Global Awareness

Global Awareness - Adding Something Extra to the Au Pair Experience!

Global Awareness is a unique program offered by Au Pair in America. Au Pairs join this rewarding community based volunteer and education program to promote knowledge of the variety of cultures the world has to offer. Global Awareness brings multi cultural understanding and appreciation in American elementary and middle school classrooms. As we approach a new school year, we’re excited about our opportunities to extend the Global Awareness Program to more schools across the United States.

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Au Pairs visit American classrooms as part of the Global Awareness, Meet Your Global Neighbor program. They share their countries and cultures with young children and expose them to worlds that though different are also so alike. They do fun, interactive presentations highlighting areas that would be of interest to young children. For example, an au pair might share birthday party songs or games that are popular in her country. She might teach the children a song or dance or possibly there will be a language lesson that the children will enjoy. Many of the South African au pairs take such pride singing their national anthem to the children while the children sit in awe listening to so many different languages.

The possibilities for presentations are endless and the feedback is so positive. Au Pairs, Community Counselors, teachers, host parents and children tell us how thrilling it is to have au pairs in the classroom. Au Pairs are not only sharing, but learning as well. Since English is not the first language for the majority of au pairs they feel they have added a new skill of public speaking, in English, to their list of achievements. One au pair plans to sign up for a public speaking class having developed her confidence in the classroom. The children think the au pairs are “so cool,” and the teachers are excited to provide this unique opportunity to their classrooms to learn about other cultures—so important in our world today.