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Programme overview

Are you interested in:

• Sharing your knowledge, culture and language with young people in France?
• Getting to know France and the French?
• Improving your fluency in French?
• Acquiring hands-on experience of teaching and learning skills that will be useful to your future career?

And if you are in good health, and ready to share your enthusiasm and energy with others…

Here's what some previous assistants have said

Reaching out
Katie, English language assistant in 1999-00
"Working as a language assistant is an immensely enriching, but also very demanding experience. You have to be ready to make an effort to speak French, get to know new people and live in and embrace a new culture."

An insight into how others live
Aishling, English language assistant in 1999-00
"I had a terrific year as a language assistant: it was a really positive experience. The year flew by! I not only discovered a lot about France, the culture, the people and their way of life, but I also learned a lot about myself, my culture and my language. It was a fantastic opportunity. I hope that others get as much out of it as I."

Developing skills
Lucinda, Spanish language assistant in 1999-00
"It gave me a real insight into the French education system as well as an opportunity to improve my knowledge of French and France. However I would say that I think language assistants could be used more productively by schools."

Gain confidence in oneself
Peter, German language assistant in 2000/01
"I had a lot of contacts with my pupils and the other teachers as well as with the other players in the local football team. It taught me to be outgoing and gave me a lot of confidence in myself."

Learning how to learn
Boris, Russian language assistant in 2000/01
"I taught 12 hours a week, so I had plenty of spare time. The other teachers were very helpful and gave me plenty of ideas for my classes which were held with small groups of pupils. With the younger ones, I mainly taught through play activities and games."

Applications are accepted from citizens and residents of the following countries:

• For German: Austria, Germany, Switzerland.

• For English: Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, India, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom and the United States.

• For Arabic: Egypte, Jordan, Siria, Yemen and Autonomous Palestinian Territories and East Jerusalem.

• For Spanish: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Spain, Venezuela.

• For other languages: China, Czech Republic, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Taiwan, Turkey.

Your duties

Generally speaking, language assistants may be asked to fulfil any or all of the following roles during their posting in a French school:

• Taking part in speaking practice with the class working alongside the teacher;
• Assisting with other educational activities at school;
• Serving as a model speaker for audio/visual recordings used as teaching tools;
• Providing personal tutoring for pupils;
• Taking part in school exchange projects;
• Organising a language club.

You may have other duties, depending on the specific needs of your school.

Where will you be appointed?

You may be appointed at any of the following levels within the education system: