of our craft store that looks like football leather. Use a white opaque paint marker to decorate and add players’ names to the footballs. Put a blob of poster tack on the back of each one.
  3. Players line up about six feet away from the goal. One at a time, each player is blindfolded, spun around three times by another person, and set loose to try to stick their football between the uprights. (No reaching out your empty hand to feel the wall.) Play several rounds with 3 points awarded for each field goal. Highest score wins.

How to get your Georgia Driver's License

Au pair Information

How to Obtain a Georgia Driver’s License

In July of 2012 the State of Georgia passed new laws regarding Driver’s License for au pairs. The new law resulted from the federal requirements of the Real ID Act. All non US citizens who are present in the state for more than thirty days are required to obtain a Class C Driver’s License. The exam, including a road’s test will be needed. Please refer to www.dds.ga.gov for a copy of the driver’s manual and access to a practice test.  A program verification letter obtain through the community counselor is also needed.

All locations of the DDS do not offer a first issuance of the license. Check the website to find a location closest to you. All are open Tuesday – Friday 8:00-6:00 and Saturday 8:00 am – 12 noon.

These are the locations close to our cluster that are the least busy. Sandy Springs and Norcross locations are noted to be very busy with long waiting times.

Canton right off 575 behind library- Brown Industrial Parkway, Suite 200 Canton GA. 30114

Cumming 400 Aquatic Circle Cumming GA. 30040

Marietta North Cobb 2800 Canton Rd Piedmont Village Shopping Center Marietta GA. 30066

Class C Driver’s License220

Basic Requirements

  1. Applicant must be at least 18 years old.
  2. Pass Knowledge Exam.
  3. Pass Road Skills Test.
  4. Pass Vision Exam.

Documents Required

  1. Documentation showing your identity, residential address, full social security number ( An au pair must be in the USA for ten days before a SS# can be requested.), and U.S. citizenship or proof of lawful presence in the United States. Click here for more information.

Two forms of proof of residential address are required.

Recommended:

A bank statement with au pair name and the host family address. The statement must be dated the same month that you are getting your license.

A letter from the au pair insurance company with au pair name and the host family address. This could be a bill, an explanation of benefits regarding a claim or other information. The letter must be the same month that you are getting your license.

A verification letter from APIA (Provided by your community counselor)

Proof of lawful presence in the United States:

Passport

Visa (check your DS-2019 form and make sure the correct dates are listed. If not, contact your counselor. If you are a second year au pair, your new DS-2019 form will be needed showing your extended dates.)

I-94 card

  1. Any out-of-state driver’s license/permit/ID cards must be surrendered.
    1. If the applicant previously was issued a driver’s license/permit/ID card in another state, and that card has been lost or stolen, the applicant must provide a certified copy of his or her driving record or motor vehicle report from the state that issued the card. The MVR must be dated within the last 30 days. The DDS does not accept uncertified copies printed from websites, but a fax may be sent to the DDS directly from the other state agency.

All documents must be in English. See the Translator List to locate an approved document translation company

For confirmation and more information on obtaining a Georgia Driver’s License please go to www.dds.ga.gov

2013 Au Pair Cluster Meetings

Upcoming cluster meetings for 2013

 fun ahead

January – Scavenger Hunt     

February – Make a APIA logo hoodie at Andrea’s house

March – Pedicure party! Get your toes pretty for Spring at Marvelous Nail Salon

April – Touch a Truck Alpharetta Park

May – Andrea’s house  games on the green

June  Send me your ideas for our June cluster meeting.              

July – Laser Light Show Stone Mountain Georgia

August – Bruster’s Bring your own Banana get a one half price Banana Split

September – Shop till you drop North Georgia Premium Outlet Mall

October – Make a Jack O Lantern Andrea’s House.

November – Lighting of the Christmas Tree Atlantic Station

December – Au Pair Christmas/ Holiday Gathering at the View on top Sun Dial Restaurant Atlanta Georgia