There is one week left to apply for the British Council’s English Language Assistants (ELA) programme, which provides placements in countries including France, Canada, Colombia, Spain, and Austria.
The programme, which is approaching its 120th anniversary this year, offers participants a unique opportunity to teach internationally, develop professional skills, and fully immerse themselves in a new culture for six months to a year.
Language requirements vary between countries, but applicants can come from any walk of life and do not need a formal language qualification to apply. Language skills can be acquired through travel, private study, or university language courses.
The programme has provided life-changing experiences for many participants all over the UK.
Tapiwa Chingati-Phiri, a 20-year-old from Essex, discovered the ELA programme while searching for a placement year opportunity as a Language, Culture and Communications student at the University of Warwick. With just one week left before the deadline, she applied: “I wanted to do something where I wasn’t just paying a company to do an internship abroad; I felt like that was just a bit unfulfilling… I stumbled upon the ELA programme with a week left until deadline and I was like, ‘why didn’t anyone tell me about this?’ I applied on the same day.”
Tapiwa was placed at Canales y Martinez Public School in Almoradi, a town in Spain's Alicante region, teaching students aged 8 to 12. Her lessons range from English grammar and theory to using media and culture to explore the language, including accents and regional differences: “They find it funny engaging with UK media. Recently, they’ve been obsessed with Tom Holland and Zendaya, and hearing his accent makes them say, ‘Oh, I can speak British!’ before coming out with really colloquial phrases.” Tapiwa added that her students love experimenting with different UK accents, especially Scottish ones.
Living in Alicante has given Tapiwa the chance to fully embrace Spanish culture. From salsa dancing and fencing to exploring cities like Barcelona and Madrid, she has made the most of her time abroad while learning Spanish: “Where I am in Spain, you have the Dominican community, so I’m definitely getting the different dialects. Because my degree focuses on the theory side of language, I’m picking up a lot of phrases and nuances.”
“I would recommend others apply to the programme,” she said. “You get firsthand experiences that change your perspectives on cultures and provide a hands-on approach to language learning, reciprocally.”
After a career change in 2022, 45-year-old Emma Magee from Belfast decided to apply and was placed in Udine as an ELA in a scientific high school called Malignani ISIS: “It specialised in science and engineering subjects, but my job was to teach about various aspects of Irish culture and expose the students to a native speaker.”
The school was comprised of around 3000 students aged between 14 and 20 years old. Emma said, “Through the programme my public speaking skills have improved and I’m no longer afraid of taking myself out of my comfort zone and experiencing something new. It not just demonstrates your hard skills but also your soft skills such as being a good communicator, working well as a team and good time management.
“I would recommend the programme to anyone - it will not just boost you on a professional and personal note, but it is a great way to experience living and working in another country.”
24-year-old Ailie Ross-Oliver from Dunblane, Scotland, spent 2023 in Canada working with students at Juvenat Notre Dame de Saint Laurent secondary school in Quebec. Much of her time was spent teaching them about Scottish culture: “I was pleasantly surprised by how engaged the students were in learning about Scotland, we had a highland games day where students participated in a caber toss, tug of war and other typical highland games activities.”
Ailie, who currently studies at Sciences Po (Paris Institute of Political Studies), believes the programme has significantly enhanced her skills. She said “I really benefited from the experience of living abroad and practicing my French. I am now studying for my masters in France which I previously wouldn’t have had the confidence for. I also got to try out teaching which was a career path I had considered and through this experience I gained great public speaking skills.”
Georgia Riches, a 23-year-old from Swansea, is currently in her second year as an English Language Assistant in Spain. She started teaching children near San Sebastian and now teaches adults in Bilbao: “I feel like I’m now more capable and it’s been great to move out of my comfort zone. It’s also taught me that I enjoy leadership, something I had never thought of, and it’s persuaded me to look into occupational psychology for my master’s, which will involve the organisation of workplaces, interpersonal skills and being able to talk to lots of different people – which is a good combination of what I’ve learned on this programme and through my degree.”
Every year, the British Council sends approximately 1,800 assistants from the UK abroad to support the teaching of English in schools, universities, and language centres. With the programme celebrating its 120th anniversary in 2025, it continues to open doors for participants while promoting educational exchange worldwide.
The programme, supported by the Department for Education and devolved governments across the UK, operates through mutual exchange. Modern Language Assistants from around the globe teach French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Mandarin in schools, colleges, and universities across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In 2024, more than 700 Modern Language Assistants were teaching in the UK.
Speaking about the programme, Shannon West, Head of UK Schools for the British Council, said: “The English Language Assistants programme offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture, gain invaluable skills, and represent the UK on a global stage. For 120 years, the programme has helped people from all over the UK build meaningful connections and friendships with people internationally and support the development of the English language with our partner countries overseas. If you’re passionate about languages, cultural exchange, and inspiring others, I wholeheartedly encourage you to apply for this once-in-a-lifetime experience and make 2025 an unforgettable year.”
Applications for the English Language Assistants programme are now open. The deadline to apply is Thursday, 30 January 2025. For more information and full eligibility criteria, follow this link.