Greystones Au Pair Language School Keeps Calm & Conjugates On

The Perfect English gang see the sights…

atest press release from Orla at Perfect English, issued on Saturday, December 13th 2025…

It occurred to me, as I sat down to write this article, that I often ask my students to write articles in preparation for the Cambridge English exams they sit.

I always enjoy reading their work, as there isn’t an AI-sounding phrase in sight! It is refreshing to see what comes from their own imaginations, even if there are occasional grammatical errors or slightly unnatural phrasing. My students are with me because they want to learn English and use it in their everyday lives, for university, or in the workplace.

Teaching has been a passion of mine for a very long time. Each year brings another wonderful group of individual students—mainly au pairs—from Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, and Spain. Every group has its own dynamic, its own challenges, and plenty of laughter.

We have lots of fun in class while preparing for the Cambridge B2 and C1 exams. At the end of the year, students have the option of sitting the official exam.

Almost two years ago, I took over the German–Irish au pair agency GAPI, originally set up 17 years ago by a German lady living in Newtown. I had been teaching au pairs from the agency for years, so when the opportunity arose, the transition felt completely natural.

I place German and Swiss au pairs with local families. Like my classes, I keep everything small and personal. I know my families – most of whom come through word of mouth – and I have a strong relationship with them and with all my au pairs. Many attend my classes, either online or in the school in Greystones, and all of them take part in the school’s fantastic social programme.

We have had such memorable adventures: visiting the Giant’s Causeway, exploring the Titanic Museum, enjoying a brilliant 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour in Dublin with Phelim Drew, and celebrating at a Christmas get-together in my home last weekend. We also take an overnight trip to Dingle, and we look forward to going again in March 2026. Socialising, discovering Ireland, and appreciating its natural beauty are all such important parts of the experience.

As I look ahead to another fantastic year, I look back on 2025 with great fondness, having said goodbye to the 2024/25 group and welcomed the new 2025/26 group.

Wishing a very Happy Christmas to all my wonderful families and au pairs.

And for the coming year, we have new a B2 Cambridge course for au pairs Mondays and Wednesdays 9.30am to 12pm, starting January 5th and running until June – details here. There’s also a new B2 First For Schools course on Wednesday afternoons, 2.30pm to 4pm, and you can email below to find out more.

You can find out more about the Perfect English School here, follow on Instagram here or Facebook here, and get in touch by phone here or by emailing Orla on [email protected].