How to prepare for your placement as an English Language Assistant

The local education authority or the institution itself will give you the name and location of the school where you’ll be working.

You should make immediate contact to confirm that you accept the post.

You should find out the following from your school:

• the age range of the students
• whether the institution can help you find accommodation
• what materials you should take
• term dates
• what clothes you should wear in school.

Any additional duties you may be asked to carry out should be agreed with you in advance. You should expect to receive training for these upon arrival.

You may also be invited to take part in an induction course.

Where possible, the British Council will give you the contact details of assistants who have worked in your region the previous year, who will be happy to give tips and advice. Your school may also be able to put you in touch with former assistants.

Before you go, try to find out some basic facts about the education system of your host country.

The British Council office in the area you are placed may also have information and materials to help you.

Make sure that you:

• prepare carefully and seriously for lessons
• arrange to discuss your work regularly with your mentor teacher
• arrive for class on time, even if the students are late
• show an interest in your students’ progress
• offer to make up time for classes missed.

Resources

To help you with teaching, you'll find extensive free tips and resources on our website teachingenglish.org.uk.

Teacher training

Get yourself classroom-ready by registering for our TeachingEnglish training. Although these courses are optional, they will boost your confidence ahead of your placement and help you develop the knowledge and skills to thrive in the role.

If you aren’t sure where to start, complete our self-assessment to receive a recommended individual course of study.

We have two special offers for English Language Assistants:

Starting Teaching (moderated course) 

This course is structured over seven weeks, taking you from an introduction to learning and through six more modules that will equip you with the knowledge and skills to set up your own classroom activities. You will be working with other language assistants on course content, interacting in forums and meeting up in three webinars.

Subsidised cost: £50 (regular price £150)

Course dates: Dates to be confirmed in spring 2019 for assistants starting placements in 2019-20

Self-access training modules

Our self-access training allows you to go at your own pace and dip in and out of teaching topics as you need them. There are three free modules, and many other modules on a wide range of teaching topics for you to choose from. 

Subsidised cost: £6 per module (regular price £12)

Dates: Ongoing, register for modules as you need them. You will have access to modules for two years after signing up. 

If you are going to China or Latin America, you will usually be advised to travel on specific days, to coordinate your arrival with other assistants and meet them at the airport.

If you are appointed to Latin America, you should buy a return flight with a flexible return date (or the option to change the return date), as this is often cheaper than buying two single tickets.

If you are appointed to China, you should buy a return ticket and your school will reimburse your flights upon completion of the contract.

We strongly advise you to look up your destination on Foreign and Commonwealth Office's travel aware website.

You must have personal accident and travel insurance for the duration of your appointment, including travel to and from the UK. Your insurance must cover emergency repatriation.

You will receive country-specific information about insurance in your information pack before you leave. Please also read the British Council's advice on personal accident and travel insurance (PDF, 135KB).

If you are appointed to any EU country, you should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This will cover you for emergency healthcare. The EHIC is free of charge.

If you are a UK English Language Assistant eligible for Erasmus+ status, you can continue to apply to be an Erasmus+ student, a status which allows you academic recognition and a substantial fee waiver.

If your applications for both the English Language Assistants programme and the Erasmus+ scheme are successful, you can expect to receive an Erasmus+ grant for the full duration of your 2019-20 placement. The UK government will underwrite Erasmus+ agreements signed while the UK is still an EU member state, even if payments continue beyond the point of the UK’s EU exit date.

Please note that your allocated host school would sign any learning agreements required for you to receive your Erasmus+ grant. We are not involved in this process and so this must be coordinated between your university and your host school.

If you have been appointed to Ecuador or China, accommodation is usually provided. For all other countries, it is your responsibility to find your own accommodation.

The information pack you receive from us will include the contact details of language assistants who were posted to your region last year. They may be able to give you advice about accommodation.

There is also advice in the downloadable country notes on each of the individual country pages.

It may also be helpful to ask your school if they can help or find someone who can let you stay with them temporarily. Staff and student notice boards, local newspapers and tourist offices are potential sources of information on accommodation.

When searching for accommodation, do not go on viewings alone or advertise your phone number in public places.

If you can't find something immediately, don't panic. The time it takes to find suitable accommodation varies from place to place.

The initial settling-in period can be difficult. You may not be living in the same place as other assistants, and you cannot always depend on teaching staff in your school for a social life.

Attending local classes and clubs and emailing past and present assistants in your area can help you settle in. If this does not work and you are still unhappy, talk to your mentor or another teacher in the school. They may have some useful advice or contacts.

If problems occur, you should contact the below people in this order to find a solution - always try to solve problems locally before calling the UK:

• your mentor teacher
• head of department or senior member of staff
• representative at local education authority (if relevant)
• our partner organisation in the country where you are working
• the British Council in the UK.

Your mentor teacher should also be able to make you aware of cultural differences to help you avoid any misunderstandings. 

It is important to protect your personal health and safety while abroad. The following links provide you with information to ensure you are well prepared for living overseas.

Support for British nationals abroad: A guide

Travel Check List

Mental Health: Travelling Abroad Checklist

Country Specific Travel Advice