SLIDESHOW_Home_EN

Au Pair wanted?!

Au Pair AdobeStock Halfpoint 519163741
© stock.adobe.com, Halfpoint
Taking in an au pair as a family can offer many advantages, especially if both parents are working and there are no relatives living nearby to assist with childcare. Au pairs are young people from other countries who live with you for a certain period of time and help you with the care of your children and light household chores.

Advantages

A great advantage of the program is that you are relieved by having someone to help you especially with childcare. You will have more time for your work or for other important tasks or activities while your au pair is taking care of the children and you can achieve a better work-life balance.

But the children also benefit: They have the opportunity to learn a new language and get to know a new culture. In the best case, they can also build a close relationship with your au pair and consider him/her a friend and mentor.

English – a child’s play

 Ds Foto stock.adobe.com 800x600 underdogstudios 76582225
© stock.adobe.com, underdogstudios
Early English learning is very important for children in today's globalized world, as English is spoken by more than 1.5 billion people, making it one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. There are many methods and approaches that parents and teachers can use to teach children English.

One of the most popular methods is the use of music and songs to motivate children to learn English. By singing songs, children learn not only vocabulary and expressions, but also the correct pronunciation and intonation. There are many children's songs sung in English that are specifically designed for early English learning such as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and "Old MacDonald Had a Farm".

Another option is reading books aloud in English. Children love to listen to stories and can improve their English skills this way. There are also many games that are specifically designed for early English learning. Examples include memory, bingo, and other card games that include vocabulary and expressions in English.

The School System in Germany: An Overview

AdobeStock jovannig 800x600 97724364
© Stock.adobe.com, jovanning
The school system in Germany is federally organized, which means that each state has its own rules and regulations for the school system. In general, the German school system consists of elementary school, secondary school and high school. Elementary school usually lasts four years and begins at age six, when children are required to attend school. During this time, students primarily learn the basics of German, mathematics and science.

Secondary schools in Germany are divided into different types of school. These include the Hauptschule or Mittelschule, the Realschule, the Gymnasium and the Gesamtschule. The Hauptschule usually lasts five years and provides students with a solid basic education. The Realschule lasts six years and prepares students for the intermediate school leaving certificate. The Gymnasium is the classic type of school that leads students to the Abitur. The comprehensive school, on the other hand, combines all three types of school and allows students to shape their educational path individually.

Relocation agencies – the experts for settling in

Umzug kartons boxes dreamstime 15538633 Caimacanul 800x600
© Caimacanul, Dreamstime.com

Companies are the main users of relocation agencies to make moving a lot easier for new employees. Most relocation agencies offer a complete relocation package. An agency can save foreign newcomers a lot of stress. The agency helps you find the perfect house, room or apartment and even takes care of the time-consuming bureaucratic registration process.

Relocation experts do not only organize the move itself, they can even help with cultural integration, e.g. finding a language school or organizing cultural events. 

Moving is easy with the moving checklist

 Otnaydur Dreamstime s 6997874 800x600
© Otnaydur, Dreamstime.com

Before moving to another city, a lot of things has to be organized and prepared. Often one underestimates the effort and time that such an undertaking takes. To make sure that no one loses track of what is going on, we would like to give you some help here in chronological order with the most important things to consider before and during the move. 

Language schools teaching German

sprachschulen1
© NEW IN THE CITY

Scientifically speaking, there are two ways to learn German as a foreign language: the unsupervised method – picking it up on the street – or the structured approach in classes.

A mixture of both is probably best. Experienced language institutes prefer to use a varied blend of exercises for speaking, listening, writing, reading and vocabulary as well exercises as for pronunciation and grammar in their learning programs. These are supplemented by elements of regional studies.

Help with apartment hunting

Leerer Raum Fotolia 24981779 D.aniel L 800x600
© D.aniel, Fotolia.com

There are many companies that offer quick help on the Internet if you’re looking for a new apartment.

It's best to move into an apartment with a temporary rental contract arranged through a letting agency so you can take your time to find your ideal place to live. Or you can move into a room with a small kitchen in an apartment hotel for a short period.

World press – news from Germany and the rest of the world

AdobeStock 26811221 800x300
© Svort, AdobeStock.com

Click here for the latest news from the most important newspapers and magazines in Germany and the rest of the world. 

 

New in the city?

Download eBooks here for free!


4er Cover Mag Modul 2019

Available as print issue & eBook
›› Magazine shop!
 

Latest articles