From selecting the perfect candidate to handling visas, administrative matters and pastoral care, we are here to answer your questions and help you become a successful host institution.
We offer year-round help and advice and do not charge any programme fees to take part. Recruit your language assistant through us and enjoy a host of additional support.
We help with recruitment
All of our language assistants apply through one of our overseas partner organisations and go through a rigorous application and recruitment process. Once their application is assessed and approved, we work in close conjunction with our partners to allocate the most suitable candidate to your institution. During this process, we take into account any details or specific requests you listed in your application as well as the candidate’s qualifications and preferences.
In addition, we also support institutions participating in the programme with the following:
- sample templates for offer of appointment letters and contract. These templates are sent once a language assistant has been allocated to your institution
- administrative support with visa sponsorship for language assistants. Please note that language assistants from EU/EEA countries and Switzerland will also require a visa for their time as a Modern Language Assistant in the UK
- our Modern Language Assistants Information Booklet, which is updated each year and provides guidance for both host institutions and language assistants.
"Help, advice and support is very good. Materials provided to aid us with the employment of the assistant is very comprehensive."*
* feedback from 23-24 EOY survey report
Support provided to language assistants
We believe it is important to prepare the language assistants for their time abroad and equip them with the right skills to enhance language learning. We provide the following support to language assistants:
- visa application guidance including visa sponsorship
- pre-departure webinars, which cover the administrative side of moving to the UK and an introduction to key principles of Child Protection
- online teacher training courses, including a mandatory Child Protection module
- access to additional training days with our UK partners including Goethe Institut, Consejería de Educación and Institut Français
- we also offer guidance to assistants so that they can better cope with challenges and issues during their assistantship in the document 'Who to Contact - Guidance for Language Assistants'
- a support network of other British Council language assistants locally and across the UK
- our Modern Language Assistants information booklet, which is updated each year and provides guidance for both host institutions and language assistants. The 2023-24 booklet is available for download at the bottom of the page.
Resources available for the classroom
We also provide invaluable resources and ideas for fostering international education in classrooms through our online library of language learning resources designed by leading education professionals.