Engaging employers to enhance teaching and learning

Engaging Employers to Enhance Teaching and Learning
Example English Language Assistantships Abroad
– Department of Modern Foreign Languages
As part of their year abroad in third year, modern language students
are offered the option of working for seven to nine months as an
English language assistant in schools abroad through the British
Council assistantship programme. The scheme is open to all students
who have studied a modern language module as part of their degree,
and final year students and recent graduates may also apply.
Assistants provide support for English teaching in schools (they can
choose which age group they want to work with, from primary up
to university level). They have to plan activities and games using a
variety of teaching materials, to make classes more fun and interactive.
Their work focuses on improving students’ confidence in
communicating in English. On their return, students can also apply to
become ‘student ambassadors’ for the British Council, whose role it is
to actively promote the programme within their university.
An assistantship is worth 40 credits, and will count towards the student’s
final grade. This is assessed at finals by a 5,000 word report (in
the modern language that they are studying) that covers the following
aspects of the teaching experience:
• The school, its facilities, staffing and pupils
• The welcome and initiation received and the nature
of the ongoing support
• The range of classes taught, their size, type, aims and objectives
• Problems encountered in school and their resolution
• Successes achieved
The report therefore encourages students to record their experiences
whilst abroad, and to reflect on what experience and knowledge they
have gained. This report is submitted to the department at the beginning
of Autumn term in the final year.
The central aim of the programme is to provide students with the
opportunity to improve their language skills through the practical
application of living and working abroad. It also provides invaluable
professional experience for students who are thinking of pursuing
a career in teaching. Feedback on the programme has shown that
working as an assistant provides an excellent environment for the
development of personal skills essential for any career: self-confidence
and self-reliance, independence, problem-solving abilities, teamwork;
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