DESCRIPTION

The Au Pair Weekend program, "Experience America," is offered through Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah (about 1 hour south of Salt Lake City). This unique and exciting program helps you, as an au pair working in the United States, to gain the most from your American experience. This program can satisfy the U.S. Department of State au pair educational requirement. It's very affordable and can be customized to fit your needs. 

Your "combo" registration includes the following two courses:

Make a Difference
Through a fun and interesting combination of classroom discussions, community activities, and student assignments, you will learn important skills for dealing with the cultural and personal challenges that international visitors often face in the U.S. You will have unique opportunities to reflectively look at U.S. cultural perspectives to see how they influence your relationships and communication with others. Certain classes will discuss how to engage and participate in a variety of community experiences. You will also examine the rich cultural diversity of U.S. communities, with a specific focus on the the greater Salt Lake area and surrounding cities.

Discover Salt Lake City and the U.S.
In addition to gaining a greater understanding of the United States and the Salt Lake area, you will also have the opportunity to share your home country's culture with other students and compare it to key aspects of American life. You will explore U.S. geography while also learning about exciting events in U.S. history and how they have influenced the current U.S. political culture and process. Through various field trips and activities, you will be able to deepen your understanding of the important historical and cultural identity of Utah that you’ve learned about in class.

COMBO COURSE COSTS

The all-inclusive price of $619 includes tuition and registration, course materials, educational excursions including activities and transportation during class hours, as well as six meals.

Please Note: A $50  late feel applies when registering after January 28th.

There is an optional, post-weekend excursion to East High School for an extra $10, where you can actually explore inside the school, at the end of this registration.

Housing is available as a courtesy to students and is provided for those who sign up for housing through this registration site. During the registration process, you can add three nights at the hotel for $120 (shared bed, 3-4 students per room) or $180 (own bed, with 2-3 students per room). You may also add an additional night on Thursday ($50 shared bed or $75 own bed) if necessary for your travel plans.

CLASS MEETING SCHEDULE
Friday: 1:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. (with check-in from 12-12:45)
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sunday: 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Monday: 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Attendance is mandatory during the times listed above.

COURSE WORK REQUIREMENTS

Coursework includes a fun and interesting combination of engaging classes and workshops, community activities, and pre- and post-weekend assignments that will help prepare you for class and also solidify what you’ve learned afterwards. All these are designed to help you make the most of your experience in the U.S.

Through a variety of classes, assignments, and activities, you will earn 60 or 72 educational hours (equivalent to 6 credits)!

Plan to spend 1½ to 4 hours per week, before the weekend, completing these assignments. Some will be very short, and others will take more time, so we will provide a schedule to help you manage your time. All pre-weekend assignments are due the Friday before class.  

CONTACTING YOUR PROGRAM COORDINATOR

You may contact your Program Coordinator, Mary Ann McFarland, by email or text, but email is preferred. 

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (385) 419-1629