•Accommodation

“I hadn’t arranged any accommodation prior to my departure to Germany, but luckily I was able to stay with a teacher and her family. It was only supposed to be temporary, but I ended up staying with them for 6 months! It was a great experience, and meant I had a fantastic insight into German culture and was obviously very exposed to the language. However, at times it could get a bit crowded (the couple had 3 children), and I began to crave my independence. I moved into my own flat for the remaining 4 months, which was much more expensive, but it was a fairly large flat. It was absolutely fantastic to have my own space (I had never lived alone before). I think I had the best of both worlds!”

•Teaching materials

“I wouldn’t take too much as the baggage allowance isn’t too generous, and you don’t know what you will be doing until you get out there. There is a huge amount available on the web, including the British Council website. I would recommend teen magazines though; I found the ‘real-life stories’ made good reading comprehensions, and as they cover a range of topics to do with young people, one of them is bound to be a topic in school over the course of the year!”

•Socialising

“I spent a lot of time with the other assistants in the area, one of which had already graduated and was spending a second year in Germany. Luckily she was placed in the same area, and so already had lots of (German) friends and I was able to integrate myself into the group. They all studied at Uni, and so we ended up being invited to lots of events, where we met lots of other young people.

I had a good relationship with some colleagues, and saw them socially too. More specifically, one teacher was a yoga instructor in her spare time, and invited me along. I then got to know people in the yoga class.”

•Travel

“I visited a lot of places in my area, and a few more further afield. I found it was great to go travelling around during the run up to Christmas when the Christmas markets were in full swing, and then in the summer months. In my area, Heidelberg, Trier, Mannheim and areas along the Romantic Rhine were all worth a visit, and nationwide, Oktoberfest in Munich is a must, as is the Christmas Market in Nuremberg, amongst others.

I would definitely recommend getting a Bahncard. I bought a Bahncard 50, which entitles you to 50% off, although there is the cheaper Bahncard 25 option. The Bundesland tickets, or Schöneswochenende tickets are also a fantastic and cheap option if a group of you are travelling.

•Skills

“Since I have been back at Uni in the UK, I have attended plenty of careers fairs and talks, and it is amazing how many employers value languages as a skill, even when it does not appear to be directly related to the job. From what I have heard, many employers view the Year Abroad as evidence that you can adapt to other cultures successfully, take responsibility for your own learning and that of others and also act independently. Teaching English as a British Council Language Assistant also demonstrates that you have a fundamental knowledge of how languages work and are learned, so you would be able to do it again for another language. If you can do it once, you can do it again!”

•Advice

“Immerse yourself! Accept invitations, experience things outside of your comfort zone, and even if you do make good friends with the other English language assistants, actively seek contact with young Germans too. “