During their placements the students worked in France, Spain or Ecuador for between seven and ten months, and helped young people in local schools improve their fluency in English and develop their knowledge of UK culture. At the same time, the students gained first-hand experience of what it is like to live and work in another country, and developed fluency in the language they were studying for their degree.
Achievements for them ranged from learning about the responsibilities of holding down a teaching job and learning about another education system and culture, to adapting to living independently and away from home for the first time.
The UWS recognised the importance of documenting the skills and competences gained through this experience and made it a requirement that their students complete the British Council’s Personal Development Portfolio as part of a pilot ‘work-based learning abroad’ module.
For this, students completed questionnaires, wrote CVs and kept logbooks to record reflections, experiences and perceived skills before, during and after the year abroad. They were guided through this process by University staff. By completing the PDP both students and staff were able to see very clearly the development as a result of having taking part in the assistantship.
Commenting on the scheme, Laurence Giraud-Johnstone from the University’s School of Creative & Cultural Industries said: ’Our work-based learning abroad module gives students the opportunity as part of their studies to develop a greater understanding of their chosen foreign language and its culture first hand.’
‘British Council Scotland has been really supportive of our placement scheme and I’m delighted that they have officially recognised the hard work of our students.
‘Students not only strengthen their speaking and listening skills whilst working abroad, but gain enriched knowledge and understanding of how their own language functions. They also gain an awareness of their employability as well as a growing sense of inner confidence. These are significant benefits from this unique opportunity.
Mhairi Adams, 22 , from Ayrshire, undertook a year-long placement at the Collège Pierre Mendès and Collège Honoré de Balzac in Saumur, France . She said: ‘The thought of teaching in a French school was very daunting, but I overcame this initial fear after a few weeks of working with the children. I felt myself instantly mature as soon as I set foot in the classroom as there were new responsibilities and all eyes were on me.
‘It brought me out of my comfort zone. The challenges and unfamiliar surroundings helped me grow and realise what I can accomplish on my own which inevitably made me stronger as an individual and helped me flourish as an assistant.’
Sarah Montgomery Language Assistants Manager of British Council Scotland said: ‘We are delighted to have worked with Laurence Giraud-Johnstone at UWS on this innovative project, and to recognise the commitment and hard work shown by the University’s students in completing the Personal Development Portfolio.'
For more in formation on our Personal Development Portfolio for English Language Assistants please visit the web site or email sarah.montgomery@britishcouncil.org.
