Food has a way of transporting us back to a place or to the company of someone special, reminding us who we are and where we are from. Food triggers memories of family, friends, and moments in our past.

Bring your best - or worst - food memories and even those kitchen mishaps with you to class. We will discuss recipes, books, movies, and of course, cookbooks, and what we can do to savor the food experiences that we have had. Come prepared to share your stories and to laugh.

Each student will create a short cookbook of recipes that have a special place in your memory, which will then go into a class cookbook. The cookbook project will be a showcase of your collective families, friends, countries, cultures and places that influence you.

SCHEDULE
(Times below listed in Eastern Time.
Click here for more details.)

Class meets online
Wednesday 6pm–9pm
Friday 6pm–9pm
Saturday 10am–1pm
Sunday 10am–1pm

 

 

Your course will consist of a pre-assignment, independent coursework and final assignment as well as live online class sessions with your teacher/other au pairs. Credit for J-1 visa students is 36 hours. Students earning J-1 visa credit must attend all sessions and complete all homework.

You will receive details on how to log in to your online class sessions one day before the start of the course. Once the final online class session has concluded, you will have one week to submit your independent coursework and final assignment to your teacher.

Students are required to be present during all live online class sessions. However, your independent coursework can be completed at your leisure before the deadline one week after your online class ends. We wanted to create flexibility in completion as we know many au pairs now have increased work hours due to COVID-19.

If you have any questions at this time, please email us at learningacrossamerica@bmcc.cuny.edu. Please continue to stay safe.
 

Andrea Seiger, author of 111 Places in Washington, DC You Must Not Miss, is an educator and world traveler who has lived in Washington DC for 31 years. She has lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and has traveled thousands of miles on the Mayan Route of Mexico. Ms. Seiger loves to road trip around the Mid-Atlantic US and beyond.

Harnessing the Power of Creativity: The Practice of Looking

What if instead of looking outside of your surroundings for inspiration and new experiences, you had the tools to deeply connect with where you are? What could these skills add to your daily life, to your relationships, to your future education and career? Using fun and creative exercises, this class gives students the tools to feel more connected and see the wonder of the world more deeply wherever they are.

Students do not need to be experienced artists or have special art supplies to enjoy this class. 

"this was amazing. It has given me so many ideas and I loved every minute."

"The format of the class, even though online, was super fun and engaging. I was hooked the whole time!"

"The teacher really made the class super dynamic and enjoyable"

 

 

 

Class consists of a pre-assignment, in-person class meetings in Washington, DC, and a final assignment, as well as live online class sessions with your teacher/other au pairs. Credit for J-1 visa students is 36 hours. Students earning J-1 visa credit must attend all sessions and complete all homework.

Students will receive a pre-assignment one week before class begins. 


 

Andrea Seiger, author of 111 Places in Washington, DC You Must Not Miss, is an educator and world traveler who has lived in Washington DC for 31 years. She has lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and has traveled thousands of miles on the Mayan Route of Mexico. Ms. Seiger loves to road trip around the Mid-Atlantic US and beyond.

 

Miami: Be the Change in your Community

Miami is home to people from across the globe who help sustain its many multicultural neighborhoods and drive its amazing art scene. In this class, you will study how a modern city can continue to thrive economically and artistically while also becoming environmentally sustainable.

After your online session, you will travel together through the city of Miami in person (outdoors and masked). After, students will use Miami as a model and craft sustainability plans with their home cities in mind.

To read specifics about this course, click here.

Instructor
Mariusz Galczynski is an education researcher and specialist in multicultural and international education. Although he has traversed the globe to present his scholarly work, he is proud to call Miami home. By day, he works as a secondary English Language Arts teacher at a high school in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood. Outside of the classroom, he loves to explore the best of what Miami has to offer: its tropical environment, thriving arts scene, and diverse, vibrant communities.

More information
You will receive details on how to log in to your online class sessions one day before the start of the course. Once the final online class session has concluded, you will have one week to submit your independent coursework and final assignment to your teacher. Students are required to be present during all class sessions.

To read specifics about class schedules and requirements for this course, click here.

Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for taking this course.

Registration and Enrollment
This course is partially online and partially in person. Add to cart and check out.

New Orleans

New Orleans is called “The Most Interesting City in America” and it is one of the most diverse, cultural, artistic, historical, and FUN places you’ll ever visit! In your online orientation classes, your teacher Libby Bollino, an extraordinary New Orleans historian and 10th generation Louisiana native, will introduce you to the city with stories, pictures, videos, and assignments meant to give you a deep understanding of the culture and history of this wonderful city. After this, it is time to hit the streets on foot and on trolley in person!

The French Quarter, the vibrant, colorful, musical heart of New Orleans is the start of your visit. This is the city’s oldest neighborhood and the center of the city’s exciting nightlife. You will see famous sites such as Bourbon Street, Jackson Square, the Mississippi River, and St. Louis Cathedral. You’ll also visit St. Louis Cemetery #3, one of New Orleans’ famous above-ground cemeteries as you hear about the unique funeral traditions of the city and some of its best ghost stories.

You’ll experience the natural beauty of City Park, a 1300-acre green space and see world-class art in the NOMA Sculpture Garden. Finally, students will learn about the birth of jazz in Armstrong Park. Libby will guide you through Congo Square, the very location where enslaved people gathered to keep their African culture alive, and the monuments to important contributors to American music.

Instructor
After earning her Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Louisiana and teaching English and Special Education, Libby Bollino found her real passion was for teaching the history and culture of New Orleans. She has been guiding BMCC Au Pair Experience students through the extraordinary French-American, Cajun, and Creole stories since 2016. Libby is the founding owner of Lucky Bean Tours.
 

More information
Credit for J-1 visa students is 36 hours. Students earning J-1 visa credit must attend all sessions and complete all homework.

You will receive details on how to log in to your online orientation sessions one day before the start of the course. Once the final online class session has concluded, you will have one week to submit your independent coursework and final assignment to your teacher. Students are required to be present during all class sessions. If you have any questions at this time, please email us at aupair@bmcc.cuny.edu. Please continue to stay safe.

To read specifics about class schedules and requirements about this course, click here.

Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for taking this course.

Registration and Enrollment
This course is partially online and partially in person. Add to cart and check out.

New Orleans

New Orleans is called “The Most Interesting City in America” and it is one of the most diverse, cultural, artistic, historical, and FUN places you’ll ever visit! In your online orientation classes, your teacher Libby Bollino, an extraordinary New Orleans historian and 10th generation Louisiana native, will introduce you to the city with stories, pictures, videos, and assignments meant to give you a deep understanding of the culture and history of this wonderful city. After this, it is time to hit the streets on foot and on trolley in person!

The French Quarter, the vibrant, colorful, musical heart of New Orleans is the start of your visit. This is the city’s oldest neighborhood and the center of the city’s exciting nightlife. You will see famous sites such as Bourbon Street, Jackson Square, the Mississippi River, and St. Louis Cathedral. You’ll also visit St. Louis Cemetery #3, one of New Orleans’ famous above-ground cemeteries as you hear about the unique funeral traditions of the city and some of its best ghost stories.

You’ll experience the natural beauty of City Park, a 1300-acre green space and see world-class art in the NOMA Sculpture Garden. Finally, students will learn about the birth of jazz in Armstrong Park. Libby will guide you through Congo Square, the very location where enslaved people gathered to keep their African culture alive, and the monuments to important contributors to American music.

Instructor
After earning her Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Louisiana and teaching English and Special Education, Libby Bollino found her real passion was for teaching the history and culture of New Orleans. She has been guiding BMCC Au Pair Experience students through the extraordinary French-American, Cajun, and Creole stories since 2016. Libby is the founding owner of Lucky Bean Tours.
 

More information
Credit for J-1 visa students is 36 hours. Students earning J-1 visa credit must attend all sessions and complete all homework.

You will receive details on how to log in to your online orientation sessions one day before the start of the course. Once the final online class session has concluded, you will have one week to submit your independent coursework and final assignment to your teacher. Students are required to be present during all class sessions. If you have any questions at this time, please email us at aupair@bmcc.cuny.edu. Please continue to stay safe.

To read specifics about class schedules and requirements about this course, click here.

Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for taking this course.

Registration and Enrollment
This course is partially online and partially in person. Add to cart and check out.

New Orleans

New Orleans is called “The Most Interesting City in America” and it is one of the most diverse, cultural, artistic, historical, and FUN places you’ll ever visit! In your online orientation classes, your teacher Libby Bollino, an extraordinary New Orleans historian and 10th generation Louisiana native, will introduce you to the city with stories, pictures, videos, and assignments meant to give you a deep understanding of the culture and history of this wonderful city. After this, it is time to hit the streets on foot and on trolley in person!

The French Quarter, the vibrant, colorful, musical heart of New Orleans is the start of your visit. This is the city’s oldest neighborhood and the center of the city’s exciting nightlife. You will see famous sites such as Bourbon Street, Jackson Square, the Mississippi River, and St. Louis Cathedral. You’ll also visit St. Louis Cemetery #3, one of New Orleans’ famous above-ground cemeteries as you hear about the unique funeral traditions of the city and some of its best ghost stories.

You’ll experience the natural beauty of City Park, a 1300-acre green space and see world-class art in the NOMA Sculpture Garden. Finally, students will learn about the birth of jazz in Armstrong Park. Libby will guide you through Congo Square, the very location where enslaved people gathered to keep their African culture alive, and the monuments to important contributors to American music.

Instructor
After earning her Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Louisiana and teaching English and Special Education, Libby Bollino found her real passion was for teaching the history and culture of New Orleans. She has been guiding BMCC Au Pair Experience students through the extraordinary French-American, Cajun, and Creole stories since 2016. Libby is the founding owner of Lucky Bean Tours.
 

More information
Credit for J-1 visa students is 36 hours. Students earning J-1 visa credit must attend all sessions and complete all homework.

You will receive details on how to log in to your online orientation sessions one day before the start of the course. Once the final online class session has concluded, you will have one week to submit your independent coursework and final assignment to your teacher. Students are required to be present during all class sessions. If you have any questions at this time, please email us at aupair@bmcc.cuny.edu. Please continue to stay safe.

To read specifics about class schedules and requirements about this course, click here.

Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for taking this course.

Registration and Enrollment
This course is partially online and partially in person. Add to cart and check out.

NYCinema: Iconic Movies in an Iconic City

New York has been the setting for thousands of movies. Take a stroll through American culture as you learn more about films you love and are introduced to iconic classic films, too. In this course, we will focus on three particular themes that often appear in movies set in New York: cultural diversity, love and friendship, and stories of crime. Your independent projects are centered on three films that you will watch and analyze: When Harry Met Sally, Do the Right Thing, and another of your choice. You’ll also watch and discuss clips from movies like The Devil Wears Prada, Gangs of New York, Ghostbusters, The Godfather, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and many more!

On our walking tours, we will live what we learned by visiting many famous NYC landmarks and neighborhoods. On the first day, we will start at the legendary 5 points area, where immigrants from dozens of countries lived and fought for a better life in the 1800's (Gangs of New York). Next, we will follow in the steps of the Corleone family in Chinatown/Little Italy. Then we’ll head to the lower east side of Manhattan, where we will have lunch at the legendary Katz Delicatessen and you'll see the famous table from When Harry Met Sally ('I'll have what she's having.'). After lunch, we will explore some films shot in Alphabet City, and take a stroll through Tompkins Park, where John McClane and Zeus Carver had to solve a deadly riddle (Die Hard with a Vengeance).

On the second day of our tour, we will try to bust a ghost at the main branch of the New York Public Library. From there, we’ll walk down 5th Avenue towards Central Park, stopping by a famous subway grate to practice our best “Marilyn moment” (The Seven Year Itch), as well walk in Audrey Hepburn’s footsteps to the iconic Tiffany's. In Central Park, we will see the Plaza Hotel: not only where Big broke Carrie Bradshaw’s heart, but the “Home” base of Kevin McAllister when he was lost in New York. Then we’ll visit some important Central Park landmarks of New York cinema, including the Dairy (Enchanted), The Mall (Trainwreck), Bethesda Terrace and Fountain (The Avengers), and Bow Bridge (Elf). Finally, we'll see the famous "Spook Central" building from Ghostbusters and The Dakota building from the iconic Rosemary's Baby!

More information
Our online classes consist of a pre-assignment, independent coursework, and final assignment, as well as live online class sessions with your teacher/other au pairs. Credit for J-1 visa students is 36 hours. Students earning J-1 visa credit must attend all sessions and complete all homework.

To read specifics about class schedules and requirements about this course, click here.

Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for taking this course.

Registration and Enrollment
This course is 100% online. Add to cart and check out.

NYCinema: Iconic Movies in an Iconic City

New York has been the setting for thousands of movies. Take a stroll through American culture as you learn more about films you love and are introduced to iconic classic films, too. In this course, we will focus on three particular themes that often appear in movies set in New York: cultural diversity, love and friendship, and stories of crime. Your independent projects are centered on three films that you will watch and analyze: When Harry Met Sally, Do the Right Thing, and another of your choice. You’ll also watch and discuss clips from movies like The Devil Wears Prada, Gangs of New York, Ghostbusters, The Godfather, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and many more!

On our walking tours, we will live what we learned by visiting many famous NYC landmarks and neighborhoods. On the first day, we will start at the legendary 5 points area, where immigrants from dozens of countries lived and fought for a better life in the 1800's (Gangs of New York). Next, we will follow in the steps of the Corleone family in Chinatown/Little Italy. Then we’ll head to the lower east side of Manhattan, where we will have lunch at the legendary Katz Delicatessen and you'll see the famous table from When Harry Met Sally ('I'll have what she's having.'). After lunch, we will explore some films shot in Alphabet City, and take a stroll through Tompkins Park, where John McClane and Zeus Carver had to solve a deadly riddle (Die Hard with a Vengeance).

On the second day of our tour, we will try to bust a ghost at the main branch of the New York Public Library. From there, we’ll walk down 5th Avenue towards Central Park, stopping by a famous subway grate to practice our best “Marilyn moment” (The Seven Year Itch), as well walk in Audrey Hepburn’s footsteps to the iconic Tiffany's. In Central Park, we will see the Plaza Hotel: not only where Big broke Carrie Bradshaw’s heart, but the “Home” base of Kevin McAllister when he was lost in New York. Then we’ll visit some important Central Park landmarks of New York cinema, including the Dairy (Enchanted), The Mall (Trainwreck), Bethesda Terrace and Fountain (The Avengers), and Bow Bridge (Elf). Finally, we'll see the famous "Spook Central" building from Ghostbusters and The Dakota building from the iconic Rosemary's Baby!

More information
Our online classes consist of a pre-assignment, independent coursework, and final assignment, as well as live online class sessions with your teacher/other au pairs. Credit for J-1 visa students is 36 hours. Students earning J-1 visa credit must attend all sessions and complete all homework.

To read specifics about class schedules and requirements about this course, click here.

Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for taking this course.

Registration and Enrollment
This course is 100% online. Add to cart and check out.

The BMCC Au Pair Experience program offers students who don't live near one of our campus locations the opportunity to travel to an American city and take classes there. Students who live in the Washington, DC area will enjoy taking a deeper dive into the history and culture of their host city.

Sudents will learn onsite at local attractions.

• Credit for 36 educational hours or 3.6 CEUs (Continuing Education Units).

• There is a pre-assignment for this course. Students will receive their pre-assignment via email one week before the first class.

• All costs associated with the class. (There are no material fees or activity fees!) Travel to and from Washington, DC is not included. 

SCHEDULE
Class meets online and in person.
(Times below listed in Eastern Time.
Click here for more details.)

Wednesday, September 21: 6pm-8pm (Online: Mandatory Orientation)
Saturday, September 24: 9am-4pm (live in-person in Washington, DC)
Sunday, September 25: 9am-4pm (live in-person in Washington, DC)
 Wednesday, September 28: 6pm-8pm (Online assignment review)
 

 

Your course will consist of a pre-assignment, independent coursework, and final assignment as well as live online class sessions with your teacher and other au pairs. Credit for J-1 visa students is 36 hours. Students earning J-1 visa credit must attend all sessions and complete all homework.

 

Online orientation will include an overview of Washington DC and the people who built, established, and helped grow it into one of the world’s most beautiful and historic capital cities, one of only 3 planned capitals. 

Then, lace up your walking shoes for the two field trips!

On Saturday, visit the highlights of the National Mall and many of the monuments, memorials, gardens, and museums, that are part of it. You will also see the White House and the US Capitol building. There are so many stories!

On Sunday, you will explore one of DC’s vibrant neighborhoods – either Capitol Hill or Dupont Circle - where you will see historic homes, walk-in alleys, enjoy murals, and hear stories about the people who created these places, historic events that took place there and find out fun facts all along the way.

By the end of the last day, you will want to come back and explore even more!

Note: Most museums are now open and you can visit the ones of your choice after class. Some still require time-stamped entry passes. Check the museum websites for details.

About your teacher: Andrea Seiger, author of "111 Places in Washington, DC You Must Not Miss", is an educator and world traveler who has lived in Washington DC for 31 years. She has lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and has traveled thousands of miles on the Mayan Route of Mexico. Ms. Seiger loves to road trip around the Mid-Atlantic US and beyond.

View author Andrea Seiger speaking about "111 Places in Washington That You Must Not Miss":

Washington, D.C.: Girl Power!

Step inside the lives and stories of some strong and groundbreaking women who have left their mark on Washington, the United States, and even the world. Suffragettes, those who fought for women's voting rights, First Ladies, artists, community activists, and countless others have influenced culture, politics, and the social fabric of this city.

Instructor
Andrea Seiger, author of 111 Places in Washington, DC You Must Not Miss, is an educator and world traveler who has lived in Washington DC for 33 years. She has lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and has traveled thousands of miles on the Mayan Route of Mexico. Ms. Seiger loves to road trip around the Mid-Atlantic US and beyond.

More information
You will receive details on how to log in to your online class sessions one day before the start of the course. Once the final online class session has concluded, you will have one week to submit your independent coursework and final assignment to your teacher. Students are required to be present during all class sessions.

To read specifics about class schedules and requirements for this course, click here.

Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for taking this course.

Registration and Enrollment
This course is partially online and partially in person. Add to cart and check out.