Learn foreign languages at home with language tutors – a guest who brings the foreign language into your home!

Language author Kaitlyn:

Kaitlyn, 24 from Orlando (far left in the picture), is a primary school teacher and completed her studies 3 years ago. For the summer vacation that lasts 8 weeks, this time she decided to get to know a foreign culture and to do something completely new. And so she came to Germany, where she has never been and knows none to speak in a family with German English. She will stay for 5 weeks and even paid a few hundred dollars to an exchange organization in the United States that organizes the stay and selects applicants.

She currently lives with the Caudera-Preil family, who has put this program up to date as an experienced owner of an Au Pair agency. After just a few days, both sides can report that the concept brings a big win for everyone involved.

Since when has this been this language author program, Ms. Caudera-Preil?

This is quite new: we started it at the beginning of the year and have already successfully brought together some tutors and families. I am one of our first customers myself because I have a young woman from the USA at home so that I can dive a little deeper into this matter.

What exactly is the idea?

It is a friendly guest relationship: you offer a room with food and lodging and in return you get language lessons that are fun and runs on the side. That can be 15 hours a week, it is standard, but also more or less, depending on the agreement. The stay can take a few weeks to a maximum of three months, because the tutors can stay here in Germany with a visitor disc. Exactly when the language author is available, host family and tutor determine together when they should agree. It is not that one side dictates.

Do the language tutors also speak German?

No, they usually don't do that and that is also part of the concept, because they come to families, e. g. School children or working people who want to improve their English in their mother tongue. This usually happens in an informal context, i. e. When cooking in the kitchen, when walking together on the market, sports, or simply walking. This has nothing to do with bone -drying lessons. Nevertheless, the language tutors do not come unprepared, they have a manual and suggestions with them to make language lessons sensible.

How old are the tutors who go to the families? What kind of people are they?

Most are between 19 and late 20, and they do this out of interest in other cultures. Many work as primary school teachers or in other pedagogical professions. You want to work with children and see something new. These are open young people who want to get to know our country and want to convey knowledge.

From which countries do you convey language tutors?

In addition to the United States, we have just cooperated with Mexico for Spanish tutors and one with France who are now starting, because these are also world languages that are in demand.

Where do you see the main advantage of such a tutor in the house?

There is no better way to learn a foreign language - if you don't have the opportunity to spend a long time in the foreign country. So you bring the living language home, do not have to attend adult education course or organize a language trip for a lot of time and money. This is a great thing, especially for students or working people who notice that they actually need intensive support.

And if you don't get along with the guest tutor at all, what then?

Then you have to stop the matter, but that has not yet happened. What the young guest tutors do is free - they could also travel through the country or just return home. The good thing about this program is that you as a host family are not dependent on this tutor, as is often the case with an au pair, where there can be real problems with the job when childcare breaks away. Everything is voluntary here. In the best case, there is even a friendship between the host family and tutor.

What are the costs of the host family?

These are just the mediation costs that are based on the length of the stay and between € 330 and € 450. And on top of that, of course, the costs for food, drink and minimally higher additional costs. But there are no further costs such as insurance.

Do the tutors also make childcare?

This can be agreed separately, but not against money, because otherwise this is not possible as part of the tourist visa. Instead, you can offer to pay a language course or other educational offers - families have already tested and found that.

If you are interested in the language author program, please contact us:

julia. heim@famplus. de or by phone at 089/809902703