To Give Children an Edge, Au Pairs From China

Until 2004, the 20-year old agency called Au Pair in America had received zero requests for Chinese nannies. Since then, it has received 1,400 requests. The increased demand for Mandarin-speaking au pairs is partially attributed to the significant number of US parents who have adopted baby girls from China. The largest driving factor, however, is the assumption that the growing influence of China in the world will make Mandarin a highly marketable skill. Au pair programs registered with the Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation at the US State Department link families with young women who wish to travel to the US for a year to serve as childcare providers while being given “a window into the American experience.” Despite a bias against domestic work for educated women and a difficult visa process, the opportunity to immerse one’s self in American culture appeals to many young Chinese women. Meanwhile, US parents see early exposure to Mandarin as a distinct advantage for their children, allowing them to converse with 836 million people in the world, more than twice as many as those who speak English, Hindi or Spanish. – YaleGlobal