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www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants 1

How to convince your headteacher a Language Assistant is essentialTips for presentations(delete or type over these slides after reading)

How this webinar will work

How will this webinar work?

Please ensure your microphone/phone is on mute

The webinar will be recorded

Please refrain from asking any questions during the webinar. There will be a Q&A section at the end

of the webinar

About the British Council?

The British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries

and builds trust between them worldwide. We are on the ground in six continents and over 100

countries bringing international opportunity to life, every day.

www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

Aims of this webinar

Be sure of the facts about Language Assistants

Obtain information about the kind of work Language Assistants do in schools

Consider the benefits of having a Language Assistant for:

- the whole school

- the languages department

Understand the financial implications of employing a Language Assistant

Develop a knowledge of the support available for Language Assistants and the schools who employ

them

Help you plan the next steps with your headteacher

www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

What is a Language Assistant? (1)

Native speakers of French, Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin, Russian and Irish

Specific interest in working with young people

Usually between 20 and 30 years old

Generally have strong command of English

www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

What is a Language Assistant? (2)

Model of authentic pronunciation, intonation and usage of the language pupils are learning

A ‘living’ cultural reference point

Role model for broadening the school’s cultural provision and perspective

www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

What Language Assistants do in schools

Work in a variety of contexts including whole classes or small groups of pupils

Model authentic pronunciation, intonation and usage of the language pupils are learning

Give pupils the opportunity to use the language they are learning for real purposes

Plan activities and prepare resources for teaching

www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

How a Language Assistant can benefit a

whole school

Enrichment across the curriculum

Contribute to school’s self-evaluation

Build capacity to strengthen the language element of the curriculum

Broaden the international perspective of the school

www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

How a Language Assistant can support

the school’s modern languages

programme

Increase confidence and accuracy of pupil’s use of the target language

Model native speaker pronunciation

Develop and use authentic materials

Improve engagement in lessons

Increase capacity to address the modern languages department’s development priorities including

uptake

Raise the profile of language and culture at all key stages in the school

Improve teachers’ subject knowledge (language and culture)

Broaden the international perspective of the school and help establish partnership links

www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

Cost of a Language Assistant

Contract period: 1 October – 31 May

From 12- 18 hours contact time per week

Can be shared between up to three schools

Salary set by British Council (slight variations depending on location)

Full details available by clicking here

www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

Additional benefits of a Language

Assistant

Promote effective primary / secondary transition by sharing a Language Assistant

Strengthen networking between a group of schools by sharing a Language Assistant

Organise whole-school / special events for languages

Contribute to school gaining International School Award

Additional responsible adult for relevant extra-curricular activities

Help to potentially establish partnership links with another country

www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

Support for Language Assistant

programme

British Council SchoolsOnline website

Some countries run face-to-face induction and training before Language Assistants depart for the

UK

Training hosted by the British Council and / or cultural institutes (e.g. Institut Français, Goethe

Institut, Instituto Cervantes, etc.)

Language Assistants team at the British Council

www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

Language Assistants:

planning the next steps - 1

Enlist the support of pupils

Analyse school’s data to demonstrate a proven need to improve speaking and/or the cultural

dimension of language learning

Use your department development plan to identify priorities which a Language Assistant could

support and plan how to use him / her

Rehearse your case with your line manager

www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

Language Assistants:

planning the next steps - 2

Book a meeting with your headteacher and your line manager to present your plans

Provide your headteacher with an action plan including objectives, aims, actions, timescales, how

you will monitor and evaluate the impact of the Language Assistant’s contribution to pupils’

achievement

Review your plan at regular intervals with your line manager

Present Language Assistant ‘good news’ to pupils, your headteacher, parents and school governors

in person, via e-mail, in school newsletters or on the school’s website

Maintain a watching brief on the British Council Language Assistants website for schools

Contact the Language Assistants team if required

www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

Question time

Your contributions will form part of a FAQ for Heads of Languages available on the British Council

website

Apply for a Language Assistant today

Email us if you would like to read the FAQ or participate further in helping compile the list

www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants