Au Pair Work-Study Program: How it works

In exchange for childcare in English, au pairs are treated as family members while they take advantage of cultural and educational opportunities.

One of our participating Spanish families invites you as an au pair to assist with childcare duties speaking in English for two to five hours a day, five days a week. Room and board are automatically included. When you have accumulated 25 hours, you will recieve a 50 € stipend, approximately 40 USD.

We hope that for you the exposure to a dynamic country like Spain, enjoyed from the security of a stable family environment, will insure lasting relationships and enduring memories for years to come.

The Language Classes

To help you adapt better this program provides language support by combining studying in an established Spanish academy in Madrid while you are living with a Spanish family. The academic services include grammar, vocabulary and conversation classes (depending on your level). The language classes are an integral part of the program because they provide cultural activities and they give you contacts with peers in Madrid.

Fun and Cultural Activities

You will also have included organized activities for free or at student prices with the opportunity to make many friends, including Spaniards.

 

Au Pair Work-Study Program: Program Features

• 40 hours of tuition in one of our centrally located, fully-equipped Spanish language schools for an intensive Spanish course from Monday to Friday for 2 weeks. Class hours are 45 minutes from 9 to 12:15 pm (or similar) and there is a half hour break after every 90 minutes of class.
• The class size is between 6 and 10 students. This means that there are plenty of opportunities to participate in class conversations and to get to know your classmates.
• Absolute beginners can only start on the first and third Monday of each month. Students with previous knowledge can start any Monday. Legal holidays cannot be made up.
• Testing, certificates, letter of matriculation, materials, texts (when applicable) and limited free Internet access while studying.
• Screening of all host families, including personal interviews and a visit to the quarters that the au pair will be occupying. This means that we go personally to see the home environment and make personal contact with the families.
• Private room and full board.
• Freedom to select the family of your choice. We never impose a family on you.
• Matching of au pair's preferences with family applications. (number of children, ages, diet, etc.) • Orientation for finding other part time work if desired.
• BEST will periodically contact and follow up on its au pairs.
• Contacts with past and current participants.
• Airport pick up and return by the host family.
• A local phone number, fax and email will be provided in case of need.
• 24 hour/7 days a week support while in Spain by Americans.
• Orientation packet: includes tourist info, practical tips, city information, transportation and communication details including a map and explanation of the Metro in Madrid and much more.
• Full coverage health, accident and medical insurance policy for up to 3 months.

 

Au Pair Work-Study Program: Language Course

Before the commencement of the internship program you will attend an Intensive Spanish course which consists of:

• 40 hours of Spanish classes (2 weeks from de 9.30am-1.pm Monday to Friday). There is a maximum of 8 students in each class, average 5. All teachers are native Spanish speakers, educated to at least degree level and with specific teaching qualifications.
  
  
  
• Cultural and Social Activities Program, which is aimed at improving your knowledge of Madrid itself (through our walking tours of the city and visits to world-famous art museums) and also the culture and customs of Spain. This program also involves evenings, where you can enjoy food and drink typical of Spain, whilst making friends with other students from the school. Some events are free and others have a small charge.
• Our school is centrally located in an up-market neighborhood of Madrid. It is a fully-equipped, specialized language schools for internsive language courses in Spanish.
• There are plenty of opportunities to participate in class conversations and to get to know your classmates from all over the world.
• See list of legal holidays which cannot be made up.
   

The school provides:

• Placement test
• Orientation pack
• Free access to the internet from 8.30am until 9.30pm school's computer terminals and wifi.
• Library service
• Conversation Exchange with native Spanish speakers
• 24h emergency number
• End of course certificate

 

Au Pair Work-Study Program: Applying

Requirements

There are no language or academic requirements for this program, just a sincere interest in learning and a love for children. Our requirements:

1. Female between 18 and 26 years of age
2. Native speaker of English
3. Experience with children
4. Interest in Spanish language and culture. (Basic Spanish is helpful but not compulsory.)
5. Able to commit yourself for at least 3 months (1 or 2 in the summer) with the possibility of renewal if desired.

 Application Steps

1. Applications are accepted all year round.
2. A typical application will take around two months to process.
3. To apply, fill in the application form online or in printed version.
4. collect the necessary documentation:

•  A passport size photo (smiling!)
•  2 Color photos of you with your family.
•  2 Color photos of you with children.
•  A letter to the host family in English and Spanish (if possible) saying why you want to go to Spain, your interests and hobbies, experience with children and any special habits you might have (i.e. diet).
•  2 reference letters (preferably one from a child care referee).
•  Medical Report (from your family doctor on his/her letterhead).
•  Police Report (a document of good conduct saying you have no criminal record for travel purposes).
•  Photocopy of passport.
•  Photocopy of any degrees, certificates, diplomas or other qualifications you might have.
•  Signed Agreement of Terms and Conditions.

5. send the documents scanned by jpg file to our email address (best@bestprograms.org) with the registration fee of $300. (see Terms and Conditions)
6. Set up a time for an telephone interview. (optional)
7. You will begin to receive phone calls, or emails from host families.
8. When you have been invited by a family and accepted, buy your round-trip airline ticket.
9. Payment of BEST fee. (see Terms and Conditions)
10.When you arrive in Spain you will be picked up by your host family and contacted by someone from the staff at BEST.

 

Au Pair Work-Study Program: Terms & Fees

Fees

• Our fee is just $1050 U.S. dollars for 3 months, $990 USD for 2 months or $800 USD for one month. The 2 and 1 month options are only open to summer applicants.
• Renovation and extensions over 3 months are free (not including classes or insurance).
• There is a $300 USD deductible registration fee. For more information about conditions and payment please see Terms and Conditions.
• Personal items, communication and transportation costs are the au pair's responsibility.

 

Au Pair Work-Study Program: Application Form

Work-Study Program Application

(All information is highly confidential and will not be shared with anyone other the BEST Language Services and host families).

Name (first/middle/last) Permanent Address City State/Zip Code Country Phone(s) Cell Phone:  When is the best time to reach you by telephone? FAX: E-Mail: URL (web address, if you have one): Date of Birth: Religion: Nationality: Height: Weight: SEX: Male |  Female Passport Number: How did you hear about BEST?   When do you wish to be placed?     (Not guaranteed) For how long? 1-2-3 months  1 2 3 (The opcion 1 and 2 months in summer only) Would you be willing and available to renew?   yes no I understand that all fees are due before the commencement of the program and that there is a 100 USD late charge for payment after arrival.   yes no Previous work experience: Name, address and phone number of next of relative in case of emergency: Father's Profession:  Mother's Profession:  Brothers and sisters names and their ages:     1. Name- Age- 2. Name- Age- 3. Name- Age- 4. Name- Age- 5. Name- Age- 6. Name- Age- Do you have health insurance?   Yes No Which?  When did you leave school?  Qualifications (degrees, diplomas): What are your career plans? Spanish proficiency level: Excellent Good Fair Poor None Do you speak any other languages and at what level? Do want to attend language classes?   Yes No What is your experience with children and their ages:   What are the interests, hobbies and childcare related activities you can/would undertake?   Are you an animal lover? Yes No Have you ever been away from home (traveling or studying) and, if so, why, when and for how long?   Do you understand that you will be expected to help with the child care related light housework?   Yes No Do you understand that you might be asked to baby-sit twice weekly in the Au Pair program and twice monthly on the Work-Study Program?  Yes No Do you smoke?  Yes No If you smoke, would you be willing to smoke only outside of your host's home?  Yes No Do you understand that if you smoke against your host's wishes, they are completely within their rights to ask you to leave?  Yes No Do you have a special diet?  Yes No if so, please explain below: Do you have a full driver's license?   Yes No Can you drive a stick shift?  Yes No Do you have any health problems?  Yes No if so, please explain below: Do you have any allergies?  Yes No if so, please explain below: Do you have a criminal record?  Yes No if so, please explain below: What ages of children do you prefer?  Do you like babies?  Yes No How many children are you willing to look after?  Do you wish to be placed near friends or relatives?  Yes No If so, please give details below:   I promise that the information provided above is true. Yes   No I understand that the minimum time of placement is no shorter than the period mentioned on this application form. Yes   No Additional comments: Please use the space provided below to tell us anything else you feel to be important to your application.   Please send by Priority Mail or scan and send to:     Jill Arcaro-Gordon, Directora     BEST Programs     Programs in Spain and Belgium     where language learning and     cultural exchange are the common denominators.     www.bestprograms.org     Tel: 34-637-543-900