Apply Now
Services for Au Pairs – Language School, Accommodation, Mandarin Classes & More | Masons Au Pair
Masons Au Pair · Chengdu, China

Services
for Au Pairs

Language school, host family matching, private accommodation, Mandarin classes and cultural immersion — everything included, in one place.

Become an Au Pair Explore Services
Host Family Matching
Paired by personality, values and language preferences
Accommodation
Private room and full board with your host family
Language School
Free Mandarin language courses at XMandarin Chengdu
Cultural Activities
Monthly workshops, festivals and local experiences
300+
Au Pairs Placed
100%
Screened Families
24/7
Local Support
X2
Visa Guidance
Free
Language Classes
Host Family Matching

Matched with
the Right Family

At Masons Au Pair, we take the host family matching process seriously to ensure the best experience for both you and your future Chinese host family. Each au pair is paired based on personality, lifestyle, values, language preferences, and childcare expectations — creating the foundation for trust, comfort, and a meaningful cultural exchange.

From the moment you submit your application, our team guides you through every step: program onboarding, document preparation, and full X2 student visa support. You arrive in China with your placement, your language program, and everything in place — ready to start your learning experience from day one.

  • 01
    Tailored matchingPaired by personality, values, and childcare preferences — not just availability.
  • 02
    Full onboarding supportDocuments, visa application, language school enrollment — handled with you, step by step.
  • 03
    Pre-arrival interviewMeet your host family via video call before committing — mutual fit guaranteed.
Become an Au Pair
Masons Au Pair host family matching Chengdu China language immersion program
Founded
2016
Chengdu
Accommodation & Full Support in China

Secure Housing,
Cultural Immersion

Private Room Full Board Local Support

As an au pair in China, you'll live with a carefully selected host family who welcomes you into their home as a true family member. You'll have your own private room, enjoy full board (three meals a day), and experience daily life as part of a Chinese household — a unique opportunity to discover the culture from the inside out.

Beyond accommodation, we provide continuous support throughout your stay. Our local team in Chengdu is available at all times to assist you with any questions, cultural adjustments, or unexpected issues that may arise. From helping you navigate life in a new country to checking in regularly, we're here to make sure you feel safe, supported, and fully integrated.

This combination of secure housing, cultural immersion, and reliable local support ensures that you can focus on what matters most: enjoying your experience, building meaningful relationships, and growing personally and professionally.

Become an Au Pair
Welcome to China Chengdu au pair host family accommodation Masons
Welcome to China — Chengdu, Sichuan
Host Family Matching Language School Chengdu Free Mandarin Classes X2 Student Visa Support Cultural Immersion Activities 24/7 Local Team Language Immersion · Chengdu Host Family Matching Language School Chengdu Free Mandarin Classes X2 Student Visa Support Cultural Immersion Activities 24/7 Local Team Language Immersion · Chengdu
Au Pair Daily Role

English Tutoring
& Childcare

Your role as an au pair goes beyond babysitting — you are a cultural bridge and a native English-speaking companion for your host family's children. Through play, conversation, reading, and structured activities, you help young learners develop real English language skills, pronunciation, and communication confidence through natural daily interaction.

This is teaching English as a foreign language (ESL) in its most natural form. No formal qualification is required — au pair training sessions before and after arrival prepare you for the role. What matters most is enthusiasm, patience, and a genuine interest in working with children and learning a new language yourself.

Become an Au Pair Learn More
01
Communication Skills

Speak and teach confidently with children and host families in real daily life situations.

02
Childcare Experience

Support young learners through guided play, routine, and structured English language tutoring.

03
Teaching English (ESL)

Use games, repetition, storytelling and reading to teach English as a foreign language naturally.

04
Cultural Adaptability

Live, work, and grow with confidence in a completely new cultural and language environment.

05
Language Acquisition

As a non-native Mandarin speaker yourself, you'll undergo your own language acquisition journey — building Chinese language proficiency through daily immersion, formal language classes, and real-world practice.

Cultural Immersion

Monthly Activities
& Cultural Events

Every month, we organize cultural experiences that bring you closer to everyday Chinese life — from traditional crafts and martial arts to local festivals and community outings. These events are core to language development, cultural adaptation, and the personal growth at the heart of any meaningful learning experience abroad.
Panda painting Chinese brush art cultural workshop Chengdu au pair Masons
Traditional Arts
Panda Drawing & Painting

Learn Chinese brush painting techniques and create your own panda artwork — a beloved Chengdu tradition.

Kung Fu martial arts workshop Chengdu au pair cultural event Masons
Martial Arts
Kung Fu Workshop

Train in Kung Fu alongside fellow au pairs with local instructors — energy, discipline, and a lot of fun.

Traditional Chinese arts crafts cultural workshop au pair Chengdu Masons
Cultural Craft
Traditional Arts Workshop

Explore classical Chinese craftsmanship — paper cutting, calligraphy, weaving and more, with local artisans.

Chinese traditional red seal stamp carving cultural workshop au pair Masons Chengdu
Heritage Craft
Chinese Seal Carving

Carve and ink your own traditional Chinese seal — a centuries-old practice still cherished across China.

Become an Au Pair
XMandarin language school Chengdu Mandarin language courses au pair China learning experience
XMandarin Language School — Chengdu, Sichuan
Partner Language School
XMandarin
Learn Mandarin in China

Language School
& Language Immersion

All au pairs receive free Mandarin language courses at XMandarin School, our certified partner language academy in Chengdu. These are structured language lessons — not casual sessions — taught by experienced native speakers. Classes cover speaking, listening, reading, and writing, adapted to your level from absolute beginner to intermediate learner.

By combining formal language training with full cultural immersion in a Chinese-speaking host family, au pairs achieve real-world Mandarin proficiency faster than any traditional language program. You practice daily: in your host home, at the local market, during cultural activities. Language learning becomes inseparable from daily life. More on our Mandarin language classes page.

Native-speaker teachers
All levels welcome
Language immersion method
Cultural workshops
Flexible schedule
Included in program
About the Language Classes Become an Au Pair
Au Pair Reviews

What Our Au Pairs Say

The cultural workshops were a blast — Kung Fu, calligraphy, Chinese food... I learned so much while having fun!

A
Anna
Italy

I felt like part of the family from day one. My Mandarin improved every week and I experienced Chinese culture from the inside.

S
Samuel
Spain

Being an au pair in China helped me grow so much. I became more confident, independent, and even picked up basic Chinese!

E
Elen
Armenia

My host kid was adorable. I loved helping him with English — we became like brothers. I'd do it all over again!

J
Jeff
South Africa

Coming to China with Masons changed my life. The host family was amazing and the language classes were incredibly effective.

L
Lilou
France

I was nervous at first, but the team supported me every step of the way. The language immersion in Chengdu was unforgettable!

A
Alice
Germany
Start My Application
FAQ

Frequently Asked
Questions

Should I go through an au pair agency to study abroad in China?
+
Yes. Going through a licensed au pair agency like Masons Au Pair ensures your Chinese student visa, host family placement, and language program are handled legally and professionally. Without an agency, you face real risks: visa rejection, unsafe or unvetted placements, no language courses, and no support structure. An established agency gives you access to a certified language school, cultural activities, insurance, and 24/7 local support in Chengdu — making the entire learning experience abroad far safer and more enriching.
What Mandarin language courses and language school does the program include?
+
All au pairs receive free Mandarin language lessons at XMandarin School — a certified language academy in Chengdu and our official partner language school. Classes are structured language courses taught by experienced native speakers, covering speaking, listening, reading, and writing at your level (from absolute beginner to conversational). Weekly language classes are scheduled around your childcare duties. You complement formal language training with daily language immersion in your host home, at local markets, and during cultural activities. This combined approach — language school plus language immersion homestay — is one of the most effective language acquisition programs available for learning Mandarin Chinese. More info on our Mandarin language classes page.
Do I need prior Chinese language skills or Mandarin knowledge?
+
None at all. Complete beginners and non-native speakers of Chinese are welcome — most au pairs arrive with zero Mandarin. Language courses at XMandarin are adapted to your starting level. The language immersion environment of a Chinese host family homestay means you practice the new language every single day, not just during class hours. Language acquisition through real-life cultural immersion is both faster and more lasting than traditional language study or language programs. You'll develop conversational Mandarin proficiency, learn to read and write basic characters, and gain genuine language skills within a few months.
What is my role in English tutoring and teaching English as a foreign language?
+
Your main role is to be a native or fluent English-speaking companion for your host family's children, helping them develop English language skills through natural daily interaction — play, reading, conversation, and structured language activities. This is teaching English as a foreign language (ESL) in its most natural and effective form: immersive, conversational, and without heavy lesson-planning. No formal teaching English qualification or prior teaching experience is required. Au pair training sessions prepare you fully for the role before arrival in China.
What cultural immersion activities are included in the program?
+
Every month, Masons organizes cultural experiences in Chengdu: Chinese seal carving (traditional red chop stamp), panda brush painting, Kung Fu training, paper cutting, calligraphy workshops, dumpling making, visits to the Giant Panda Research Base, local temple tours, Chinese festival celebrations (Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn, etc.), and community outings with fellow international au pairs. These events are core to cultural adaptation and language development — and consistently cited as the most memorable part of the experience by former participants from Italy, Spain, France, Armenia, Germany, and South Africa.
What does the homestay experience and daily language immersion look like?
+
As an au pair in China, you live with a Chinese host family as a genuine member of the household — your own private room, three daily meals, shared family life. A typical day: morning childcare and English language tutoring with the host children, Mandarin language classes or free time in the afternoon, evenings with the family. This homestay model gives you real daily language practice, cultural exchange, and personal connection that no language school, language program, or study-abroad placement alone can provide. Language and culture become part of your everyday learning experience.
What visa do I need, and how does Masons help me get it?
+
Au pairs in China use an X2 student visa — the correct visa for language study and cultural exchange programs. Masons Au Pair guides you through every step of the application: gathering required documents (passport, health certificate, criminal record, invitation letter), liaising with the Chinese consulate, and verifying everything before submission. You arrive in China with your legal status fully in order. Full details on our Chinese visa guide page.
Can I become an au pair in China without an agency?
+
Technically possible, but strongly discouraged. Without an agency you have no vetted host family database, no language school enrollment, no intercultural training, and no recourse if a conflict arises. China's visa system, language immersion programs, and cultural environment require expert local guidance. Most international students and au pairs from France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the UK and Australia choose a locally-based agency for these exact reasons. See our au pair in China legality page for more information.
What are the eligibility requirements to join the program?
+
To become an au pair with Masons Au Pair in China you must: be between 18 and 29 years old; be a fluent English speaker (native or non-native); be single (required by the X2 cultural exchange visa); be in good physical and mental health (medical certificate required); and have a clean criminal record. No prior childcare, language teaching, or ESL experience is needed. Open-mindedness, adaptability, and genuine curiosity about the Chinese language and culture are the most important qualities. See the full eligibility list on our Au Pair in China page.
What is included in the full program package?
+
The complete package includes: round-trip flights (based on duration); X2 student visa support; full insurance; free Mandarin language courses at XMandarin Language School; monthly cultural immersion activities; au pair training before and after arrival; 24/7 in-person support from our Chengdu team; a Chinese SIM card; VPN access; and police registration handled on your behalf. Accommodation and full board (three meals per day) are provided by your host family. One of the most comprehensive cultural exchange and language immersion programs in China. See our services page for all details.
How long is the program and can I choose my duration?
+
Programs run from 3 to 12 months. The most common duration is 6 months — enough time to achieve real Mandarin language proficiency, form meaningful bonds with your host family, and fully immerse yourself in Chengdu life and culture. Duration is agreed with your host family before signing the contract. The process from application to departure typically takes 4 to 8 weeks.
How does this experience develop language skills and professional growth?
+
An au pair experience in Chengdu develops skills that go far beyond language learning: cross-cultural communication, adaptability, time management, confidence, and resilience. You return home with real childcare and English language tutoring experience, conversational Mandarin proficiency, a deep understanding of Chinese culture, and a global network. Language immersion in a real family context — not a classroom — is one of the most powerful learning experiences available. Employers and universities worldwide increasingly value this kind of lived international experience. Explore the full au pair experience in China.
Your next chapter

Ready to Start Your
Chinese Adventure?

Join hundreds of au pairs who've discovered what it truly means to live, learn, and grow in China.

Apply Today Learn About The Program