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Language preparation · 100% online

Online language courses to make your au pair stay a success

Partner teachers prepare you remotely, over video, for English and for the interview with your future family. Other host languages are added as certified partnerships are integrated. Small groups or private lessons, from home, before you leave.

Language to learn

Active offer today: English for Spanish-speaking candidates. Other certified partners (French FLE, German DaF) are being integrated.

AuPair Connect Certified Partner badge — English courses
  • AuPair Connect Certified Partner
  • Especially for Spanish speakers
  • 100% online

English4RealGoals

Founded by Celine

Intensive au pair English preparation & host family interview coaching

Online classes in small groups (max 4 students) or 1:1, tailored for Spanish-speaking au pairs preparing for life abroad.

Formats

  • 1:1 lessons
  • In pairs
  • Small group (max 4)

Programs

  • Level A1

    Beginner • A1 Foundation

    16 classes of 60 min — twice a week for 8 weeks

    Communication basics, everyday household vocabulary, simple instructions.

  • Level A2–B1

    Communication Skills • A2–B1

    8 classes of 60 min — flexible pace

    Host family interviews, children's daily routines, handling the unexpected.

Key points

  • 100% online (Google Meet / Zoom)
  • Small groups of 3 to 4 people at most, or private lessons
  • Practical focus on host family interviews
  • AuPair Connect Certified Partner badge
Contact @english4realgoals on Instagram

You contact the teacher directly, on the teacher’s official Instagram account.

What is a language course for, before you leave?

An au pair stay runs on everyday communication with the children and their parents. Arriving with enough language changes everything: morning instructions, meals, homework, doctor’s appointments and emergency calls all depend on simple but precise sentences. An online course lets you rehearse these real situations before you leave, instead of waiting for immersion to do all the work.

  • Understand and be understood from the first week: routines, instructions, politeness and household vocabulary.
  • Prepare for the host family interview: introduce yourself, talk about your experience with children and ask your questions about schedules and daily life.
  • Build speaking confidence in a supportive setting, with targeted corrections and role-play.
  • Keep improving after you arrive: an online course continues from your host country, with no need for a local school.

Online course or language school: which should you choose?

Both formats aim at the same goal, but they suit different constraints. These are the criteria that really matter when you are preparing to leave as an au pair.

Criterion Online course Language school
Schedule Evening or weekend slots that fit your time zone and routine. Fixed timetable set by the school, sometimes during the day.
Cost Often cheaper: no travel, no local enrolment fee, small-group lessons. Enrolment fees, materials and transport add to the course price.
Fitting around childcare You can join from home, before or after your childcare hours. You need to leave the house and block a fixed slot.
Immersion Guided practice with a teacher; immersion then happens with the family. Language bath on site and meetings with other students.
Targeted preparation Content built around the interview and host-family vocabulary. General syllabus, rarely focused on everyday au pair life.
Flexibility if things change You keep your teacher if you change city or family. New school and new group with every move.

The right choice depends on your starting level, budget and schedule. Many candidates combine both: online lessons before departure, then a local class once they arrive to meet people.

Prefer a classroom in Germany?

For au pairs in Münster, AuPair Connect recommends KAPITO Sprachschule: a morning intensive course from 9:00 to 12:30, with 10 hours of homework support included.

See German classes for au pairs in Münster with KAPITO

Language courses and the au pair visa: what you need to know

Rules vary widely between host countries. In some countries, attending language courses is part of the au pair obligations; in others it is a right — guaranteed free time — but not a visa condition. Always check the rule that applies to your destination and nationality with the consulate or competent authority before paying for anything.

France
Au pair status includes free time to attend French courses, but the national framework does not impose a fixed number of hours. The hosting agreement must set out these slots; for a non-EU/EEA national, the signed agreement is part of the VLS-TS “jeune au pair” visa application. Visa guide: France
Germany
Attending a German course is mandatory. Since 1 May 2023, the host family contributes to course costs of at least €70 per month, to the extent of the costs actually incurred (€840 being the minimum total over twelve months), and covers transport to the nearest suitable course. A certified basic German level (A1 certificate minimum, for example Goethe, telc or ÖSD) is also required by the consulates when issuing the au pair visa to non-EU/EEA nationals. Visa guide: Germany
Belgium (Wallonia)
Following a language course is required and proof must be provided to the Walloon Public Service. Home checks can take place without notice. Visa guide: Belgium (Wallonia)
Spain
An au pair stay falls under an estancia por estudios, modalidad au pair: your study plan — including language courses — is part of the long-stay visa file at the consulate. Visa guide: Spain
Switzerland
The permit is cantonal and the au pair must have enough time to attend language courses. The exact requirements (age, amount, supporting documents) vary from canton to canton. Visa guide: Switzerland
Italy
There is no standalone au pair visa. Au pair placement relies on bilateral agreements; a language course alone does not create a right to stay. Visa guide: Italy
Portugal
There is no standalone au pair visa. Au pair placement relies on a private arrangement or another legal ground of stay; a language course alone does not create a right to stay. Visa guide: Portugal

These points are for information only and do not replace consular advice. Amounts and documents change: check the official source’s last-updated date before preparing your file.

Frequently asked questions

Is an online course enough to get an au pair visa?
No. A language course never replaces the documents required by the consulate: hosting agreement, financial proof, insurance and so on. In some countries it is part of the stay requirements, but it does not remove any step. Check the official list with the competent consulate.
What level should I start at?
There is no universal minimum level, except where a strict national requirement applies: Germany, for example, requires an A1 certificate when the visa is filed for non-EU/EEA nationals. Many families also appreciate A2 to B1 for smooth everyday exchange, without it being a rule. If you are starting from scratch, plan several months of regular lessons before you leave and favour small groups or one-to-one so you speak more.
Can I keep taking lessons once I am there?
Yes, and it is recommended: an online course continues from your host country, provided you check the times and time zone. It helps you keep a steady rhythm and prepare for a language exam if needed.
How long does it take to improve?
It depends on your starting level and consistency. Two sessions a week for eight weeks is a solid base for clear progress, with no guarantee of gaining a full level. Daily practice with the children and family does the rest.

Transparency & safety

  • Prices and enrolment terms are set freely by each partner teacher. AuPair Connect adds no extra cost: you arrange everything directly with the teacher.
  • The “Certified Partner” badge marks a partnership with AuPair Connect. This page is editorial: the course content remains the teacher’s responsibility.
  • Never pay anything beyond what the teacher has presented to you in writing, and keep a record of your exchanges. Something looks inaccurate, or a conversation makes you uncomfortable? Write to us.

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