This webinar discusses the benefits of hiring a Language Assistant for primary schools in preparation for foreign languages becoming compulsory in key stage 2 from September 2014. A Language Assistant is a native speaker of a foreign language who works 12-18 hours per week modeling pronunciation, providing cultural context, and supporting language teaching. Hiring a Language Assistant can improve students' language skills, support teachers, and enrich the school's cultural curriculum. The webinar reviews the application process, costs, and support available to schools through the British Council Language Assistant program.

1. All images © Mat Wright
www.britishcouncil.org 1
A Language Assistant
can help you prepare for
2014 when languages
become a compulsory
subject for key stage 2

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
 Develop an understanding of government expectations about language learning at key stage 2
 Discover what a Language Assistant is and what kind of work they do in primary schools
 Consider benefits of having a Language Assistant in the primary context
 Understand the financial implications of employing a Language Assistant
 Learn about the support available to schools who employ a Language Assistant
 Help primary headteachers and their schools to plan for the next steps in working with a Language
Assistant
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

4. Government expectations
 Compulsory languages at key stage 2
 From September 2014
 Focus on French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Spanish, Latin or Ancient Greek
 Development of reading, writing, listening and speaking skills underpinned by an understanding of
basic grammar
An overview of the consultation about Making Foreign Languages compulsory at key stage 2 can be
found here
The Department for Education summary of the Consultation Report on Foreign Languages at key stage
2 published in February 2013 can be read by clicking here
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

5. What is a Language Assistant? (1)
 Native speakers of French, Spanish, German, Italian, Russian or Mandarin
 Usually between 20 and 30 years old
 Generally have strong command of English
 Many have some prior teaching experience or experience of working with primary-aged children
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

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

7. What Language Assistants do in schools
 Work alongside class teachers or with small groups of children
 Model of authentic pronunciation, intonation and usage of the language children are learning
 Give children the opportunity to use the language they are learning for real purposes
 Provide a ‘living’ cultural reference point
 Plan lessons and prepare resources
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

8. How a Language Assistant can
benefit a whole school
 Enrichment across the curriculum
 Contribute to school’s inspection readiness with particular reference to cultural aspects of the
curriculum
 Strengthen the international perspective of children and teachers
 Build capacity to teach languages across key stage 2
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

9. How a Language Assistant supports
children’s learning of language
 Increase confidence and accuracy of children’s use of the target language
 Improve pronunciation
 Build language learning strategies and knowledge about language
 Support development of literacy skills
 Build intercultural understanding into language learning
 Raise the profile of language and culture at all key stages in the school
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

10. How a Language Assistant supports
teaching of languages
 Model native speaker pronunciation
 Provide support for developing teachers’ language skills for the classroom
 Develop teaching resources
 Offer a cultural reference point for teachers
 Help organise whole school language events
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

11. 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 Department for Education (slight variations for the London area)
Full details available by clicking here
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

12. Additional benefits of a Language Assistant
 Contribute to school gaining British Council International School Award
 Enrichment of social, moral, spiritual and cultural [SMSC] dimension of school life
 Possible additional responsible adult for relevant extra-curricular activities
 Help to establish partnership links with other countries
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

13. 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

14. Language Assistants:
planning the next steps
 Find out what children think about having a Language Assistant (click here for sample questions)
 Use self-evaluation to make the case for a language assistant
 Ensure that a Language Assistant is part of your school’s strategic plan for compulsory languages
from September 2014
 Use the annual appraisal cycle to identify teachers’ CPD needs in relation to language learning and
plan how to use the Language Assistant to address these
 Work with your languages coordinator to write a detailed action plan for key stage 2 languages and
share it with your staff and governors
 Present Language Assistant ‘good news’ to children, parents, teachers and school governors
 Apply for a language assistant on the British Council website by 7 June 2013
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants

15. Question time
Contributions will form part of a FAQ for primary headteachers available on the British Council website
www.britishcouncil.org/schools/language-assistants