Bilingual au pairs provide both childcare and language education

With the increasing need to prepare children to enter a global society, a growing number of American parents are demanding childcare providers who can offer their children first-hand knowledge of another culture, language and traditions. Whether it is Spanish, German, Russian or Swedish, families across the United States are seeking childcare providers who speak a foreign language. One childcare option gaining popularity among parents is an international au pair, a live-in childcare provider who is able to teach children a second language in the home.

Au pairs live and study in the United States for one year on a J-1 cultural exchange visa in exchange for providing 45 hours of childcare per week. The U.S. Department of State regulates all au pair programs in the United States, offering parents the peace of mind that their children are in the care of a carefully screened, qualified caregiver.

The Johnson family is one American host family that takes advantage of this unique form of childcare and cultural exchange. The Johnson family welcomed German au pair Karan into their home to teach their two children German. In the 45 hours that Karan spends with the children, ages 11 and 9, she plays games with them in German and cooks treats like apple strudel and gingerbread houses. Karan also spends afternoons with the girls making traditional cultural crafts, such as leaf prints and friendship bracelets.

"Karan does so much more than provide childcare for our family. She speaks German with my girls on a daily basis by interacting through playtime, stories and games. At bedtime, Karan reads favorite German children's book about animals to Jordan and Mike," said Susan Johnson, Cultural Care Au Pair host mother. "While any child can learn how to count to 10 in German at school or by watching TV, hosting an au pair has made it possible for my girls to read, write and carry on a basic conversation in German."

The Johnsons are not the only family to discover the language learning and cultural exchange benefits of hosting an au pair. According to Fougere, "Cultural Care Au Pair has seen a sharp increase in the number of families requesting an au pair to teach their children a second language. For instance, the number of families who request Spanish-speaking au pairs has risen so dramatically that we have increased our placement of Spanish-speaking au pairs by more than 150 percent over the past two years."

About Cultural Care Au Pair

Cultural Care Au Pair is the leading provider of intercultural childcare and educational exchange. Since 1989, Cultural Care Au Pair has placed more than 55,000 au pairs in welcoming American homes. A division of EF Education and a U.S. Department of State regulated program, Cultural Care Au Pair is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., with an extensive network of recruitment, screening and orientation offices worldwide. For more information about hosting an au pair, visit http://www.culturalcare.com or call 800-333-6056.