This article will review what to expect from each level of our Intermediate and Advanced English Language Skills courses, and how to decide which level is the best fit for you!
Our English Language Skills courses are designed to stretch and strengthen your English abilities while you are here in the U.S. and fully immersed in the language.
Intermediate (36 hours in New York and Seattle or 72 hours in San Diego)
For our Intermediate courses, there are some basics you need to know in order to be successful. For example, you need to be able to easily describe yourself, including your name and where you live in the U.S. You need to be able to use common expressions and vocabulary to tell others about your job as an au pair and about your life in your home country. This course requires basic knowledge of spoken and written English in the past, present, and future tenses. You should have the ability to read English texts on familiar subjects and have the ability to write a simple, 3-4 sentence long summary of what you have read.
In your Intermediate course, you will learn words, phrases, and idioms that will help you to successfully interact with your host family, better understand American English and American culture. You will learn the language most useful for going out and traveling around the U.S. You will improve your English writing and speaking skills in the past, present, and future tenses. You’ll also make friends with other au pairs in a supportive and friendly environment and learn to better explain your emotions, share your opinions and preferences, and make comparisons.
If the above sounds like the right fit for you, we’d recommend enrolling in our Intermediate NY 36 hour or SD 72 hour courses.
Click HERE to register for an English Language Skills course!
Advanced (36 hours in New York and Seattle or 72 hours in San Diego)
Our Advanced courses focus on the same overall principles of writing, speaking and grammar, but on a more in-depth level. As a base for this class you must be able to confidently communicate with others when doing tasks related to your job as an au pair. You must use the past, present and future tenses and descriptive vocabulary when speaking about yourself and your opinions with very few mistakes. You need to be able to read intermediate level non-academic texts in English and have the ability to write a 5-7 sentence long summary in response to the text, as well as write your opinion about it.
In your Advanced course, you can look forward to learning American idioms and unusual expressions to speak more like a native speaker. You will learn the language most useful for going out and traveling around the U.S., as well as some travel tips, facts about American culture, and keys to understanding different American accents. You can improve your English skills while meeting other au pairs in a supportive and friendly environment and learn to use persuasive language effectively as well as practice formal and informal language.
If the above sounds like the right fit for you, we’d recommend enrolling in our Advanced NY 36 hour or SD 72 hour courses.
Click HERE to register for an English Language Skills course!
Still not sure which level is right for you?
- On a scale of 1-5 (1 being least confident and 5 being very confident), how confident do you feel speaking in English?
If you answered 3 or below, you may be most suited for an Intermediate course. If you answered 4 or 5, you may be more suited for an Advanced course.
- Has your English training been more formal/written or conversational?
If you have had more formal/written English training, but not as much conversational, you may be more suited for an Intermediate level course. If you have had more training in conversational English, you may be more suited for an Advanced course.
- On a scale of 1-5 (1 being least confident and 5 being very confident), how confident are you answering these questions verbally in complete sentences?
- How long have you lived in the United States?
- What did you do yesterday?
- Do you have a hobby? What is it and why do you like it?
- What are some of the differences between your country and the United States?
If you assessed yourself with 1-3 for most of these questions, you may be more suited for an Intermediate course. If you assessed yourself with 4-5 for most of these questions, you may be more suited for an Advanced level course.
If you already feel comfortable with all these skills for both levels mentioned above AND assessed yourself with 5 for all of these questions, we highly recommend enrolling in our other courses.
Once you join our English Language Skills Canvas course, you are going to complete a placement test designed to see if the level you have signed up for is the best match for your skills. If the results of this test indicate that a different level may be a better fit for your language needs, we will reach out to you with recommendations for a different level.