British Council Language Assistants Programme

Tutors’ and Year Abroad Co-ordinators’ Briefing

Thursday 13 October 2011, London

Friday 14 October 2011, Manchester

UK Language Assistants Team

• Northern Ireland: Belfast

• Scotland: Edinburgh

• England and Wales: London and Manchester

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

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

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

New Assessment CriteriaCandidates’ 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

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

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

PreparationOur 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

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)

Language Assistant Support www.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

• Event Title

• Name

ErasmusWork placements

Erasmus and Language AssistantsJoanna Collins

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

Introduction

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

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

• 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

Finances

Other requirements

• Recognition –recognised as part of the student’s programme

• Training agreement (student, sending and receiving organisation)

• Certificate of attendance

• Student report

Other requirements

• HE Erasmus mobility report

• Tick box for language assistants

• Receiving organisation – name of school

Thank you

erasmus@britishcouncil.org

www.britishcouncil.org/erasmus

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

Introduction

Duration

• Minimum - 3 months• Maximum - 12 months• Can be two consecutive placements• Can be study plus placement (still minimum

duration)• Must work full time

• 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

Finances

Other requirements

• Recognition

• Training agreement (student, sending and receiving organisation)

• Student report

Other requirements

• HE Erasmus mobility report

• Tick box for language assistants

• Receiving organisation – name of school

Thank you

erasmus@britishcouncil.org

www.britishcouncil.org/erasmus

Comenius Assistants

Eduardo Lees, Project Officer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What happens next?February – AprilApplications are processed and assessed (eligibility and quality). You will be informed of the outcome of your application by mid-AprilApril – JuneApproved Assistant applications and approved Assistant Host School Applications from across Europe will be matched with each other byComenius National Agencies.June – JulyYou 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 onwardsPlacements take place anytime between August 2012 and July 2013

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