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12.9 Week
Based on past participants’ experiences, we’ve organized the common themes of learning, reflection, and growth by time period.
Capturing the growth journeys
of our participants.
Grow
PROJECT INTRODUCTION
If you want to save on living expenses while studying English in Toronto, Canada, Demi-pair is the answer!
A Demi-pair involves living with a local Canadian family, where you provide 4 hours of childcare on weekdays (up to 20 hours per week) in exchange for accommodation (a private room and three meals a day). During the day when the kids are at school or kindergarten, you can study English at one of North America's top language schools, certified by Quality English. In the afternoons, spend time with the kids or enjoy life with your host family, rapidly improving your English!
Q. What is the difference between an au pair and a demi pair in Canada?🤔
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Au Pair |
Demi Pair |
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Full-time work (over 40 hours per week) |
Part-time work (only 20 hours per week) |
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Receives a small wage |
No wage, but saves over 250,000 KRW per week on accommodation and meals |
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Few opportunities to meet people outside the family |
Many opportunities to meet people through language school/activities |
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Must commit to 1 year |
Flexible duration from 8 to 24 weeks |
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Only women |
Open to everyone, including men |
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Strict age limit of 18-30 years |
Wide age range of 18-39 years |
1. Save up to 9.25 million KRW on accommodation and study English economically in Canada!
In Toronto, Canada, the basic cost of homestay accommodation (including a private room and three meals a day) is 9.25 million KRW for 24 weeks. However, by participating in the Demi-pair program, you get all of this for free in exchange for just 4 hours of childcare per weekday! You'll only need to cover the tuition fees for your English language course. Plus, enjoy free workshops and activities such as city tours, wine tasting, yoga, and salsa dancing, and meet friends from around the world while living in Canada.
Moreover, according to the '2017 Global Cost of Living Report' by The Economist, Seoul ranked 6th among 133 major cities worldwide in terms of cost of living, while Toronto ranked 86th. This indicates that the cost of living in Korea is relatively high. Don't let learning English be expensive and difficult. Save significantly on living expenses abroad with DemiPair! Our homestays are carefully selected to ensure that you have a supportive second family during your stay in Canada. :)
2. 24/7 English Exposure with Local Homestay! Experience Real Life in Canada and Learn Living English!
The fastest way to improve your English while studying abroad is to immerse yourself in an environment where you're exposed to English 24/7 through homestays. Especially when living with children and using English regularly, language skills improve rapidly due to the learning period. In Canada, experience Canadian culture fully by enjoying leisure time and various holidays and celebrations with your new family. You might even have the chance to attend birthday parties and school events for the children, creating some of the most unique experiences ever! (* After the DemiPair period, you can discuss with the host family to switch to a working holiday or au pair program.)
3. Crime Rate Hasn't Increased in 10 Years. Strict Gun Control Ensures Perfect Safety! The Safest Country for International Students
When staying abroad for a long time, safety is the primary concern. Canada is known for its low crime rate and strict gun control, making it safer compared to other Western countries. Additionally, Canada is a diverse nation with various ethnicities coexisting peacefully, which means there is no racial discrimination, making it the safest country for international students. If you’re considering a working holiday or immigration to Canada, start with language studies and meet a carefully vetted new family through DemiPair to solidify your initial settlement.
4. Toronto: The Hub of Most Jobs in Canada Start Your Settlement and Working Holiday There!
Once you’ve settled into the Canadian lifestyle through homestay and your English skills have improved through classes, why not consider a working holiday? Toronto is the fourth largest city in North America, after New York, Los Angeles, and Mexico City, and the largest city in Canada. It’s the economic hub of the country with major banks and the stock exchange headquartered there, and a balanced development across primary, secondary, and tertiary industries, making it the most preferred location for working holidays in Canada. If you’re already considering a working holiday, DemiPair can help you settle safely in Toronto. Even if you hadn't thought about a working holiday before, DemiPair can give you the confidence to try it out. Broaden your horizons and step into a bigger world with a working holiday!
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Highly recommended by a gap year planner!! The project concept developed and overseen by the planner.
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■ Growing with the Project
✉️ Message from a participant of the Canada Demi Pair project, received locally after arrival ❤️
Actually, I arrived yesterday, but since the flight was long, I’m a bit late in saying hello because I was catching up on sleep! I’m still a bit jet-lagged and was nervous about my first layover, but meeting kind people and taking my first steps here has been exciting and thrilling. While I was initially worried about how the next 6 months of adventure would unfold, now that I'm here, I’m looking forward to it. For the first week or maybe even the next week, I'll likely focus on settling in and taking care of family and friends in both my local area and back in Korea rather than making new friends. Looking forward to your continued support!
*You can also find various stories from participants at [Gap Year Stories].
SUPPORT
Detailed Support
■ Accommodation and Meals
- Homestay where you can learn local culture and English at the same time (Private Room)
- Delicious local Canadian meals or ingredients (3 meals/day)
- Shared spaces in the homestay such as the kitchen and living room to make memories
- Warm welcome with airport pickup by host family (one-way)
■ Project Activities
- Systematic English learning (20 lessons per week)
- Free workshops held daily for 30 minutes (3 times a week)
- Free activities held every Friday
- Class materials and teaching resources
- Local dedicated manager to support your stay
■ Care Services
- Participant dispatch procedures: Project registration and dispatch process
- Orientation provided: Various orientation information to help you succeed in your gap year
- OT Materials: Guides from planners to ensure a safe experience for first-time travelers
- Gap Year Notebook: A notebook to reflect on yourself during the gap year (▶ More Details)
- Gap Year Mission Discount
■ Certificates and Recommendations
- Issuance of activity certificate from the local organization
- Issuance of participation certificate and completion certificate from Korea Gap Year
* Issuance of local organization certificates and recommendations will be done upon request after project completion. Also, the format or issuance status of these documents may vary according to the local organization's guidelines.
* Certificates and recommendations will be issued after successfully completing the project and submitting a review.
Exclusions
- Round-trip airfare
- Deposit for textbooks (*$100, refundable if there are no issues upon completion of the course)
- Individual travel insurance (Insurance is required for safe stay during the project)
- Other local living expenses
* Please book your flight and transportation after receiving final confirmation of your participation and departure schedule.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
■ Project Details
An incredible project where you can stay with a local family in Toronto and learn English!! In the mornings, you study English at a language school in downtown Toronto, and in the afternoons, you help with child care or household chores in exchange for free accommodation. Immersing yourself in a homestay environment and local culture allows you to quickly improve your English skills and learn more affordably since your accommodation is provided.
| * The minimum participation period for this project is 12 weeks, but for July-August, 8 weeks is temporarily available. July and August are peak seasons, so there are many participants from around the world, and matching with a demi-pair family may take some time. Therefore, we recommend applying at least 4-6 months in advance. It usually takes around 4-6 weeks to arrange a homestay placement. |
1. Learning English
Classes focus on conversational English that you can use in a variety of everyday situations. The curriculum emphasizes practical English conversation skills, including speaking, writing, listening, pronunciation, and real-life conversation techniques, which will help you effectively improve your communication skills.
- Class Schedule: Monday to Friday, 20 lessons per week (09:00-13:00)
- Classes are conducted in small groups of up to 10 students (average 7-8 students) with classmates from various nationalities.
* Average Nationalities: Germany 20%, France 15%, Mexico 15%, Spain 10%, Switzerland 10%, Japan 10%, Korea 5%, Brazil 5%, etc.
- Before the project starts, a test will be conducted to provide customized classes at the local school based on your level.
- Daily workshops such as word games, drama, power speaking, pronunciation, and media English are offered for free for 30 minutes each day.
- Every Friday, various activities such as city tours, yoga, salsa dancing, soccer, museum visits, and wine tasting are offered for free.
- On weekends, local excursions such as trips to Montreal and Niagara Falls are organized. Additional costs apply, and participation is optional.
2. Childcare and Household Chores
In exchange for accommodation (private room) and three delicious local meals a day, you will help with childcare and household chores. Typically, the children are between 2 years old and 14 years old. Since you live as a member of the local family, you can build a closer relationship with the host family compared to general homestays.
- Activity Time: Up to 20 hours per week
- Provided: Private room, three local Canadian meals, airport pickup (one way)
- Generally, childcare and household chores are done during weekdays, outside of English class hours, and there are no childcare and household chores activities on Saturdays/Sundays. However, this may change depending on local circumstances and individual participant situations.
- The schedule for childcare and household chores can be negotiated with the homestay family. While you are expected to be responsible, if you need to adjust the activity times due to English classes or personal schedules, please communicate with the homestay family in advance!
- Cleaning your private room or personal household chores (ironing, laundry, etc.) are not included in the activity hours.
■ Activity Examples
- Guide the children in play or help with homework.
- Assist with children's school commutes.
- Go on outings with the children.
- Prepare snacks for the children and assist with meals.
- Bathe the children.
- Organize the children's rooms.
- Read books to the children or play games with them.
- Wash the children's clothes and assist with household chores (ironing, cleaning, meal assistance, etc.).
■ Sample Schedule
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Monday - Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday - Sunday |
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07:00 - 08:00 |
Assist with children's school commutes |
Free Time |
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09:00 - 09:30 |
Workshop (Pronunciation, Power Speaking, etc.) |
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09:30 - 13:00 |
English Classes (4 Lessons Daily) |
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13:00 - 13:45 |
Lunch & Free Time |
Lunch & Activities |
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16:30 - 19:30 |
Childcare & Household Chores |
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* The above schedule is an example and may change depending on the needs of the host family, local circumstances, and individual participant situations.
* English workshops and Friday activities are provided free of charge and you can freely participate as long as it does not interfere with childcare and household chores.
■ Tips from a Planner Galore!!
1. Responsibility, an Open Mind, and Communication are Really, Really Important!!
This project involves working with children, so it's essential to participate with responsibility. Toronto is a place where various cultures coexist, so family structures are diverse and each family has different living norms. Moreover, since communication is in English, which is not your native language, misunderstandings can occur frequently. Therefore, it’s really important to respect and consider the culture and customs of the host family. To avoid misunderstandings due to different cultures, it’s also good to talk a lot with the host family about your feelings and thoughts.
Additionally, to handle imaginative and energetic children, you need to make an effort to understand their thoughts and personalities, and pay close attention to what they want. Most importantly, be mindful of their safety. However, once you connect with these pure-hearted children, there’s no greater joy than the emotional fulfillment you’ll experience. During this time, try to create your own family abroad through consideration and respect!
2. What to Prepare in Korea?
- Be Proactive in Household Chores!
In this project, you will receive room and board in exchange for becoming a family member and helping with childcare and household chores. Depending on the host family you are assigned to, you may experience various household tasks such as cooking, childcare, cleaning, using the dishwasher, setting the table, and doing laundry. Therefore, it would be helpful to prepare by assisting your parents with cooking, ironing, cleaning, or spending time with younger cousins before the project to adapt to the local environment!
- International Driver's License and Safe Driving Skills!
Depending on the host family, some may require driving to help with children’s school pick-up and drop-off or to take them on outings using the host family’s car. If driving is necessary, we will inform you about this during the process of matching you with a host family after your project participation is confirmed.
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English Requirement ★★★☆☆ / Physical Requirement ★★☆☆☆ - Since this involves working with children, you will need a certain level of communication skills to interact with the host family. - To play with children, you'll often need a good level of physical stamina. Check your fitness level before applying for the project. |
INSTITUTION INTRODUCTION
This project is run by a language school established in 1999, which has been operating the Demi-Pair program for a long time. Specifically, this English language school has been operating with a small, elite group of teachers and students from its inception to the present day to enhance interaction. The staff at the school make various efforts to create a family-like atmosphere to help students adapt well to the new environment, including personal interviews and providing various activities.
Additionally, the teachers are trained to provide meticulous feedback on students' English development.
Furthermore, the school is dedicated to providing high-quality education and has been certified as one of North America's top language schools by Quality English, a UK-based certification body.
Message from the Local Organization Representative
Hello, Gap Year participants! This is Wendy, the coordinator for this project.Welcome to the beautiful city of Toronto, Canada. If you participate in our Demi-Pair project, you will have the opportunity to become a member of a Canadian homestay family and learn English at the same time. In the mornings, you will improve your English skills at our language school and meet friends from various parts of the world, and in the afternoons, you will become a "family member" and take care of their children. Your homestay family will introduce you to Canadian culture and treat you as a member of their family. You will have the chance to explore the safe, fun, and vibrant city of Toronto. Participating in the Demi-Pair project offers a great opportunity to learn English, make new friends, and become part of a Canadian homestay family—all at once! We sincerely welcome you to join this project and look forward to meeting you!
ACCOMMODATION INTRODUCTION
This project includes homestay. All homestay families are native English speakers and are selected based on the institution's strict standards. The homestays are directly managed by the institution. Additionally, there is a Demi-Pair coordinator available to provide immediate assistance if any difficulties arise during your stay.
Meals are provided three times a day—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—either as home-cooked meals or as ingredients. (Breakfast typically includes toast and cereal with tea or coffee; lunch consists of sandwiches and fruit; dinner may include roasted meat, pasta, etc.) Generally, participants prepare their own breakfast and lunch using the ingredients provided by the homestay family, while dinner is either prepared with or provided by the host family.
Homestay accommodations are located approximately 20 to 50 minutes from downtown Toronto by public transportation.Experience daily life fully immersed in English and enjoy vibrant Canadian culture by staying with local Canadian families!
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Private room / 3 meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) or ingredients provided |
* Meal schedules and details may vary depending on the homestay family.
LOCATION INTRODUCTION
Location: Canada, Toronto
‘A city where differences meet and create the most harmony, Toronto’
Toronto, in Indigenous language, means 'A place where people gather'. As Canada's largest city, Toronto lives up to its name by harmoniously blending diverse races and cultures from around the world. Walking through downtown Toronto, you'll find yourself captivated by its vibrant and ever-changing atmosphere.
You'll see a mix of historical castles, modern architecture reminiscent of futuristic cities, relaxing green parks, and beautiful beaches. Additionally, Toronto boasts one of the safest and friendliest cities in the world, known for its high quality of life. Experience vibrant English and engage with friends from various cultures in Toronto!
Recommended Travel Destinations
Target Participants
- Anyone aged 18 to 39
- Those who can communicate in basic English
- Those with experience in childcare or teaching
- Anyone looking to stay long-term in Canada for studies or working holidays
- Anyone who wants to improve their English skills and experience the culture through the Demi-Pair program
- Anyone looking to learn English at a more affordable rate
SCHEDULE AND PRICES
■ The minimum participation period for this project is 12 weeks .
* For DemiPair, as there is a matching period with host families, it is recommended to apply at least 3 months in advance if you wish to participate on a desired date.
The earlier you apply before your intended participation date increases the time available for matching with a suitable host family, improving the success rate.
■ Gap Year Mission Scholarship (▶ Click for details)
■ Installment Payment Information
If you are unable to pay in full, you can pay a registration fee of 500,000 KRW upfront and pay the remaining balance within 2 weeks. The process for confirming project participation will be initiated based on the date of the registration fee payment, and the availability and details will be confirmed. To secure a spot for your desired date and duration, early application is important! (Refunds are not possible after confirmation.)
* However, if the start date is approaching, the payment schedule for the remaining balance may vary depending on the situation.
■ Early Bird Discount and Emergency Application Information
All Gap Year projects recommend applying at least 3 months before the project start date due to the normal processing procedures and preparation period. Applications should be submitted at least 2 months in advance. However, if there are unavoidable reasons or urgent need for participation, an emergency application service is available for an additional fee to expedite the process.
* While we assist with expedited procedures, time for communication with local institutions and confirmation of participation is required. Therefore, participants using the emergency application service must actively cooperate with the Korea Gap Year Operations Team.
** Those who apply at least 180 days before the start date can receive an early bird discount.
*** Emergency application services are available through the selection options above. For inquiries about emergency application services, please contact koreagapyear@gmail.com.
- Services Provided: Gap Year Mission and Notes automatic application / Full provision of OT materials upon confirmation / Additional urgent personnel allocation / Support for document preparation if needed, etc.
* If you have difficulty calculating dates, please refer to Naver Date Calculator >> Naver Date Calculator
** Note: For ultra-urgent applications, there may be no available TO depending on local circumstances, and the Gap Year refund policy will be followed for subsequent procedures. Additionally, any issues arising from participant non-cooperation are the responsibility of the participant.
