Au Pair Language & Culture

Program Facts

36 Hours/Course

听Intermediate to Advanced Levels, CEFR B1-C2

听In-person instruction on the CU Boulder campus

听J-1 from a Sponsoring Au Pair Agency

The Au Pair Language & Culture Program is designed to help au pairs听fulfill the English instruction requirement for a J-1 visa. Each听course听provides听36 hours听of instruction and au pairs can take two听courses to meet the 72-hour requirement. Courses are designed for intermediate to advanced level speakers of English.

Engage with other au pairs
Polish your writing, reading, listening, speaking, grammar, pronunciation, and presentation skills
Expand your understanding of US culture
Collaborate on projects and presentations
Gain confidence听in English
Receive a certificate of completion

Fall 1 2024

Course	English Proficiency	Dates	Day(s)	Time
English for Effective Communication 1	Intermediate (CEFR B1-B2)	August 27 - October 15	Tu/Th	6:45 - 8:45 PM
TOEFL Test Prep*	High Intermediate (CEFR B2 -C1)	August 27 - October 15	Tu/Th	6:45听- 8:45 PM听

*Students must purchase a textbook for this course
Tuition = $300听USD
3 credits toward your J1 visa education requirement
All courses include an online component
All dates, course offerings, and听prices are subject to change without notice.
Tuition is due on the first day of class unless otherwise noted.鈥�
Students must听purchase a Buff OneCard (university ID) for a one-time听$30 fee to access classroom buildings (a second course does not require the purchase of the Buff OneCard).听听The Buff OneCard can also be used to obtain a variety of student discounts.

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What is FERPA and why is it important for au pairs?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records.
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In the U.S., a student鈥檚 education record is considered confidential and will not be released, with certain exceptions, without the student鈥檚 written permission. For instance, if your au pair agency or LCC contacts the IEC to confirm that you are taking a course, the IEC will not be able to respond without your written permission. By signing the Release of Non-Directory Information from the Student Education Record,听you give the IEC permission to respond to your au pair agency or LCC鈥檚 inquiries about your education record.

If you want to give such permission, please sign the form and indicate who may receive this information.

Do I need to take a placement test?

No. Your instructor will give you a diagnostic assignment on the first day of class to identify your strengths and areas of improvement. Before enrolling in a course, please verify your English proficiency using the Self-Assessment in the tab below.

Will I receive a certificate at the end of the course?

Yes. You will receive a certificate if you successfully complete all course work and meet attendance requirements.

Will I need to buy a textbook?

Most au pair courses do not require you to purchase a textbook. The TOEFL Preparation course is the only course that requires a textbook purchase at this time. We will use Express to the TOEFL iBT Test.

What do I need to bring to class?

Bring a notebook, a pen or pencil, the textbook, and a folder to all classes.

What should I do if I will be late to class or will miss a class?

Please email your instructor if you will be late to class or will miss a class. Students who are in good academic standing are allowed to make up missed coursework online with no loss of hours.

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Applying to the program听is simple.

Complete the
Make sure you have the application documents needed to apply. Standard application materials are listed below.
You must be 18 years of age (from your date of birth) by the first day of the course for which you are applying.

Standard Application Materials

Completed听Au Pair Language & Culture Program Application Form
Photocopy of the identification page of your passport
Passport style photo for your Buff OneCard

TOEFL Test Preparation听

This course provides students with strategies and test-taking practice for the TOEFL iBT. Students will review test format and scoring, and practice with actual tests, in addition to refining their underlying academic skills in vocabulary, grammar, reading, listening, speaking, and writing. Students are required to purchase a TOEFL test preparation textbook for use in the class.听

Course will include 12 hours of asynchronous online coursework.

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Business English听

This course teaches students how to write and speak effectively in U.S. business situations. Students gain practice in writing clear, concise, accurate, and persuasive texts, emails, memos, and short reports. They learn the art of small talk and conduct short presentations, conference calls, and simulated meetings. Students gain confidence as they develop their ability to target communication for managers, colleagues, direct reports, and clients. 听

Course will include 12听hours of asynchronous online coursework.

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Effective Communication in English 1 & 2听

In this course, students develop their English writing, reading, listening, speaking, and grammar skills in interactive and engaging lessons. Through meaningful and authentic activities, students expand their language skills, helping them to communicate confidently with their U.S. families, peers, and community.听

Course will include 4听hours of asynchronous online coursework.

Please verify your English language proficiency before registering for a course using the CEFR Self-Assessment grid below.听

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Listening听

I can recognise familiar words听 and very basic phrases听听

concerning myself, my family听 and immediate concrete听听

surroundings when people speak听 slowly and clearly.

I can understand phrases and the听 highest frequency vocabulary听 related to areas of most听听

immediate personal relevance听 (e.g. very basic personal and听 family information, shopping,听 local area, employment). I can听 catch the main point in short,听 clear, simple messages and听听

announcements.

I can understand the main points of听 clear standard speech on familiar听 matters regularly encountered in work,听 school, leisure, etc. I can understand听 the main point of many radio or TV听 programmes on current affairs or听 topics of personal or professional听 interest when the delivery is听听

relatively slow and clear.

I can understand extended speech and听 lectures and follow even complex lines听 of argument provided the topic is听听

reasonably familiar. I can understand听 most TV news and current affairs听 programmes. I can understand the听 majority of films in standard dialect.

I can understand extended speech even听 when it is not clearly structured and听 when relationships are only implied听 and not signalled explicitly. I can听 understand television programmes and听 films without too much effort.

I have no difficulty in understanding any听 kind of spoken language, whether live or听 broadcast, even when delivered at fast听 native speed, provided I have some time听 to get familiar with the accent.

Reading听

I can understand familiar names,听 words and very simple sentences,听 for example on notices and听听

posters or in catalogues.

I can read very short, simple听 texts. I can find specific,听听

predictable information in听听

simple everyday material such as听 advertisements, prospectuses,听 menus and timetables and I can听 understand short simple personal听 letters.

I can understand texts that consist听 mainly of high frequency everyday or听 job-related language. I can understand听 the description of events, feelings and听 wishes in personal letters.

I can read articles and reports concerned听 with contemporary problems in which听 the writers adopt particular attitudes or听 viewpoints. I can understand听听

contemporary literary prose.

I can understand long and complex听 factual and literary texts, appreciating听 distinctions of style. I can understand听 specialised articles and longer technical听 instructions, even when they do not听 relate to my field.

I can read with ease virtually all forms of听 the written language, including abstract,听 structurally or linguistically complex texts听 such as manuals, specialised articles and听 literary works.听

Spoken听听

Interaction

I can interact in a simple way听 provided the other person is听 prepared to repeat or rephrase听 things at a slower rate of speech听 and help me formulate what I'm听 trying to say. I can ask and听听

answer simple questions in areas听 of immediate need or on very听 familiar topics.

I can communicate in simple and听 routine tasks requiring a simple听 and direct exchange of听听

information on familiar topics听 and activities. I can handle very听 short social exchanges, even听 though I can't usually understand听 enough to keep the conversation听 going myself.

I can deal with most situations likely听 to arise whilst travelling in an area听 where the language is spoken. I can听 enter unprepared into conversation on听 topics that are familiar, of personal听 interest or pertinent to everyday life听 (e.g. family, hobbies, work, travel and听 current events).

I can interact with a degree of fluency听 and spontaneity that makes regular听 interaction with native speakers quite听 possible. I can take an active part in听 discussion in familiar contexts,听听

accounting for and sustaining my views.

I can express myself fluently and听 spontaneously without much obvious听 searching for expressions. I can use听 language flexibly and effectively for听 social and professional purposes. I can听 formulate ideas and opinions with听 precision and relate my contribution听 skilfully to those of other speakers.

I can take part effortlessly in any听听

conversation or discussion and have a听 good familiarity with idiomatic听听

expressions and colloquialisms. I can听 express myself fluently and convey finer听 shades of meaning precisely. If I do have听 a problem I can backtrack and restructure听 around the difficulty so smoothly that听 other people are hardly aware of it.听

Spoken听听

Production

I can use simple phrases and听 sentences to describe where I live听 and people I know.

I can use a series of phrases and听 sentences to describe in simple听 terms my family and other听听

people, living conditions, my听 educational background and my听 present or most recent job.

I can connect phrases in a simple way听 in order to describe experiences and听 events, my dreams, hopes and听听

ambitions. I can briefly give reasons听 and explanations for opinions and听 plans. I can narrate a story or relate the plot of a book or film and describe my听 reactions.

I can present clear, detailed descriptions听 on a wide range of subjects related to my听 field of interest. I can explain a听听

viewpoint on a topical issue giving the听 advantages and disadvantages of various听 options.

I can present clear, detailed听听

descriptions of complex subjects听 integrating sub-themes, developing听 particular points and rounding off with听 an appropriate conclusion.

I can present a clear, smoothly-flowing听 description or argument in a style听听

appropriate to the context and with an听 effective logical structure which helps the听 recipient to notice and remember听听

significant points.听

Writing听

I can write a short, simple听听

postcard, for example sending听 holiday greetings. I can fill in听 forms with personal details, for听 example entering my name,听听

nationality and address on a hotel听 registration form.

I can write short, simple notes听 and messages relating to matters听 in areas of immediate needs. I听 can write a very simple personal听 letter, for example thanking听 someone for something.

I can write simple connected text on听 topics which are familiar or of听听

personal interest. I can write personal听 letters describing experiences and听 impressions.

I can write clear, detailed text on a wide听 range of subjects related to my interests.听 I can write an essay or report, passing on听 information or giving reasons in support听 of or against a particular point of view. I听 can write letters highlighting the听听

personal significance of events and听 experiences.

I can express myself in clear, well structured text, expressing points of听 view at some length. I can write about听 complex subjects in a letter, an essay or听 a report, underlining what I consider to听 be the salient issues. I can select style听 appropriate to the reader in mind.

I can write clear, smoothly-flowing text in听 an appropriate style. I can write complex听 letters, reports or articles which present a听 case with an effective logical structure听 which helps the recipient to notice and听 remember significant points. I can write听 summaries and reviews of professional or听 literary works.

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Students may add or withdraw from a course one of two ways:

Via email to Program Manager Carolyn Allen carolyn.allen@colorado.edu
听In person at:
International English Center
1030 13 th Street, Boulder

The last day to drop the course and receive a full refund is September听3, 2024.

We understand that au pairs鈥� work obligations may sometimes conflict with class time. However, when students are absent from class, not only is the learning of the absent student affected, but听the learning of all students in the class is affected. Class attendance and participation is听extremely important, so please try to arrive on time and be prepared to contribute.听If you must miss a class, please inform your instructor prior to the class if possible. Students听make up missed coursework online.

Absences

The IEC requires a minimum of 85% attendance. For any missed session, students are encouraged to make up coursework. Below describes the limits of acceptable absences for the two courses offered:

Tuesday Thursday Course

Students may miss two class meetings and still meet the minimum attendance requirement. After the second absence, students are required to complete online makeup coursework to receive credit for missed classroom hours.

For Saturday course

Students may miss one class session and still meet the minimum attendance requirement. After the first absence, students are required to complete online makeup coursework to receive credit for missed classroom hours.

听NOTE: A certificate will only be awarded to students who successfully complete the听course 鈥� this includes both coursework and classroom hours.

Lateness

We understand that your work situation may cause you to be late from time to time. However, please try to arrive to class on time. If you arrive between 15-45 minutes after the start time of the class, you are considered late.

Late

If you are late 3 times, that counts as 1 absence. If you are more than 45 minutes late to class, you are considered ABSENT. We strongly encourage you to come to class, even though you are considered absent, so you are prepared to complete homework and other required assignments Leaving class early will have the same consequences as arriving late.

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