Helen Cook

New Education Opportunity: DeSales University

Posted by: hcook on September 12, 2009

DeSALES UNIVERSITY Will Now Allow “Au Pairs to AUDIT Classes!”

DeSales University - with its Main Campus in Center Valley and a smaller Campus in Easton (Bethlehem) - will now allow Cultural Care Au Pairs to “audit” classes just like Muhlenberg and Cedar Crest Colleges have done in the past!

An Au Pair must enroll as a student in the “Cultural Enrichment” Tuition Program of the University.   Classes can be taken either during the day or in the evening - depending on availability of the classes.  Currently, the cost of “Auditing for Cultural Enrichment” is $373.00 per class.   Remember that “On-Line Courses” are not permitted in the Au Pair Program.

An Au Pair will earn three (3) credits towards the fulfillment of the Education Requirement by completing the Auditing of a class at DeSales University and with proof from the professor of such completion.  Classes begin at varying times during the academic year - and may be on an accelerated program (specifically in the “Access Program”).   Some classes are held for only 6 or 8 weeks but on an accelerated schedule.   Therefore, check the class schedule often - an Au Pair might be able to begin a class in October or February (as an example).

Please visit the following website for additional information on registration and classes:

     www.desales.edu/access

Weekend Classes At C.W. Post !

Posted by: hcook on September 12, 2009

C.W. POST (Long Island, New York)

The C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University is pleased to provide educational programs that Au Pairs may attend to fulfill their credit requirements. These courses are open to Au Pairs and all interested students. This program provides an opportunity for students to participate in a few options on the C.W. Post Campus. During the summer semester overnight accommodations will be on campus. During the fall semester overnight accommodations will be offered at the East Norwich Inn.

These courses are an excellent way to fulfill the Education Requirement needed for the Au Pair Program - please do not wait until the last minute to register - classes fill quickly!  

Fall 2009 Semester

• Growing Up In America October 2-4, 2009
• Storytelling: As A Way of Life: Exploring Traditions October 2-4, 2009
• History of American Music October 2-4, 2009
• TOEFL/ English Preparation Course October 16-18, 2009
• American Indian Cultures and Their Impact on October 16-18, 2009
• American Society
• Government and Politics October 16-18, 2009
• History of American Women - American History November 20-22, 2009
• History of American Music November 20-22, 2009
• American Indian Cultures and Their Impact on November 20-22, 2009
• American Society
• Highlights of the Harlem Renaissance December 4-6, 2009
• TOEFL/ English Preparation Course December 4-6, 2009
• History of American Music December 4-6, 2009
• Storytelling: As A Way of Life: Exploring Traditions December 11-13, 2009
• Growing up in America December 11-13, 2009
• Celebration of Holidays - American Culture December 11-13, 2009

For more details, and the registration form please refer to:

University Program for Au Pairs

C.W. Post Campus, Long Island University

720 Northern Blvd., Brookville, New York 11548

Phone 516-299-2359   Email:   aupair@cwpost.liu.eduWeb: www.liu.edu/cwpost/aupair

*All of these courses are not offered every semester please refer to the registration form for availability*

Below are the course descriptions:

Celebration of Holidays: American Culture-3 CEUs Learn about American holidays and why they are celebrated, particularly the history of the two distinct American holidays: Thanksgiving and July 4th. You will also learn about Jewish holidays and multicultural holidays such as Martin Luther King Day, Cinco de Mayo and Mardi Gras. Holidays are explored through readings, interviews, foods, crafts, and activities.

American Government, Politics, and Social Issues-3 CEUs Students will have the opportunity to learn about basic American political principles using a variety of educational methods. By using written materials, class participation audio-visual and Internet resources, and taking advantage of their stay with real-life American citizens, students can learn particularly about American understandings the fundamental features of American government and politics. We will discuss various dilemmas of constitutional democracy, including for example the limits of free speech, the tension between security and civil liberties, and the place of morality in politics. Inquiry based instructional methods will be used when investigating American social issues and how they relate to the recent and current government.

TOEFL/English Exam Preparation Course-3 CEUs Improve your chances for success on the TOEFL exam. This course will focus on strategies for succeeding on the English language exam required for admission to universities in the United States (TOEFL). In addition, au pairs will practice skills that are stressed on the exam and will be able to monitor their progress by taking and scoring past exams.

Regional Identities: American Culture-3 CEUs Learn about the various areas of the United States and how they are different in geography, food, customs and culture. Enjoy foods from different areas of the U.S. and make Navajo fry bread with Native American guest speakers. This class includes lecture, films, crafts and group activities related to American regional identities.

History of American Women: American History-3 CEUs This course examines the historical development of American women and ideals and the evolution of economic, political, and social processes in the United States from American Indian times to the present, particularly with regard to the history, roles and status of women.

Maximizing Success through American Literature-3 CEUs Sharpen your English skills as we emphasize English literature through reading non-fiction and fiction stories, short stories, drama, and poetry. Be able to develop basic reading and writing skills, sentence composition and explore writing as a creative and enjoyable practice. We will also reinforce grammar, spelling and vocabulary through games and cooperative learning activities.

Music That Made America: History of American Music-3 CEUs This course will discuss music in The United States. We will talk about the history of music from the nineteenth century up through the present day. We will discuss different genres of music, what makes them unique, and what similarities they may have. We will talk about American popular culture and how it has affected and is affected by the popular music of the time. In addition, an objective of this course is to offer some listening techniques that you can take with you to gain a deeper appreciation for music no matter what you listen to.

Changing American Family-3 CEUs Learn about American family life throughout our history: colonial families, families of the westward movement such as the “Little House on the Prairie” family, mining families and contemporary families. Family life patterns are compared by interviews, readings, television, and movies.

Cultural Dynamic and the American Society-3 CEUs This course will look at how the various cultures of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean influence the diversity present within the American society of today. The course will provide an opportunity for students to share their own experiences of living in America. The instructor will explore the influence of foreign cultures on the cultural diversity within American through lecture, discussion, personal antidote and interactive exercises. Other topics to be explored will include the value of cultural diversity in the creation of new social norms; cultural adaptation and coping with culture shock.

American Indian Cultures and Their Impact on American Society-3 CEUs This course will provide an overview of the major American Indian cultures that exist by region in The United States. The role that American Indians have played and continue to play in American society and culture will be discussed as well as current American Indian issues. As part of the course, students will be asked to compare the experience of American Indians to those of indigenous people from their own culture.

History of American Sports-3 CEUs The foundation course for the Sports program is a chronological and topical examination of the history of American sport, beginning in the colonial era and ending in the present. The major events and trends in sports history are analyzed and placed within the broader context of American history, considering how historical processes influenced the rise of sport, and how sport influenced major social and cultural developments.

Growing up in America-3 CEUs This course will examine the changing perception and experience of growing up in the United States from colonial times to the present, assuming that childhood and adolescence are social constructions that have changed over time. The course will explore the emergence of childhood and adolescence as distinct stages of the life cycle, the evolving role of the family in the process of growing up, and the increasing importance of social institutions other than the family in the lives of children. An overview will be given of the difference between growing up rich or poor, black or white, male or female, and rural or urban. Finally, it will consider the reciprocal relationship between popular culture and the lives of young Americans.

Highlights of the Harlem Renaissance-3 CEUs The Harlem Renaissance is one of the most exciting periods in American History. Exploring the significance of this time period, Harlem has the most important historical figures, and significant historical sights. Including Sugar Hill, Hamilton Heights, The Schomberg Center for Black Culture, The Apollo Theater, and The Studio Museum.

Storytelling: As A Way of Life: Exploring Traditions -3 CEUs The STORYTELLING weekend course is a unique opportunity to share a tradition that moves across borders, cultures, and ethnicities. Storytelling is an art form everyone enjoys. Everyone loves and appreciates a good story. Good stories are for adults; good stories are for children. From the days of childhood in all parts of the world, everyone shares the memory of favorite stories or fairytales. Participants in the Storytelling Weekend will learn storytelling games, effective storytelling techniques, and create new stories to tell. These teachings will be done through reading and writing, English Comprehension and English Grammar. Great class for English Beginner.

For more information please contact CWPost at 516.299.2359