Au pair with intermediate English skills - pass or doable?

[Anonymous]

Longtime HM here. I've had au pairs with varying levels of English. Some work fine, some don't.

I would not recommend limited English au pairs when you have:
1) Very young kids (who are non-verbal)
2) Slightly older kids (maybe your 5 year old?) If they are have difficulty in language arts and need extra help with reading/writing, etc.

I have had 1 limited English au pair who was a disaster, and two who were great.

The disaster was from Thailand (a VERY different culture) and was extremely reserved and shy. She was a nice girl but didn't have the self-confidence to just put herself out there with her limited English.

The 2 who worked really well (one from Korea and one from Peru), both were older, and had extremely outgoing and professional personalities. Both just THREW themselves into being an au pair, and both had budding careers in education where having strong English skills was in high demand. They both worked hard on their English, and got quite good. I think in both cases, they did not have a strong community of home-language speaking au pairs around (the Peruvian one had options, but just didn't care for any of the Spanish speaking girls in our cluster).

If you feel like she has all the right qualities except for Englsih-- evaluate what you need, and maybe tell her about your concerns when you match, and ask her if she is willing to commit to working hard on her English? I put a lot of stock in getting girls with the right attitude. English can be taught. Attitude can't.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP! So helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks 9:27. Maybe it's just the pool right now. I swear I've combed through every application in our agency and am just not all that impressed. I believe you that you've found other candidates with more experience than the Germans, I'm just not seeing it right now To clarify though, I'd say 80% of the German candidates are the 19/20 just graduated with their A-levels and did a little babysitting. Don't look a second at those ones. But there seems to be a group that had childcare training in high school and those are the ones I've had success with.

This time of year, the Germans you see in the pool are the "left overs". Since most Europeans finish school in June, they apply to come in the summer time. If they are still not matched and are in the pool now, then they either are left from the summer match (gotta wonder why), made the decision late or are older APs who are doing the AP program for some other reason than to beef up their university application. By the same token, if you want a S American, this is the time of the year when you will find the best candidates in the pool, since they finish out their school year in Dec.

[Anonymous]

I would look at Australian and South African APs. They have been really great for a friend and me during our time in the AP program.

[Anonymous]

Do MBs on here have experience with French-speaking au pairs? Do they generally have good English abilities? My DD is in an immersion program where we'd like her to speak French with the au pair- DD is learning a lot, but is no where near fluent. So, we'd like someone who isn't excellent in English, because I think she'd default to English if she could speak well. I think if she was only passable that would force my DD to try speaking French. On the other hand, we don't want someone to be uncomfortable with this situation. And since we don't speak any French, I don't know how stressful this could be. Anyone BTDT?

[Anonymous]

French au pairs have a high rematch rate. Pick carefully.

[Anonymous]

^^ Could you elaborate? Why would there be a high rematch rate? We really only need the au pair to get our kids ready in the morning, drive them to school, pick them up and provide evening care (driving to and from activities, feed dinner, ready for bed), etc... My youngest will be three when we get the au pair, so she won't be looking after a small child with lots of needs. She'll also be free during the day. I'd think this would be ideal from some candidates. Also, curious about West African French-speaking au pairs. Anyone tried one before?

[Anonymous]

We have never matched w an AP from France but our Lcc has said same as the pp - that French APs have a very high rematch rate. Friends of ours only get French APs due to language and I will say that they deal w much more attitude than we do with our German APs, but this could well be the people they pick as opposed to being anything to do w nationality.

[Anonymous]

I have several friends that have hosted French au pairs and all of them but one has had a rematch situation. General attitude, insubordination, party girls and other personality issues. Language was also an issue. My AP'S best friend while here was a French au pair and I didn't much care for her. She was a smoker and had an "I'm better than you" air about her. Big party girl.

I'm not saying they are all like that...that's just been my experience and my friends' experiences. Interview well and maybe you'd find a good one. I would definitely make sure that if I picked a French one that they have worked a 'real job' before and know what it's like to work several hours in a row. In fact I make that one of my requirements for all future au pairs...but especially French ones!!!

Bonne chance!!

[Anonymous]

I've never had a French au pair, but I've heard the same thing. Not that there aren't good ones, but my very experienced LCC is very down on them in general based on her experiences. She has subtly cautioned me away from them a couple of times. Interview carefully.