UK schools, colleges and universities can benefit from a language assistant. They can help enrich classroom activities and bring fresh perspectives to language learning, helping to boost results.
Our language assistants are speakers of French, Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese and Irish, coming from 15 partner countries across the world. They are keen to bring knowledge of their culture and language into your classroom, helping to make your students more socially conscious.
Learn more about where our language assistants are from.
What teachers are saying about language assistants
'That personal contact with someone from the country – it was just the impetus…It made the world of difference.'
‘Assistants help to raise the standards and help the students build confidence in their language ability.’
‘Excellent motivator for students and able to give a fresh, youthful perspective to teaching and learning.’
'Pupils gain so much: cultural insights; increased motivation to learn languages; benefiting from building a relationship with a "real" person from the country; up-to-date knowledge about current events and culture.'
The value of language assistants
In our annual end of year evaluation of over 150 UK institutions hosting language assistants, mentor teachers reported that their language assistant made a significant impact on attainment and learning outcomes in the following areas:
- Improved exam grades (92 per cent)
- Improved cultural awareness (94 per cent)
- Increased enthusiasm or motivation for language learning (97 per cent)
- Improved standards in listening and speaking (98 per cent)
- Improved vocabulary and general understanding of the language (99 per cent).
Hosting a language assistant also means that your school will automatically qualify for level 1 of the International School Award, our accreditation for your school's international activity.
Read the BBC story on a French language assistant’s Hebridean lockdown.
Support
We offer support at every stage of the programme, and are here to answer any questions you have about your application, recruitment, visas and other matters.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
Apply for a language assistant
Applications to host a Modern Language Assistant in 2023-24 open on 15 February 2023 and will close on 30 April 2023.
To guarantee a Chinese Language Assistant, host institutions must apply before 31 March 2023. Applications to host a Chinese Language Assistant received after this date will be put on a waiting list and we will let you know if we can accommodate your request.
Find out more about the application process.
Forf background, you can see information about the period of appointment and the costs for hosting a language assistant in 2023-24. However, the application deadline has now passed. This information will be updated for 2024-25 and applcaitons will open in early 2024.