British Council Language Assistants

Welcome to our second episode on culture shock.This episode, Rand and Sian will be speaking to three former language assistants who have all had very interesting and different experiences with culture shock abroad. We are speaking toIsla, a former English Language Assistant in Germany, Lukas, a former Austrian Language Assistant in the UK, and Yiqing, a former Chinese Language Assistant in the UK. Listen as they share their stories about joining a musical choir in London, an queer gardening group in Cologne, experiencing conflicts when queueing, and more!

This episode explores the foundation for understanding culture shock. Join the language assistants team with Saskia, Rand and Aobh as we dive into what culture shock is, the stages it involves, and why it’s such a universal experience for exchange students. We are joined also by George Wilson, the English and School Education Country Lead for British Council France.Through stories, expert insights, and practical examples, this episode will equip listeners with the knowledge to recognize and manage the emotional rollercoaster that often accompanies life abroad.

Finola chats to Ellie who was an ELA in Austria during 2020-21 about what is best to pack as a Language Assistant. Listen for top tips on what you really need to bring and what you can get when you're there. Don't forget to leave space for delicious goodies and some marmite if you're a fan!

Finola speaks to Georgia and Mabel about their experiences as assistants and how they kept a record of their time. They discuss their favourite memories and the joys of looking back on them. Ceilidhs in classroom and Christmas on the beach, listen in to find out how to keep track of your experiences. 

In this episode, we speak to former English Language Assistants Fran, Dylan and Haleema about their first experiences in the classroom. Providing quality first teaching tips, we hear about their favourite activities and the challenges they overcame to produce fantastic lessons. From quizzes about apple pie to what's the time Mr Wolf, discover what being an assistant in a range of schools is like from their first-hand experience.

We hear from assistants Kate and Georgia about their experience of settling in as an ELA during 2019-20. From Welsh-cake candles to brass bands, listen to all their top tips for managing that initial period of the assistantship.  

Join us for a trip to the country of the poets in South America with colleagues and assistants. First up, we hear from Gaurav and Ceana. Now both working at the British Council, they tell Finola about their experience as English Language Assistants in Chile. Then Ceana chats to Christopher, a Chilean Modern Language Assistant currently working in the South of England. 

Finola and Leona speak to former ELAs and current Ambassadors Lucy and Laura about their experience as an ELA in Spain.  From sunsets overlooking the Alhambra to chocolate factory school trips in Asturias, listen to find out more! 

Joined by team member Elena and former assistants Luis and Ffion, Fin hears all about life in Germany. From admin to bakery etiquette, listen in to hear about the assistant experience and top tips for those heading to Germany. 

2020 has been a very different year for the Language Assistants programme, and this podcast looks to explore how this group of assistants and teachers have adapted in the circumstances. In the first part of this episode we speak to Emily, Joe and Mathilde who speak about their different experiences of Lockdown and the final stages of their assistantship. Not only on the journey they went on but how important it is to look after your own well-being during this time. In the second part, we hear from David Lynch, a British Council teacher currently based in Japan, who has had to adapt to virtual teaching. We discuss the challenges but also the possibilities that come with virtual teaching on this episode of the Language Assistants podcast.

In this episode, former Language Assistant team members Bethan and Beth share their top tips for teaching. They explore how to prepare, what to bring and activities to try for future language assistants to get the most out of their teaching experience!

Teach English

With International Women's Day on 08 March, the Language Assistant podcast has carried out a special episode exploring gender within the programme itself and the British Council's work.  On this episode, Finola is joined by Ceana from the Language Assistants Team, Anna from the Gender and Inclusion Team and Dalia from British Council Mexico.

Some useful links from today's podcast:

Gender in Education: Inspiring the Future

British Council Gender Equality Resources

In this episode, Finola is joined by Renaud and Rhianna as they discuss life in Quebec. Featuring ski-doos, poutine and the topic of Canadian French, be sure to listen for all the top tips !

In this episode, Finola speaks to two former language assistants: Luke and Katrina about their experience in Austria. Both share their key top tips about life, admin and their experience...especially to keep your fridge stocked before Sunday!

In this episode, Bethan and Andrew from the British Council discussing the importance of and ways to wellbeing for Language Assistants, with helpful links and their own personal stories along the way.

As mentioned in the video:

- 5 Ways to Wellbeing

- Mind

In this episode, Finola speaks to three former language assistants - Jason, Clorrie and Isabel - about their experience as a language assistant in France. Starting with the typical week, they then discuss challenges and their adventures. From teaching the next generation of French chefs to having tea with a International Prize winning author! 

In this episode, Olivia is joined by Felicity and Emma who look back on their time as a language assistant in Italy. From delicious food to Romeo and Juliet, this podcast has lots of helpful tips and provides an insight into the experience of being an assistant in Italy. 

In this episode, Felicity gives the lowdown on eligibility criteria for China and Finola speaks to Jasper and Lorna - two former English Language Teachers in China. They talk about their experiences, the benefits and challenges of living in China as a teacher and share some invaluable top tips -  useful information for those considering applying! 

In this episode, Finola and Olivia look at the application process, how it works and what we are looking for in English Language Assistant candidates.

Bethan and Conor are joined by fellow colleague Imo to chat about language learning. They discuss the various ways in which you can develop your language skills, both before departure and whilst living abroad. Whether you are a complete beginner or already at an advanced level, they share tips and tricks to develop your skills in formal and non-formal settings. 

If you have a question or would like to contribute to the podcast, please record a voice message for the team using the following link: https://anchor.fm/languageassistants/messageit may even be featured in a future episode!

Why not follow the Language Assistants programme on twitter @Languageasst. For more information about the British Council or Language Assistants programme please visit www.britishcouncil.org.  

Conor and Bethan catch up with two former Language Assistants to discuss the pros and cons of living and working in a city or village. They speak to Gaurav, a Language Assistant in the capital of Chile Santiago and Cameron who worked in a school in Saint-Prosper, a rural village in Quebec. Together they reflect on their experiences and provide advice to future programme participants.  

 Why not follow the Language Assistants programme on twitter @Languageasst. For more information about the British Council or Language Assistants programme please visit www.britishcouncil.org 

Bethan, Conor and Olivia chat about placement and school allocations. From receiving your exact school information and location from overseas partners, to contacting your school for the first time, they provide advice and reflect on their own experiences working abroad. 

Why not follow the Language Assistants programme on twitter @Languageasst. For more information about the British Council or Language Assistants programme please visit www.britishcouncil.org.   

 Whether you already have a Language Assistants placement confirmed, are thinking about applying in the future, or are generally looking for information to prepare you for living abroad ... then you have come to the right place! 

Each week the team will be chatting with colleagues, former assistants and experts on a range of themes. From finding accommodation, money matters, and insurance, to settling into school life, managing culture shock and making friends; they hope to help you prepare for time overseas. 

Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss an episode! 

www.britishcouncil.org/study-work-abroad/outside-uk/english-language-assistants