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: 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 addresses! acknowledgement of online registration

Review of application procedure Hybrid online application process Tutors 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 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

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 – tutors are normally sent a spreadsheet by Assistants in France and Germany are informed of their allocation by the school or local education authority directly

Preparation Our information packs sent 4-6 weeks prior to departure and include (by ): 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 Councils 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 TeachingEnglish website 2 Virtual Mentors: one for primary, one for secondary teaching on Facebook Essential UK / LearnEnglish Kids – for students Web links

Event Title Name Erasmus Work placements Erasmus and Language Assistants Joanna 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 ; 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 students 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

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 ; 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

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 from Novemberwww.britishcouncil.org/comenius

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

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: