NAME: Michael Burns DEGREE: French and German at the University of Glasgow

1. Michael Burns talks about his experiences as a language assistant in Saint Etienne in the academie of Lyon. As a student of languages it is a compulsory aspect of my degree to go abroad either to work or study. I chose to be a British Council Language Assistant as it is a highly practical way to combine work experience with the development of language skills. As it is a part-time contract, you have ample time to pursue extra studies, another job, travel and leisure activities. My time was split between a collège (junior high school) and a lycée technique (a cross between a senior high school and a polytechnic college). I taught pupils from 11 years old to young adults, and from all backgrounds. I mostly found myself working on oral activities, games and the like for the children and slightly more sophisticated role-plays and cultural studies with the high school students. Since you will be working with various teachers, you may have to accommodate their different teaching styles – for example, some will prefer you to be by their side providing correct grammar and pronunciation on the spot throughout a typical lesson, where others encourage you to work on your own programme with smaller groups. It is important, if not essential, to go with an open mind and to capitalise on all opportunities afforded to you. Get involved in the kinds of activities you enjoy back home – such as a sport or a musical instrument – contact local interest clubs or groups where you can practice and meet like-minded people. This aids integration exponentially. For example, I joined the international students' society of a local university, who organised all kinds of events. I went rock-climbing for the first time, attended a regular Stammtisch to keep up my German and met loads of people at gigs and pub-crawls. You will tend to find (unless you are in a big global city with thousands of tourists and foreigners – Paris, Berlin, Barcelona etc.) that local people are very intrigued by, and enthusiastic to befriend, a Brit who is keen to learn their language and culture. Try not to fall into the trap of hanging out exclusively with fellow Brits/Anglophones. It seems like an easy option but can create an 'us and them' mentality, which is not really helpful. There may be confusion and bureaucratic problems to overcome at the beginning. Finding a place to live, setting up a bank account and applying for social security in a foreign language is quite a daunting prospect. Don't be put off though. Everyone goes through the same experience and the vast majority come through the better for it. The very best thing about being a British Council Language Assistant is that you can basically re-invent yourself as the person you want to be for a year. You are free of the pressures and stigmas of home and certainly everyone I know who has gone on the programme returns more confident, more at ease with themselves and with a whole bunch of good memories. Once you have settled you might just find yourself not wanting to come back! NAME: Michael Burns DEGREE: French and German at the University of Glasgow TEACHING LOCATION: Saint-Étienne, Lyon France “Get involved in the kinds of activities you enjoy back home – such as a sport or a musical instrument – contact local interest clubs or groups where you can practice and meet like-minded people.”