Taking in an au pair as a family can offer many advantages, especially if both parents are working and there are no relatives living nearby to assist with childcare. Au pairs are young people from other countries who live with you for a certain period of time and help you with the care of your children and light household chores.

Advantages

A great advantage of the program is that you are relieved by having someone to help you especially with childcare. You will have more time for your work or for other important tasks or activities while your au pair is taking care of the children and you can achieve a better work-life balance.

But the children also benefit: They have the opportunity to learn a new language and get to know a new culture. In the best case, they can also build a close relationship with your au pair and consider him/her a friend and mentor.

Read more …

Early English learning is very important for children in today's globalized world, as English is spoken by more than 1.5 billion people, making it one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. There are many methods and approaches that parents and teachers can use to teach children English.

One of the most popular methods is the use of music and songs to motivate children to learn English. By singing songs, children learn not only vocabulary and expressions, but also the correct pronunciation and intonation. There are many children's songs sung in English that are specifically designed for early English learning such as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and "Old MacDonald Had a Farm".

Another option is reading books aloud in English. Children love to listen to stories and can improve their English skills this way. There are also many games that are specifically designed for early English learning. Examples include memory, bingo, and other card games that include vocabulary and expressions in English.

Read more …

The school system in Germany is federally organized, which means that each state has its own rules and regulations for the school system. In general, the German school system consists of elementary school, secondary school and high school. Elementary school usually lasts four years and begins at age six, when children are required to attend school. During this time, students primarily learn the basics of German, mathematics and science.

Secondary schools in Germany are divided into different types of school. These include the Hauptschule or Mittelschule, the Realschule, the Gymnasium and the Gesamtschule. The Hauptschule usually lasts five years and provides students with a solid basic education. The Realschule lasts six years and prepares students for the intermediate school leaving certificate. The Gymnasium is the classic type of school that leads students to the Abitur. The comprehensive school, on the other hand, combines all three types of school and allows students to shape their educational path individually.

Read more …