Living a Language

'Teach your own language, experience another life' - This is the strapline for the British Council Language Assistant programme. We are keen to encourage young people to improve their language fluency whilst acquiring other key skills and having a year to remember.

More people from the UK than ever before are travelling overseas and gaining valuable, cultural experiences but the key questions are - Can you really understand a country's culture without speaking the language? And does fluency in a foreign language really get you one step ahead in the job market?

The English language has been at the forefront of globalisation. English is celebrated as the language of global corporate management, the Internet, youth culture and science. For many, English is the language of the world and the various hours spent learning a few phrases in Spanish just for the hotel receptionist to answer back to you in English can make the whole thing seem like just too much effort.

However, participants of the British Council's English Language Assistant programme believe otherwise. Learning a language opens doors and takes you down routes you would never even have dreamed of.

Michael Seabrook from Exeter University who was an English Language Assistant in Dusseldorf, Germany reflects on his time there: "Looking back I think it is the friendships and the shared experiences which are my most treasured memories of the programme. In all, I've been to Dusseldorf seven times in the last ten months. I've returned for teacher's birthday celebrations, award ceremonies and other events connected with the school. Now where else could you get that sort of immersion in the local culture?"

It's not just the personal experiences that make it all worthwhile - living and working in a country where you can use your second language offers far more than a chance to become fluent and pass exams with flying colours. As a Language Assistant, you'll be standing up in front of large groups and leading discussion with smaller groups. You'll be making presentations with whiteboards, flip-charts, Powerpoint or realia, all the time encouraging, motivating and praising - leading a team of people. You'll become more culturally aware as you find yourself comparing and contrasting aspects between the UK and the country you're living in.

So once back home, what are the career options? As well as the more obvious routes into language teaching in a UK school or teaching English abroad, there are several. International sales and marketing, travel and tourism, international business and finance and cultural relations for starters. And having lived and worked abroad will put you one step ahead.

Sophie Jones from Cardiff University was a Language Assistant in Nantes, France: "As a preparation for a teaching career, the experience couldn't be bettered. I wasn't really looking to move into teaching before I joined the programme, but it's definitely sparked a passion. I'm currently teaching languages in Camberwell, London as part of the Teach First graduate scheme. As someone from a small town in Wales, I'm not sure if I'd have had the confidence to teach in an inner-city multi-cultural school if I didn't have my Language Assistant experience to draw on. Now though, I wouldn't swap the experience for the world".

Jenni Begley is currently in Guangzhou, China: 'Hong Kong is easily accessible from Guangzhou, so most people end up making at least one trip there in order to indulge in some retail therapy, or to simply taste some of the amazing culinary delights Hong Kong has to offer. Hainan Island is worth visiting if you want a lazy few days on the beach. Travelling in China is generally quite time consuming, but if you have the time and you have a sense of adventure I would recommend travelling by train.

China is developing so quickly that any knowledge of the country and it's languages will hold graduates in good stead for any future plans they may have whether they are in business, tourism the media or in teaching. While I have been here I have definitely had an abundance of opportunities to form friendships both in and outside of work. These experiences have endowed me with an appreciation of a new culture and a respect for its people and I believe that as long as international relations in trade, business, education and other sectors of work continue to develop it will be the ability to communicate well and establish good rapports with people of different races and languages from all over the world that will prove to be the best quality a potential employee can bring to a new job'.

Eve Peddle was in Vina del Mar on the Chilean coast: "Most of my students were my age or older, so I socialised with them and was invited to all sorts of occasions such as dad's 60ths, barbecues, birthdays, cousins' vineyards, camping at the weekends and much more! I happened to be teaching the Advanced class, which meant that my students spoke good English already. Also, I was often the only British person which meant I made a lot of Chilean friends.

Some of the benefits of living and working in Chile are the weather, the excellent transport system and cheap flights, and the relaxed mentality of the people. They are a lot more spontaneous over there, and social occasions don't require as much organisation as they do here! Also, the country is a lot more family-oriented in general".

So, aside from your professional aspirations, you'll take home some great memories. What will be yours? Attending your first French wedding? Glastonbury, Peru style? The beach where you planned your lessons? Chatting in German to friends in the local? Or the place you went to chill out?

On the British Council's Language Assistant programme you can live and work in any one of 19 countries around the world. You need to be a native English speaker and have had your secondary education and at least two years of higher education in the UK. In addition, you must have at least an AS level (sometimes more) in the language of the country where you wish to teach in, except for in China where there is no language requirement.

For more information, visit: www.languageassistant.co.uk

Terms and conditions vary from country to country.