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Language Assistants in Bilingual Schools José Antonio Alcalde , Bilingual Coordinator Elizabeth Therese Gaughan , Language Assistant La Arboleda Secondary School, Lepe (Huelva) SPAIN in Andalucía

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Importance of Language Assistants <ul><li>Native speakers of L2 </li></ul><ul><li>Especially important as speaking/pronunciation models </li></ul><ul><li>Primary source on culture of home country </li></ul><ul><li>Provide support for teachers </li></ul><ul><li>Bring new and different ideas and techniques </li></ul><ul><li>Serve as contacts to further resources in home countries </li></ul>

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Qualities of an Outstanding Language Assistant <ul><li>Personable and outgoing </li></ul><ul><li>Open-minded </li></ul><ul><li>Flexible </li></ul><ul><li>Proactive and participative </li></ul><ul><li>Resourceful, creative </li></ul><ul><li>Likes kids </li></ul><ul><li>Experience/interest in teaching or working with young people </li></ul>

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Programs that Provide Assistantships <ul><li>Ministry of Education of Spain </li></ul><ul><li>Regional Education Departments </li></ul><ul><li>Comenius Programme </li></ul><ul><li>CIEE—Council on International Educational Exchange </li></ul>

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2009-2010 Statistics <ul><li>Total number in Andalucía: 1037 </li></ul><ul><li>Almería: 96, Córdoba: 96, Huelva: 89, </li></ul><ul><li>Málaga: 170, Cádiz: 146, Granada: 112, Jaén: 103 and Sevilla: 203 </li></ul><ul><li>English: 820, French: 148, German: 38 </li></ul><ul><li>Others: Italian, Chinese </li></ul><ul><li>Source countries: USA, UK, Germany, France, Canada, Ireland, Austria... </li></ul>

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Duties <ul><li>General purpose is to share their language and culture throughout the school </li></ul><ul><li>12-16 hour weekly schedule from October to May </li></ul><ul><li>Assist teachers in bilingual classes </li></ul><ul><li>Prepare materials </li></ul><ul><li>Conduct conversation lessons </li></ul><ul><li>Give presentations </li></ul><ul><li>Chaperone school trips </li></ul><ul><li>Help with student exchanges </li></ul>

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Prior to Arrival <ul><li>Provided with a Welcome Pack </li></ul><ul><li>Contact LA-host school by email </li></ul><ul><li>Plan budget as allowance will take time </li></ul><ul><li>Introductions, getting-to-know-you </li></ul><ul><li>Find information about destination </li></ul><ul><li>Inquire about materials to bring </li></ul>

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Getting Settled <ul><li>Find housing with help of past language assistants, new contacts at school, and internet/paper advertisements </li></ul><ul><li>Must register as a foreign resident </li></ul><ul><li>Set up bank account to receive monthly payment </li></ul><ul><li>Health insurance is included in grant </li></ul>

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Starting at School <ul><li>Provincial orientation meeting first week in October </li></ul><ul><li>Meet with bilingual coordinator </li></ul><ul><li>Organize schedule </li></ul><ul><li>Observe lessons </li></ul><ul><li>Become acquainted with school and faculty </li></ul>

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Working with Teachers <ul><li>Must coordinate (plan ahead, who will do what ) </li></ul><ul><li>Work together to find and create materials </li></ul><ul><li>Important to communicate about expectations (what’s expected of LA) </li></ul><ul><li>Give reciprocal feedback </li></ul><ul><li>Learn from each other’s strengths and weaknesses </li></ul>

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Working with Students <ul><li>Interact with students in L2, in class and throughout the school </li></ul><ul><li>Use of realia, body language, whiteboard, etc. to support language </li></ul><ul><li>Important to have realistic expectations about student abilities </li></ul><ul><li>Adapt strategies to different age groups </li></ul>

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Keeping Connected <ul><li>Connect with other LAs at orientation meeting </li></ul><ul><li>Maintain social relationship to avoid isolation </li></ul><ul><li>Share ideas/advice both personal and professional </li></ul><ul><li>Use Facebook, blogs, social networking to keep in touch </li></ul><ul><li>Opportunity to meet people from other countries (including the locals!) </li></ul>

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Free Time <ul><li>Travel on weekends </li></ul><ul><li>Take a language course </li></ul><ul><li>Participate in cultural activities (dance classes, festivals, gastronomy) </li></ul><ul><li>Teach private lessons </li></ul><ul><li>Join a gym </li></ul><ul><li>Attend community events </li></ul>

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Lasting Effects <ul><li>Materials created by LAs can be used year after year </li></ul><ul><li>Pave the way for future assistants </li></ul><ul><li>Serve as a contact for future exchanges, pen pal, etc. </li></ul><ul><li>Experience/materials for LA’s portfolio and CV </li></ul>

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Benefits for Language Assistants <ul><li>Improve Spanish language skills </li></ul><ul><li>Cultural immersion </li></ul><ul><li>Get teaching/job experience </li></ul><ul><li>Plenty of free time to study, travel, etc. </li></ul><ul><li>Time to consider career aspirations </li></ul><ul><li>Meet new people from different cultures </li></ul>

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Useful Links <ul><li>Plurilingualism Promotion Plan in Andalusia </li></ul><ul><li>North American Language Assistants </li></ul><ul><li>British Council Language Assistants </li></ul><ul><li>CIEE Language Assistants </li></ul><ul><li>Sample Welcome Pack </li></ul><ul><li>Education System in Spain </li></ul><ul><li>English Language Assistants in France </li></ul>