Language Assistantship
Many of our students choose British Council language assistantships, immersing themselves in the language and culture of their chosen countries while teaching English in one or more schools.
Emily (Spanish and Italian)
Emily worked for the British Council teaching English in Como, Italy.
‘Working as a language assistant was one of the most challenging yet fun things I have done. I can safely say it makes you grow immensely as person in both confidence and adaptability. I know when I arrived, I was expecting to be sat at the back of class with the occasional question being thrown my way, but my experience was the complete opposite. I was leading classes, planning lessons, working on collaborative projects with teachers, helping with the school’s projects and much more. This job gives you so much experience and is great for personal and professional development.’
Izzy (German with Linguistics)
Izzy selected Northern Germany on her British Council application and was offered a placement in Kiel.
‘I used my first two weeks to explore the city, and spent hours poring over the bizarre items on the supermarket shelves and exploring the various flea markets that seem to pop out of nowhere and fill Kiel’s streets. I also had no previous knowledge of local terms, and it took me a couple of weeks to catch on to words such as moin (“hello”) and schnacken (“to chat”)… With its beautiful maritime setting, rich history, and delicious Fischbrötchen (which sometimes might not look the most appetising, but I promise they taste great), if you’re planning a trip to Germany, Schleswig-Holstein should not be overlooked.’
Bryony (Spanish and Russian)
Bryony worked as a British Council assistant in Alicante, Spain.
‘Over the first few weeks I met loads of other language assistants also living in Alicante, and we’ve formed a lovely friendship group. We do lots of things together, from travelling to language exchanges. Every Friday there is a language exchange in a nearby café where we can practise Spanish with native speakers. Luckily for me, the occasional Russian speaker pops in and my flatmate can also speak Russian so I can practise any time!’
Ketsia (Politics and International Studies and French)
Ketsia worked as a British Council assistant in Regina and Gravelbourg in Canada.
‘Apart from my internship and the amazing friends I made, other highlights included visiting different cities in Canada like Saskatoon, Winnipeg, and Vancouver, visiting the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, having a private tour of Radio Canada’s Regina HQ, participating in the “levée du drapeau fransaskois” (fransaskois flag raising) where I also met and shook hands with the mayor of Regina, road trips on the vast Canadian roads, including going all the way to the United States, and of course trying out their national dish of poutine: chips (not fries, chips) mixed with gravy and cheese…’
