1. All images © Mat Wright
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants 1
How to convince your
headteacher a
Language Assistant is
essentialTips for presentations
(delete or type over these slides after
reading)

2. How this webinar will work
How will this webinar work?
Please ensure your microphone/phone is on mute
The webinar will be recorded
Please refrain from asking any questions during the webinar. There will be a Q&A section at the end
of the webinar
About the British Council?
The British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries
and builds trust between them worldwide. We are on the ground in six continents and over 100
countries bringing international opportunity to life, every day.
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

3. Aims of this webinar
 Be sure of the facts about Language Assistants
 Obtain information about the kind of work Language Assistants do in schools
 Consider the benefits of having a Language Assistant for:
- the whole school
- the languages department
 Understand the financial implications of employing a Language Assistant
 Develop a knowledge of the support available for Language Assistants and the schools who employ
them
 Help you plan the next steps with your headteacher
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

4. What is a Language Assistant? (1)
 Native speakers of French, Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin, Russian and Irish
 Specific interest in working with young people
 Usually between 20 and 30 years old
 Generally have strong command of English
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

5. What is a Language Assistant? (2)
 Model of authentic pronunciation, intonation and usage of the language pupils are learning
 A ‘living’ cultural reference point
 Role model for broadening the school’s cultural provision and perspective
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

6. What Language Assistants do in schools
 Work in a variety of contexts including whole classes or small groups of pupils
 Model authentic pronunciation, intonation and usage of the language pupils are learning
 Give pupils the opportunity to use the language they are learning for real purposes
 Plan activities and prepare resources for teaching
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

7. How a Language Assistant can benefit a
whole school
 Enrichment across the curriculum
 Contribute to school’s self-evaluation
 Build capacity to strengthen the language element of the curriculum
 Broaden the international perspective of the school
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

8. the school’s modern languages
programme
 Increase confidence and accuracy of pupil’s use of the target language
 Model native speaker pronunciation
 Develop and use authentic materials
 Improve engagement in lessons
 Increase capacity to address the modern languages department’s development priorities including
uptake
 Raise the profile of language and culture at all key stages in the school
 Improve teachers’ subject knowledge (language and culture)
 Broaden the international perspective of the school and help establish partnership links
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

9. Cost of a Language Assistant
 Contract period: 1 October – 31 May
 From 12- 18 hours contact time per week
 Can be shared between up to three schools
 Salary set by British Council (slight variations depending on location)
Full details available by clicking here
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

10. Additional benefits of a Language
Assistant
 Promote effective primary / secondary transition by sharing a Language Assistant
 Strengthen networking between a group of schools by sharing a Language Assistant
 Organise whole-school / special events for languages
 Contribute to school gaining International School Award
 Additional responsible adult for relevant extra-curricular activities
 Help to potentially establish partnership links with another country
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

11. Support for Language Assistant
programme
 British Council SchoolsOnline website
 Some countries run face-to-face induction and training before Language Assistants depart for the
UK
 Training hosted by the British Council and / or cultural institutes (e.g. Institut Français, Goethe
Institut, Instituto Cervantes, etc.)
 Language Assistants team at the British Council
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

12. Language Assistants:
planning the next steps - 1
 Enlist the support of pupils
 Analyse school’s data to demonstrate a proven need to improve speaking and/or the cultural
dimension of language learning
 Use your department development plan to identify priorities which a Language Assistant could
support and plan how to use him / her
 Rehearse your case with your line manager
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

13. Language Assistants:
planning the next steps - 2
 Book a meeting with your headteacher and your line manager to present your plans
 Provide your headteacher with an action plan including objectives, aims, actions, timescales, how
you will monitor and evaluate the impact of the Language Assistant’s contribution to pupils’
achievement
 Review your plan at regular intervals with your line manager
 Present Language Assistant ‘good news’ to pupils, your headteacher, parents and school governors
in person, via e-mail, in school newsletters or on the school’s website
 Maintain a watching brief on the British Council Language Assistants website for schools
 Contact the Language Assistants team if required
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

14. Question time
Your contributions will form part of a FAQ for Heads of Languages available on the British Council
website
Apply for a Language Assistant today
Email us if you would like to read the FAQ or participate further in helping compile the list
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants