New Orleans is a city with a personality all its own. Its history, traditions and diverse cultural influences can be seen and felt everywhere — from its neighborhoods and architecture to its music, celebrations and food.

As you experience the city, you’ll explore what has made New Orleans one of America’s most distinctive destinations and discover how generations of people and cultures have shaped its character. Along the way, you’ll have opportunities to connect what you see and experience in New Orleans with your own experience of living in America.

Your journey begins with a flexible, self-paced online module that will be available starting this month. Designed to fit easily around your schedule, you can complete these activities and shared assignments at your own speed in about 12 total hours.

By completing the online portion before your trip, you'll have more free time to explore the places you’ve come to see!

5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. — Live “Know Before You Go” Zoom class

12 noon to 6 p.m. — In-person New Orleans touring experience

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — In-person New Orleans touring experience

Class begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m.

Classes will take place at 601 Poydras Street, New Orleans, in the heart of the city’s downtown.

The highlights of the city explorations include the following: French Quarter (Jackson Square, Royal Street, French Market, Mississippi River), Central Business District, Algiers Point, Armstrong Park/Congo Square, Lafayette Square, Cafe du Monde, City Park, New Orleans Museum of Art Sculpture Garden, Historic New Orleans Collection Museum, St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, Bywater, Treme, Marigny/Frenchmen Street, Magazine Street and the Garden District (Audubon Park, Loyola and Tulane Universities).

Students will also visit two iconic local attractions.

• Cajun Pride Swamp Tour, where you’ll journey back to the early days of Louisiana bayou and swamp explorations. 

• Mardi Gras World, showcasing the history and craftsmanship of New Orleans’ world famous celebration.

Please keep in mind that plans are subject to change in light of factors such as the weather, time constraints, road closures and events taking place in the city during the time of your visit.

Accommodations are not included with this course.  Based on feedback from au pairs, you may wish to consider the following places to stay:

• HI Hostel (1028 Canal Street)

• Madame Isabelle’s House in New Orleans (1021 Kerlerec Street)

• Quisby Hostel at 1225 St. Charles Avenue)

Many students also find it helpful to use the Hostelworld website when searching for a place to stay. We mention this website — and the three properties noted above — simply as a resource that you may wish to consider and do not recommend or endorse any particular property.

Our live Zoom session is an important part of the course and gives everyone a chance to meet, connect and share ideas before the in-person experience. Attendance is required, cameras should be on, and we ask everyone to participate in the conversation.

Before registering, please take a moment to check the dates, class times and time zone for your course. Be sure the schedule works with your responsibilities to your host family.

Because some courses fill quickly, we recommend registering and waiting for your enrollment confirmation before making nonrefundable travel arrangements.

As the course gets closer, we’ll also invite you to a private WhatsApp group. It’s a convenient way for us to share updates and for students to connect with one another about travel plans and the upcoming experience.

Once you successfully complete the course, you’ll earn 6 credits / 72  credit hours.

If you have questions about how those hours apply to your individual au pair education requirement, we recommend checking with your au pair organization.

You’ll have up to three weeks after the course to complete and submit your post-course assignment.

Once your course requirements have been successfully completed, your certificate of completion will be issued by Towson University, typically within 10 days. And there’s no need to wait the full three weeks — the sooner you submit your assignment, the sooner we can begin processing your certificate.

We understand that plans sometimes change. Your refund or course-credit options depend on how far in advance you cancel.

If you cancel . . .
― 22 or more days before the start of the first class, you will receive a full refund.
― 21 to 11 days before the start of the first class, you will receive a full refund less a $50 cancellation fee.
― 10 to 6 days before the start of the first class, you will not receive a refund. You will instead receive a credit that can be applied toward the tuition price of any Learning Across America course. The credit will be in the amount of the tuition you paid, less a $75 cancellation fee. The credit is good for one year from the date of issue and is transferable.
― 5 or fewer days before the class begins, no refund or credit is available.

As an alternative, should you need to cancel we offer the ability to transfer your enrollment in the same course to another au pair without penalty, provided we receive notice at least 3 days before the start of the course.

To cancel, simply email Learning Across America directly. Please send the request from the student who is enrolled and use Attention: Cancellation of Course as the subject line.

If your plans change and you’d prefer to move to another Learning Across America course, you may be able to transfer your enrollment. Any applicable fee depends on how close you are to the start of your original course:
— 22 or more day before the start of your original course, you may transfer without penalty.
— 21 to 11 days before the start of your original course, a $25 transfer fee will apply.
— 10 to 6 day before the start of your original course, a $50 transfer fee will apply.
— 5 or fewer days before the class begins, there is no transfer permitted.