British Council Language Assistants Programme

1. British Council Language Assistants Programme Tutors’ and Year Abroad Co-ordinators’ BriefingThursday 13 October 2011, LondonFriday 14 October 2011, Manchester

2. UK Language Assistants Team • Northern Ireland: Belfast • Scotland: Edinburgh • England and Wales: London and Manchester

4. Terms and conditions in 15 different countries • Please refer to the information on our website: http://www.britishcouncil.org/languageassistants.htm http://languageassistant.co.uk • Both undergraduates and graduates can apply for posts in all countries except China (graduates only) • Year Abroad candidates given priority over final year students/ graduates for all countries except Canada, Latin America and Switzerland. • Single semester appointments in Argentina, Austria, and Germany • Final decision regarding appointments rests with the foreign partners: e.g. non-UK passports, disabilities and medical conditions, older applicants

5. General points • Test-run the online system: enter ‘Surname’ DELETE and ‘Forename’ TUTOR • Passport numbers required on application • No passport photos • Candidates with dependants must enclose letter to confirm financial independence • Former assistants asked to provide host school report • Foreign authorities cannot guarantee specific requests • Successful completion of 2nd year of degree course is a requirement • Meaning of ‘permanent address’ in the online registration • Ill-advised e-mail addresses! • E-mail acknowledgement of online registration

6. Review of application procedure • Hybrid online application process • Tutor’s reference: A grade A-D should be awarded for academic ability A grade 1-4 should be awarded for suitability to be an assistant based on what you know about the student • Requests for specific areas cannot be guaranteed and certain areas are often oversubscribed –advise students accordingly • Non native-level speakers of English – ineligible • Policy regarding incomplete applications

7. New Assessment Criteria Candidates’ suitability assessed in accordance with six areas: 1) References - Academic reference, professional reference, reference from host school 2) Teaching Experience - Not essential 3) Motivation to be a language assistant 4) Skills and interests 5) Adaptability 6) Expression and presentation - demonstrated in application form

8. Assessment Days • All short-listed applicants for Canada, China, Latin America and Switzerland are invited to an assessment day • Applicants for Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Spain may be interviewed by telephone: test level of foreign language or knowledge of UK culture • Invited applicants must attend assessment days and pay their own travel costs • Please refer them to our website for advice on assessment days • It is recommended that students look at the ‘LanguageAssistant’ website prior to assessment • Result of assessment day is sent to tutors/co-ordinators

9. The allocation process • Matching Meetings: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain • Other countries: dossiers are sent to the partner organisation with recommendations for allocation • Dossiers are sorted into first choice areas prior to the Matching Meeting • A decision is made at Matching Meeting on region within France, Germany and some posts in Spain – dossiers are then sent to individual regions for allocation to schools by local inspectors • Assistants are allocated to schools directly by the Ministry/authority in Austria, Italy, Belgium, Canada, Switzerland and some posts in Spain • Candidates are informed of the outcome by e-mail – tutors are normally sent a spreadsheet by e-mail • Assistants in France and Germany are informed of their allocation by the school or local education authority directly

10. Preparation Our information packs sent 4-6 weeks prior to departure and include (by email): • Country Notes (administrative) • Information on induction courses abroad • ‘LanguageAssistant’ manual • Personal Safety leaflet • Contact details of other assistants in current and previous years • Certificate of service – to be signed and stamped by school upon completion of service • A lot of this information is available for tutors on our website

11. Support and advice during the year • Assistants are employed by the school or education authority abroad, not the British Council • are encouraged to speak up if they have a problem • are encouraged to be culturally sensitive and give it a chance • Paid job and must follow sick leave procedures and complete their contracts • Problem solving: - initially through mentor or senior teacher - then through local education authority - then through the British Council’s partner organisation in their country - only then through the British Council in the UK • are encouraged to support each other locally (British Council provides contact details of other assistants)

12. Language Assistant Supportwww.languageassistant.co.uk • TeachingEnglish website http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/language-assistant • 2 ‘Virtual Mentors’: one for primary, one for secondary teaching on Facebook • Essential UK / LearnEnglish Kids – for students • Web links

13. Erasmus Work placements • Event Title • Name Erasmus and Language Assistants Joanna Collins

14. Introduction • Language Assistantships same as other Erasmus work placements • Students must be eligible for Erasmus mobility

15. Student Eligibility • Enrolled full time at an HEI with an Erasmus Charter for student work placements • If part time, must be full time during placement • Undergraduate or postgraduate, leading to a tertiary level qualification

16. Duration • Minimum - 3 months • Maximum - 12 months • Two placements permitted (minImum duration each) • Can be study plus placement (minimum duration each) • Must work full time

17. Finances • students eligible for UK support • Fee waiver (not confirmed for 2012-13; hope will remain for older fee regime students) • grants and loans maintained • Erasmus grant (€ 250+ per month) • Supplementary payments – special needs, widening participation, priority countries

18. Other requirements • Recognition –recognised as part of the student’s programme • Training agreement (student, sending and receiving organisation) • Certificate of attendance • Student report

19. Other requirements • HE Erasmus mobility report • Tick box for language assistants • Receiving organisation – name of school

20. Thank you erasmus@britishcouncil.org www.britishcouncil.org/erasmus

22. Introduction • Language Assistantships same as other Erasmus work placements • Students must be eligible for Erasmus mobility

23. Duration • Minimum - 3 months • Maximum - 12 months • Can be two consecutive placements • Can be study plus placement (still minimum duration) • Must work full time

24. Finances • students eligible for UK support and at least 24 weeks away: • Fee waiver (not confirmed for 2012-13; expect for older fee regime) • grants and loans maintained • Erasmus grant (€ 250+ per month) • Supplementary payments – special needs, widening participation, priority countries

25. Other requirements • Recognition • Training agreement (student, sending and receiving organisation) • Student report

26. Other requirements • HE Erasmus mobility report • Tick box for language assistants • Receiving organisation – name of school

27. Thank you erasmus@britishcouncil.org www.britishcouncil.org/erasmus

29. Comenius AssistantsEduardo Lees, Project Officer

30. Comenius Assistants programme An opportunity to gain a better understanding of the European dimension to teaching and learning, enhance your knowledge of foreign languages, other European countries and to improve your teaching skills

31. What do CAs do? • Work in pre-primary, primary, secondary or FE colleges • A ‘cultural ambassador’ bringing a European dimension across the curriculum – be creative! • Teach your specialist subject • Help set up or support European school links/ projects • Work 12 – 16 hours per week • Flexible contract duration – anything from 13 – 45 weeks

32. Where can you go as a CA? All over Europe! Choice of 32 countries – no language knowledge required 27 EU countries + Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, Croatia

33. What support do CAs get? • Pre-departure briefing in the UK • Mentor teacher appointed in school • In-country induction meeting • On-going support from British Council • Network of peer support via a Facebook group

34. What about money as a CA? • Grant paid towards living expenses – rates vary according to destination country • Lump sum contribution towards travel costs • Additional funding available for language preparation • Additional funding available to support attendance at in-country induction

35. What are the eligibility criteria to be a CA? Yes if: • You are intending to pursue a career in teaching • UK National or any nationality resident in UK • Native level speaker of English • You have successfully completed minimum of 2 years at HE • You have not already worked as a teacher

36. How do you apply to be a CA? Application deadline: 31 January 2012 (European-wide for schools and assistants) Application form, guidelines and assessment form available on www.britishcouncil.org/comenius from November

37. What happens next? February – April Applications are processed and assessed (eligibility and quality). You will be informed of the outcome of your application by mid-April April – June Approved Assistant applications and approved Assistant Host School Applications from across Europe will be matched with each other by Comenius National Agencies. June – July You will receive notification of the name and location of your host school followed by a copy of their application form. Pre-departure briefings take place and your contracting documents will be sent out. August onwards Placements take place anytime between August 2012 and July 2013

38. Ambassador Initiative 2011 • Ambassador Day 2011 • Buddy scheme – ELA/FLA • Role of Ambassador and contact details to be sent to tutors/co-ordinators • Ambassador Video and photo competition: http://www.britishcouncil.org/languageassistants-ela-ambassador-initiative.htm