Tag Archives: Education Options

UCLA Au Pair in America Advantage Course

Time is running out to register for the Spring Session of the APIA Advantage Course through UCLA.  The class begins is March 28.ucla

 

This class is a great option for:

  • Serious students who want to master a university level class and earn credits from a major US university.
  • Those who are curious about the events that have shaped culture and history, and who would like a taste of the part women have played in US history.
  • Those who want to get involved and be a part of the community where they live.
  • Self-starters who will make the most of a more flexible, independent style of learning.

Looking for ways to satisfy your education requirement?  Have you thought about the APIA Advantage program?  By taking this course, you can complete your education for just $500 (or half of the requirement for EduCare) and learn so much about America and the community where you live.  The next session will run from March 28 until August 1,  2011. There’s still time to enroll. Register at www.uclaextension.edu/aupairs

2011 Sojourner Douglass Weekend Courses

I have had lots of au pairs take the Sojourner Douglass weekend courses and they have been very pleased.  They have told me that the instructors and staff are helpful and professional, the courses are interesting and the facilities are nice.  Below you will find information on their upcoming course offerings.

Sojourner Douglass College, Division of Professional and Continuing Studies

The full 2011 schedule is available and posted on their website.  The winter courses are filling up quickly.

The following are offered as Two Weekend Programs:

  • Interior Design
  • English as a Second Language (ESL)
  • Foreign Languages
    • Travel Spanish
    • Travel French

  New for 2011, Non-lodging courses:

  • Microsoft Software Certification:
    • Word
    • Excel 
    • PowerPoint
  • Art History Course that occurs in Washington, DC
  • Volunteerism Course 

 

Registration is ongoing and can be completed online by visiting www.weekendprogram.org Early registration is encouraged. For more information about our courses please visit the website

2011 Schedule of Weekend Classes (subject to change based on enrollment)

January 8-9, 2011 – TOEFL Review Course

January 8-9, 2011 – American Language and Culture,

January 22-23, 2011 – American Government and Personal Development

January 22-23, 2011 – Computer Software/Certification: Word (Non-lodging Course)

January 22-23 and March 12-13, 2011 – Interior Design Two Weekend Program

March 5-6, 2011 – American Culture and Tourism

March 5-6 and May 7-8, 2011 – Hospitality and Tourism Two Weekend Program

March 12-13, 2011 – American Language and Culture

March 12-13 and April 9-10, 2011 – Travel Spanish Two Weekend Course

March 12-13 and April 30-May 1, 2011 – English as a Second Language Two Weekend Course

March 12-13, 2011 – Computer Software/Certification: PowerPoint (Non-lodging Course)

March 12, 19, 26 – Art History (Non-lodging Course), Washington, D.C.

April 2-3, 2011 – Caring for Special Needs Children and American Culture

April 2-3 and June 11-12, 2011 – Child Care Two Weekend Program

April 9-10, 2011 – Understanding American Language Culture and Government 

April 30 and May 1 – Volunteerism in America (Non-lodging Course)

May 7-8, 2011 – American Culture and Personal Development

May 7-8 and June 11-12, 2011 – Travel French Two Weekend Program

May 14, 21, 28 – Art History (Non-lodging Course), Washington, D.C.

  

To register visit our new website:  www.weekendprogram.org

Please note the location of Weekend Courses:

The Conference Center at the Maritime Institute

692 Maritime Boulevard Linthicum, MD 21090-1952

(410)-859-5700 Front Desk ext 0

For questions call Angela Garnett, Program Coordinator at 301-213-2404 or email: info@weekendprogram.org

New Education Links Added

It’s time to start thinking about what you will do for the winter semester (starts in January.)  Don’t wait until the last minute or the class you want could be fully enrolled.

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Check out the new links under education options.  There are great options for everyone in our cluster.

If you scroll your mouse across the name of the school, you will see information on who this would be a good option for based on where in our cluster you live.

Reminder:

Au Pairs and Au Pair Extraordinaires need to complete 6 credit hours or 8 CEUs (continuing education units) or 72-80 classroom hours during their year.

Educare Companions need to complete 12 credit hours or 16 CEUs (continuing education units) or 144-160 classroom hours during their year.

Women's Business Leadership Course – Winter Semester

womenteam1

Sis-U International is a seminar series developed exclusively for Au Pairs and cultural exchange students by Kathy Korman Frey, faculty at the George Washington University School of Business, Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence.

Who takes the class? Au Pairs and cultural exchange students of all different backgrounds. All students want to:

  • Enhance leadership skill
  • Think entrepreneurially
  • Develop skills for career success
  • Meet other Au Pairs as part of their cultural exchange experience
  • Meet DC business women as part of their cultural exchange experience
  • Have fun, be creative, and contribute to the class experience

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Where: GW’s Foggy Bottom Campus near 22nd and G streets NW in Washington, DC.

When: 1/27- 3/31, 8 to 10 pm (please fill out SIGN UP form for updates. A second Saturday (12-5 pm) series of sessions is being considered for students who live in Ashburn, Baltimore, and other places farther away from DC.)

Hours: 36 hours per semester. A letter will be provided to all participants confirming their participation. University credit is not provided. Cultural exchange students: This class fulfills 36 of your 72 hours of required education.

* In addition to homework, there is approximately one hour required each week for group meetings outside of class.

Price: $350 via check and $362 via credit card (click link in box at top of page “Register and pay for…)

Course material cost: $40 for course workbook which will serve as a life-long leadership skills book beyond the au pair experience.

*Access to a computer and phone each week will be required.

Instructor;  Kathy Korman Frey, GW School of Business faculty member and founder of the Hot Mommas Project research initiative. Click for bio.

Weekend Courses in Baltimore Area

I have had lots of au pairs take the Sojourner Douglass weekend courses and they have been very pleased.  They have told me that the instructors and staff are helpful and professional, the courses are interesting and the facilities are nice.  Below you will find information on their upcoming course offerings.

Sojourner Douglass College, Division of Professional and Continuing Studies

The Fall 2010 schedule is available and posted on the website.  The summer courses are filling up quickly.

New classes added this summer:

  • American Cooking
  • Interior Design: Shape, Color and Furniture Placement
  • Balinese Dance
  • Fencing
  • Computer Software Training
  • ESL: English as a Second Language
  • Emergency Preparedness for Childcare Providers
  • Cultural Differences
  • American Politics

2010 Schedule of Weekend Classes (subject to change based on enrollment)

July 10-11, 2010 American Culture and Personal Development

August 6-8, 2010 TOEFL Review- few slots remaining

August 7-8, 2010 American Language, Culture and Tourism

September 11-12, 2010 Child Development and American Government

October 9-10, 2010 Experiencing America

October 9, 2010 Infant and Child CPR and First Aid

November 6-7, 2010 American Culture and Personal Development

December 4-5, 2010 Understanding American Culture and Government

Two Weekend Program

  • Hospitality and Tourism October 9-10, 2010 and December 4-5, 2010
  • Child Care September 11-12, 2010 and November 6-7, 2010

To register visit our new website:  www.weekendprogram.org

Please note the location of Weekend Courses:

The Conference Center at the Maritime Institute

692 Maritime Boulevard Linthicum, MD 21090-1952

(410)-859-5700 Front Desk ext 0

For questions call Angela Garnett, Program Coordinator at 301-213-2404 or email: info@weekendprogram.org

Au Pair Deadlines Reminder

Deadline Clock

If you arrived in October, November or December, you have some deadlines coming up.  Please read the information below.  If you have any questions, let me know.

EXTENSION PACKAGES

Below are the due dates and deadlines for the Extension Program:
Arrival Date November 2009 – Extension Package Mailed: June 29, 2010
Deadline to send in Extension Package: August 18, 2010

Arrival Date December 2009 – Extension Package Mailed: August 3, 2010
Deadline to send in Extension Package: September 22, 2010

RETURN FLIGHT PACKAGES

Please submit your flight request before the deadline to avoid the late fees. Instructions on how to request your return flight, the departure dates and flight supplement fees* are available online here.

*Many au pairs will have flight supplement fees, depending on the departure and arrival cities they select. Please check the website and make plans to save money, if you will need to pay a flight supplement fee.

You can view your return flight details here, four weeks before your departure date.

Arrival Date November 2009 – Return Flight Package Mailed: July 13, 2010
Deadline to send in flight request forms: August 18, 2009

Arrival Date December 2009 – Return Flight Package Mailed: August 17, 2010
Deadline to send in flight request forms:  September 22, 2010

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT

I must have this information for you to receive the completion bonus on time at the end of your year. Completion bonuses are mailed 2 weeks prior to your contract end date.  It will arrive in the mail in the form of a debit card, not a check.  Acceptable proof of education: certificate from college, letter from teacher or registrar on college letterhead, transcript.  Au pairs who submit their education late will not receive their completion bonus until after they return home.

Arrival Date October 2009 – Deadline to send me proof of education completed: August 16, 2010

Arrival Date November 2009 – Deadline to send me proof of education completed: September 13, 2010

Time is Running Out to Register for UCLA Extension Class

ucla catalog_cover

The next APIA Advantage UCLA Extension Class is set to start on March 29.  Time is running out to register. There are still spaces available, but you need to act quickly to register.

American Studies Online is a 19-week media-rich, mostly self-paced online course of study. Designed specifically in cooperation with the American Institute For Foreign Study’s “Au Pair in America” program, UCLA Extension’s course offers successful participants 6 quarter units (4 semester units) and a certificate of completion from UCLA Extension.  This class satisfies the whole education requirement for au pairs and half of the requirement for Educare companions. View the brochure here.

Participants will read lessons, engage in activities, write, share resources, network with one another, and even collaborate on special projects – all designed to further their understanding of US culture.

The Community Involvement segment of the program takes the au pairs into face-to-face contact with the community. Au pairs will relate these experiences to their academic coursework in American Studies Online.

The interdisciplinary course of study will include:
• US History
• Arts in the US
• US literature
• Career counseling
• English language study (optional)
• TOEFL preparation (optional)

Each group is assigned a “Course Manager” who acts as an “online concierge” to provide high levels of service to ensure a rewarding and trouble-free educational experience.

For course descriptions and current schedule, visit http://www.uclaextension.edu/aupairs
 For further information call (310) 206-6671 or email online@uclaextension.edu

Spring Session UCLA APIA Advantage Course

American Studies Online is a 19-week media-rich, mostly self-paced online course of study. Designed specifically in cooperation with the American Institute For Foreign Study’s “Au Pair in America” program, UCLA Extension’s course offers successful participants 6 quarter units (4 semester units) and a certificate of completion from UCLA Extension.

Participants will read lessons, engage in activities, write, share resources, network with one another, and even collaborate on special projects – all designed to further their understanding of US culture.

The Community Involvement segment of the program takes the au pairs into face-to-face contact with the community. Au pairs will relate these experiences to their academic coursework in American Studies Online.

The interdisciplinary course of study will include:
• US History
• Arts in the US
• US literature
• Career counseling
• English language study (optional)
• TOEFL preparation (optional)

Each group is assigned a “Course Manager” who acts as an “online concierge” to provide high levels of service to ensure a rewarding and trouble-free educational experience.

For course descriptions and current schedule, visit http://www.uclaextension.edu/aupairs
For further information call (310) 206-6671 or email online@uclaextension.edu

Education Requirement

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Au Pairs need to complete:
6 credits or 8 CEUs or 72 classroom hours
Host family will pay $500 education allowance.

Educare Companions need to complete:
12 credits or 16 CEUs or 144 classroom hours
Host family will pay $1000 education allowance.

  • Au pairs should budget at least $200 ($400 Educare) of her own money to complete her education.
  • You must complete your educational requirement to be eligible to extend and to receive your completion bonus (if applicable.)
  • For each class completed, you need to turn in a certificate, transcript or letter from the college stating how many credits you received, course name, and dates of the class.
  • Classes must be taken at an accredited institution.
  • Check the links under Education Options on the right side of this page,  for the most current list of colleges and weekend courses and their links.

Community Colleges for Each County:
Anne Arundel Community College
Montgomery College
Prince George’s Community College

Additional Options, if you Have Access to Metro:
LADO College
International Language Institute
Georgetown Continuing Education

Weekend/Distance Learning Options:
Sojourner-Douglass Au Pair Weekend
Borough of Manhattan College
UCLA Au Pair in America Advantage Course

New Education & Travel Option

In 2009, Borough of Manhattan Community College – City University of New York (BMCC-CUNY) began providing a new educational opportunity for students living in the metro New York City area through our Learning Across America courses.  They recently announced an expansion of these courses to our area!

Courses are offered through BMCC-CUNY.  The classroom sessions will be held at the George Mason University campus in Arlington, VA (a two minute walk from the Virginia Square/GMU metro stop.)  The certificate of completion will be issued by BMCC-CUNY.

Photo from Niagara Falls Cultural Hi-Ways Trip

Photo from Niagara Falls Cultural Hi-Ways Tour

Course breakdown for DC area students (exactly the same as NYC area students):

  • Students register for a course on the BMCC-CUNY website.
  • Each course consists of 3 classroom sessions (10am – 4pm on 3 separate dates) and a mandatory tour (tour is included in tuition price) to the destination studied.
  • Outside work will be required of each student
  • Upon successful completion of the classroom sessions and tour, a certificate of completion will be issued showing 4.5 CEUs (or 45 hours) have been earned.

Photo from Boston Cultural Hi-Ways Trip

Photo from Boston Cultural Hi-Ways Tour

How much does the program cost?
Course fees (which include the tour) start at $379. Please see website for more information.

How many credits will I earn?
You will earn for 4.5 CEU’s (or 45 hours) for each course.
Certificate of completion will be issued by BMCC-CUNY.

How do I register?
Sign-up on line at www.bmcc.cuny.edu/ce
Your registration will be processed and a confirmation email will be sent.

Questions?

Visit www.bmcc.cuny.edu/ce or call (212) 346-8410
25 Broadway, 8th Floor, Lower Manhattan