Monthly Archives: January 2017

Au Pairs Get Certified at MEGA American Red Cross Class

On a chilly Sunday, 35 Au Pairs traveled from all over the DC Region to become certified by the American Red Cross in Infant/Child CPR & First Aid.

teamwork

Au Pairs from Thailand work as a team to remove blockage from baby’s airway.

The class was offered free of charge to Au Pairs by Au Pair in America and was hosted by Connelly School of the Holy Child in Potomac, Maryland.

Baby AnneAll the young women care for small children every day as Au Pairs and they realize the importance of these lifesaving skills. They were at full attention for 5 1/2 hours for hands-on practice, lecture and videos depicting real-life  situations.

View a video of this class as the Au Pairs learn to rescue a “choking baby”.

Frank and his team from Red Cross supplied 20 “Baby Anne” dolls which permitted hands-on practice with realistic chest compression and chest rise as well as life-like nose pinch for mouth-to-nose ventilation. The “Baby Anne” dolls also were realistic to react to foreign-body airway obstruction through back blows and chest-thrust

cpr6

Elise from France and Sabrina from Germany, who had never met before, became fast friends as they tended to each others’ “wounds”.

first aid

A good-spirited Au Pair from Colombia volunteered to be an accident victim bandaged by our class instructor in a  lesson on bleeding and broken bones.

 

marta

Marta from Poland worked with Nam from Thailand to “stop bleeding”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 35 Au Pairs from South Africa, Colombia, Thailand, Brazil, Germany, Poland etc. now are officially certified by the American Red Cross for 2 years, and received a large, lapel pin to wear with pride.

 

Bravo to these young women who voluntarily gave up their free time on a Sunday, to increase their childcare skills!

cpr4

All eyes on Frank from American Red Cross as he demonstrated what to do for a bloody or broken nose.

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Educational Opportunities for Au Pairs in Maryland

students-in-classroom-taking-testSenior Community Counselor, Victoria Paton, enjoys working with her Au Pairs to prepare an “Individualized Education Plan”  based on each Au Pair’s interests, free time and goals…

PLEASE MEET WITH VICTORIA WHEN SHE HOLDS PERIODIC MEETINGS ABOUT COLLEGE –

COLLEGES AND CLASSES:

ALL THESE BELOW ARE APPROVED FOR AU PAIRS IN MY CLUSTER:

ESL – IF YOU NEED ENGLISH CLASSES LOOK HERE:

LADO College for English Classes

    •  Details: Intensive, Semi-intensive, and TOEFL Prep Classes
    • Credits: varies depending on class
    • Cost: $70 registration fee. Tuition = $765 – $595 for Intensive; $540 for Semi-Intensive; $280 for Saturday (10% APIA tuition discount)\
    • Schedule: Weekday, evening, and weekend courses offered year-round, starting periodically
    • Placement: Testing offered daily
    • Locations:
      • DC (Archives, Gallery Place, Metro Center)
      • Arlington, VA (Rosslyn Metro)
      • Silver Spring, MD (Silver Spring Metro)

Georgetown University – Continuing Studies in English – classes are at night

    • Details: Business Writing, Business Communications, Grammar, Integrated Communication Skills and TOEFL Prep
    • Credits: 3.6 CEUS/36 hours NOT “credits”
    • Cost: $500 (10% early registration discount)
    • Schedule: 9-week sessions
    • Placement: Mandatory placement tests – call for schedule
    • Location: Georgetown, DC (Take shuttle from Dupont Circle Metro)

International Language Institute (formerly English House) English Classes as well as other Foreign Languages

MONTGOMERY COLLEGE IN ROCKVILLE CAMPUS – offers English is 2 different sections of their campus. Talk to Victoria about which section of Montgomery College is best for your English studies:

1. Montgomery College Credit Classes in English AELP – REQUIRES ESL ACCUPLACER TEST, APPLICATION AND APPOINTMENT REQUIRED

2. Montgomery CollegeNonCredit/Workforce Development APPE-REQUIRES ASSESSMENT TEST ON SPECIFIC DATES BUT NO APPLICATION REQUIRED

HERE ARE SOME FREE ENGLISH CLASS OPTIONS: These DO NOT COUNT TOWARD AU PAIR EDUCATION REQUIREMENT

 

ALL OTHER NON- ENGLISH LEARNING CLASSES ARE HERE!!

MONTGOMERY COLLEGE HAS 3 CAMPUSES – Rockville, Germantown and Takoma Park. Please speak to your Host Family about which is best. Rockville is nearest, but Germantown and Takoma Park are not that far away and can be reached without going on a highway.

MONTGOMERY COLLEGE HAS TWO OPTIONS:

1. Montgomery College Credit Department

  • Courses in “credits”
  • Placement: Requires ESL Accuplacer (if your first language is not English)must be taken after an application submitted. Appointment for test must be made and results meeting attended
  • Details: On a strict Fall, Spring, Summer semester basis
  • Cost: Approx $140/credit and Au Pairs pay In-County price with presentation of a B&I form

2. Montgomery College Continuing Education and Workforce Development

  • Courses in “hours”
  • Placement: No test required for non- ESL classes
  • Details: On a flexible Fall, Spring, Summer semester basis
  • Cost: listed in brochure. Au Pairs pay In-County price with presentation of a B&I form
  • Location: Rockville, Germantown or Takoma Park campuses

Montgomery College Continuing Education – Hospitality and Event Management Department

Montgomery College – Continuing Education – Cosmetology Department

University of Virgin Islands, DC – International Program

    • Details: Courses include Understanding American Government, sign-language, DC history and culture, psychology, photography, animation, claymation and more
    • Credits: Between 20-40 hours and varies by course
    • Cost: Varies by course
    • Locations: Throughout the DC Metro area

Stratford University Event Survey Course and Culinary Training

  • Details: Event Survey Course (event management, hospitality, and tourism) Contact Alice Conway for more details (aconway @ stratford.edu)
  • Credits: 45 hours or 3 credits
  • Cost: Registration fee = $50. Tuition = $350
  • Schedule: Sept 7-October 12 (10 am-2 pm on Thursdays)
  • Location: Alexandria (Eisenhower Ave Metro)

 

  • Details: Culinary and Nutrition Course (American Cooking Skills, nutrition, menu development and hands-on meal prep)
  • Credits: 45 hours or 3 credits
  • Location: Alexandria (Eisenhower Avenue Metro) – many Host Families believe this is too far to drive – traffic can be very bad. Metro requires changing trains which can take time.
  • Cost: $500

 

WEEKEND COURSES/ TRAVEL COURSES

CW Post Long Island Au Pair Wend Courses in Greenvale, NY

  • Details: Weekend classes in American Culture, Business Marketing, English Study and Child Development
  • Credits: 3 credits/weekend
  • Cost $369 (includes course materials, lodging and meals). Transportation by train to NYC or flight from BWI to Islip are at Au Pair’s expense

“Travel Courses” at Borough of Manhattan Community College – Weekend Courses in VA an236d DC with Travel Component

Details: Attend class in DC or VA and then take a study trip to learn first-hand about the destination with a visit. Destinations include: Nashville, Niagara Falls, Chicago, Montreal, New York, New Orleans, Amish Country in Pennsylvania.

Credits: 40 hours/ 4 CEUs or 32 hours/3.2 CEUs (not “credits”!!)

Cost: Varies by class

“MUSEUM CLASSES” AND OTHER WEEKEND CLASSES AT VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

  • Details: Look at their Saturday schedule of classes that take place in DC Museums.
  • Each week a different museum and you sign up online. Registration and classes are on-going throughout the year.
  • Credits: Each class is 5 HOURS.
  • Cost: Tuition is $40 per class + $20 application fee for new students. Please note that tuition and application fees are non-refundable.

 

 

Other Weekend Classes located at Universities all over the US, including California, New York, Florida, NC, SC, Virginia, and others. Click on this link to learn more details.

 

ONLY ONLINE COURSE: UCLA Extension class is the ONLY on-line class approved by Department of State for Au Pairs

APIA Advantage – UCLA Extension Program  (only ONLINE course allowed – 6 credits)

  • Credits: 6 credits
  • Cost: $500
  • Schedule January 9 – May 22, 2017

 

 

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND TIPS FOR AU PAIRS – Important to read