The UK Education System(s)

If you are going to be working in a school in the UK for an academic year, it is essential for you to know how the different education systems in the UK are structured.

ASSOCIATION FOR LANGUAGE LEARNING (ALL)

Once you have arrived in the country you may be invited by an ALL member in your area to a meeting with local teachers of foreign languages and other assistants. You should go along to meet people and to find out how the association can be of benefit to you. Their contact details are as follows:

Association for Language Learning
150 Railway Terrace
Rugby
CV21 3HN

Tel 01788 546443
Fax 01788 544149
Email info@all-languages.org.uk
Website www.all-languages.org.uk

THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR LANGUAGES (CILT)

CILT is an independent charitable trust supported by central government grants, with the aim of collecting and disseminating information on all aspects of modern languages. CILT is not a membership organisation: anyone concerned with language teaching and learning are welcome to write for information or visit the Centre at:

CILT
20 Bedfordbury
London
WC2N 4LB

Tel 020 7379 5101
Fax 020 7379 5082
Email info@cilt.org.uk
Website www.cilt.org.uk/training

For FLAs teaching in Wales CILT Cymru and British Council Wales are joining forces to run a competition with great prizes. Closing dates for entries is Friday 1 February 2008.

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR SCHOOLS (TDA)

There are many opportunities for foreign native speakers who wish to become teachers of modern foreign languages in England and Wales, in many cases these opportunities offer excellent financial incentives.

If you are interested in training to become a teacher in England or Wales on a longer term basis once you have completed your assistantship, further information is available from:

Training and Development Agency for Schools
Portland House
Stag Place
London
SW1E 5TT
Tel 0845 6000 991
Website http://www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/becomingateacher.aspx

PRIVATE STUDY

You should have lots of time during the year for private study as well as for preparing and giving your lessons at school. Ask at your local university if you can attend lectures or do a part-time course at your local College of Further Education, this is often much cheaper and a good way to get to know people. You may also be interested in taking the Cambridge English Proficieny Exam.

Remember that your school work and timetable must take priority. Do not arrange any classes for personal study until you have a fixed timetable at your school(s).