BECOME AN AU PAIR IN FRANCE
Each year, AFJ AU PAIR matches more than 400 male and female au pairs, mainly in the South of France (Monaco, Nice, Cannes, Antibes, St Tropez, Gap, Valence, Toulon, Marseille, Aix en Provence, Avignon, Nîmes, Montpellier, Carcassonne, etc..) and Corsica.
Our Au Pair programme is a unique chance for foreigners to travel to the South of France, to live in a French host family and to practice their French.
Video credit : Ellen Bohl, Au Pair with AFJ in 2016
Au Pair in France
- Gain a valuable experience abroad
- French is an international language which is spoken in many countries and in several significant contexts from business to the arts.
- It is one of the official languages of the Olympic Games and the United Nations.
- Speaking French will be invaluable in your career, whether it be in international business or journalism, education, fashion…
- The South of France has a unique quality of life : an ideal climate, many outdoor activities, charming french villages, a great artistic scene and, above all, excellent food!
- France’s historical and cultural background is fascinating.
- France is a central location in Europe which allows for many travel opportunities…
An au pair's duties and responsibilities
- A good au pair should be flexible, enthusiastic and caring. You must be responsible, enjoy being with children, and learn to be patient with them as you will be with them most of the time. You will have to take them to school and pick them up, prepare their meals, play with them, help them with their homework, bathe them…
- Your working hours are scheduled according to your host family’s requirements and may change depending on the day of the week. You will probably be asked to help the family with light household chores. They will expect you to help prepare meals and to keep your room and the children’s room tidy… Most tasks will be related to the children.
- You will be treated as part of the family, consider yourself as the big brother or sister of the children, who shares the housework and helps the host parents.
French classes
The Au Pair in France program allows every au pair to follow french classes in any language school.
Host families will arrange the schedule in order for the au pair to assist to the french classes if they wish to do so.
Schools usually offer between 4 to 12 hours of french classes per week. As soon as you are matched with a family, we will help you find a suitable french school in your area.
Discover France Langue, an example of french language school in Nice that offers specific courses for foreign au pairs : France Langue.
Your costs
TRAVEL
You will have to pay for your travel expenses. If you are applying for a short term placement, we advise that you book a return flight.
LANGUAGE CLASSES
You will definitely have the chance to take French lessons in a private school. The school fees are your responsibility. Please note that schools are sometimes closed during the summer holidays. Our agency will help you find a suitable school, close to your host family’s home.
VISA FEES
LOCAL AGENCY FEES IN YOUR COUNTRY (where applicable)
Other expenses
- Flights
- Health insurance
- French lessons
Benefits of being an au pair
- 25 hours of work per week
- You will receive between 80€ and 100€ per week
Other benefits
- Free meals and accommodation in your host family
- You will have your own room
- 1.5 days off per week
- 1 week paid-leave every 6 months
- The pportunity to take up to 10 hours of French lessons per week (it is your responsibility to pay for these, not your host family’s).
- More than 200 possible families each year
- You will have a Skype interview to get to know your future host family
- An annual “Au Pair Meeting Day” in October where you will meet our team and other au pairs
- Our team is dedicated to helping you: we are available 24/7 by email
- AFJ AU PAIR is an active member of the IAPA and UFAAP
Who can apply for the au pair programme?
If you are motivated, open-minded, love spending time with children, and want to spend some time abroad while learning French: you could be the perfect au pair!
You must:
- Be aged between 18 and 27 (or older if you come from the EU)
- Have experience with children, in at least 2 different families
- Have graduated from high school
- Be able to swim
- Have a basic knowledge of French
- Have studied French in the past 3 years (for non EU members only)
PLEASE NOTE: If you are from outside the European Union, you will need a visa to be an au pair in France. Please, contact the nearest French Consulate/Embassy to ensure that are eligible (you need to be a student or have studied French at school).
How to apply for the au pair programme
Are you interested in becoming an au pair in France?
Please send us an email requesting an application form (info@afj-aupair.org) or use our online application form.
