www.britishcouncil.org
Language Assistants in Colombia
2023-24 Programme
ELA in Colombia:
The Guide
1 Month 2020
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Contents: Quick guide
Section 1 provides an overview of Colombia and key country information
Section 2 indicates key contacts for your assistantship and their roles
Section 3 provides detail regarding the assistantship role and what this involves
Section 4 and 5 helps you to prepare the essentials before you arrive in Colombia
Section 5 to 9 covers all core aspects and documents you will need once you arrive in Colombia
Section 10 is for you to consider at the end of your placement.
Please ensure you have read through this document and carried out research yourself before
contacting the language assistants team with any questions. Save this document somewhere
you can access anytime during your assistantship.
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in
these notes. However, the British Council cannot accept responsibility for any errors which may
exist or for any subsequent changes. This guide should be used as a starting point for your own
research.
Date checked: 03/10/2023
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Country Overview
1. Spotlight on Colombia
Did you know that the British Council Language Assistants Programme first began back in 1905
with English masters heading over to France?
You are joining the next generation of this legacy strengthening educational and cultural links
between the UK and Colombia through the British Council and our partners ICETEX.
By this point, you should have a fair knowledge about Colombia. Here are our key points to
consider.
Contacts
1.1.1 Emergency
In any emergency: call 123
Medical assistance: call 125
Fire Brigade: call 119
Police call: 112
Tourist police call: (1) 3374413
General enquiries to the British Embassy: (1)337 4413
British Consular Emergency Service for any emergency queries at any time of any day. Leave a
message and someone will normally get back to you within one hour of your call.
1.1.2 General Info
Country code for Colombia is +57.
To phone abroad from Colombia the code is 00 followed by the country code.
If you set up a phone line or internet connection, past assistants have warned to check phone
subscription charges with Colombia Telecom first. You may be charged for a full year’s
subscription even if you end your phone contract earlier than this. Former assistants often
recommend getting a pay as you go mobile rather than one on contract
International calls can be expensive – use Skype, WhatsApp, Teams, or other online platforms
where possible
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1.1.3 British embassy and consulate
For up-to-date British Embassy and consulate contact details in Colombia please refer to:
https://www.gov.uk/world/embassies. Please take note of the address of the British Embassy in
Colombia below in case of emergency or loss of your passport. Assistants who do not hold
British citizenship should check with their own Consulates/Embassies in Colombia.
British Embassy Bogotá
Carrera 9, No 76-49, Piso 8
Edificio ING Barings
Bogotá
Colombia
• Tel: +57 601 326 8300 / +44 1908 51 6666 (selecting the option for consular services for
British nationals)
• Fax: 326 8309/02
• Email: [email protected]
The British Embassy is currently operating remotely during regular office hours (Office
Hours: Monday to Thursday: 8:30 to 11:30 Friday: 8:30 to 10:30) however, UK Consular
Services are available 24/7.
British Consulates-General are also provided in Bogotá.
Life in Colombia
Some general information around life Colombia or your region can be found on sites like these:
Public Holidays Calendar
Rough Guide to Colombia
Lonely Planet Colombia
BBC’s Colombia Profile
1.2.1 Personal safety and Travel
Your personal safety is of paramount importance while living overseas and we strongly advise
that you spend some time looking at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
website.
After arriving in Colombia, we recommend that you speak regularly to your mentor teacher and
other fellow teachers to get a feel for the locality in terms of safety and risk. Try to travel around
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with other trusted people as much as possible until you have more of an idea of how safe
certain places are.
As mentioned in section 4.2 of this document, ensure you regularly check the Colombia travel
advice page which we recommend reading in advance of travelling.
Local laws and customs
Laws
As you would in your own county, always abide by the local laws. You should not assume that
all laws and punishments will be similar to the UK, so it is important to carry out research in
advance:
Gov site for Colombian laws and customs,
Regardless of your own politics, we would recommend avoiding all local political disputes or
activities. As a visitor you are unlikely to understand the full scope of local issues and you don’t
know what level of punishment will occur for participating.
Do not take other people’s word/advice as an indication of laws/punishments. Do not be
encouraged into things you are not fully aware of. It is always best to be cautious and use you
own common sense backed up with research.
LGBTQ+
We recommend carrying out some research into local customs and laws around LGBTQ+
issues before travelling.
FCDO guide for LGBT travellers
The British Council office in Colombia
Please note: The British Council in Colombia is not responsible for the administration of the
Language Assistant programme in Colombia - this is the role of ICETEX. They are also different
staff and departments to the UK British Council team. We will notify the country director of your
arrival before the programme begins but they have little involvement in the running of the
programme.
The British Council develops and participates in many different projects themed around society,
science, education so you may want to see if they have other programmes which you can get
involved in via their website and get in touch with the team:
https://www.britishcouncil.co/en
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Language Assistants Programme Overview
Programme organisations
UK British Council Language Assistants team
The Language Assistants programme has a dedicated team to provide support during the
application and pre-departure process for each destination. Please note the British Council is
not the employer of participants of the Language Assistants programme while abroad.
Overseas Partner Organisation
ICETEX administers the Language Assistants Programme in Colombia. We work with them to
provide placements and then to allocate applicants to placements. They will contact you before
the placement begins with key information and will also provide an initial induction on arrival
before work begins. They will remain a key contact with the host institutions throughout the
year.
Host Institutions
Following the departure procedures and inductions, the host institution will be responsible for
your contract. Your host institution are your employers during your assistantship and any
changes to your contract should be liaised with them, and you should inform ICETEX and the
British Council of any changes.
Mentor Teacher
Your host school should identify a mentor teacher for you on or before arrival. This mentor
should provide pastoral care and support during your time in Colombia. It is in your interest to
establish and build a good relationship as soon as you are introduced. The exact
dynamics/responsibilities of this role may differ from institution to institution so it is good to
establish early on what support you can expect to receive. You will still be required to
communicate independently with HR and school administration on certain matters.
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If a mentor teacher is not identified at the start of your placement, you should enquire with the
institution or ICETEX.
Sending organisation: British Council
·Katie Bliss, Consultant
[email protected]
Responsible for: application and pre-departure processes
Partner organisation: ICETEX
- Andrés Felipe Salamanca Gaitán,
relacionesinternacionales@icetex.gov.co
Responsible for: arrival and assistantship; relationship with host
institutions
Employer: Host institution
Responsible for: assistantship in school
Support: Mentor Teacher
Responsible for: in school support and first contact
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The English Language Assistant role
As a Language Assistant, please remember that you are a paid member of staff with the
responsibilities and required professionalism that this entails.
Please refer to our website for more information on your role as an English Language Assistant:
Responsibilities of an English Language Assistant | British Council.
As the posts in Colombia are universities you may be required to teach at weekends, in
the evenings or deliver online lessons. You may be expected to teach up to 18 hours per
week. As all the institutions operate on different business needs you should not compare
to other Language Assistants work patterns.
As a language assistant you are also an ambassador for the UK and your actions will influence
how those around you view the UK. Your behaviour will also impact the experiences of future
assistants who go to work in the same communities.
Posting information
Post allocation for Colombia is usually carried out May-early June. ICETEX will issue a formal
letter of invite with details on your host institution. You should contact your host institution as
soon as you receive these details and introduce yourself. It may be useful to find out specifics
such as the age range of pupils; average class size; facilities available and if you should
prepare any specific materials in advance. It is also important to enquire about the dress code
for teachers and information around the school code of conduct.
Period of Appointment
The period of appointment for UK assistants in Colombia will be late July 2023 until May 2024.
Assistants are expected to work 12-18 hours a week. You can request information regarding
how your timetable will be arranged from the head of the host institution of your posting
however this information will most likely not be available until you arrive in Colombia. If you do
not receive this, you are within your rights to request again.
Holidays and Sick Leave
Assistants are entitled to the same school holidays as per regular staff. The Colombia
Government’s Education website has further details regarding the school calendar. You should
not be absent on other occasions without prior written permission. Please note that you
should not book flights or trips when you are timetabled to work. Equally, you must not
take it upon yourself to change timetabled lessons without written permission. The
induction course is not part of your work hours and does not give assistants the right to take
leave at a later date.
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Preparation before you go
Read before you go
Costs to prepare
You should prepare for the following costs:
• £75 ICPC
• Administrative costs: visa (if applicable).
• Travel costs including additional requirements due to the coronavirus
• Accommodation costs
• Insurance costs
• Please note that the British Council is not liable for any refunds.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
(FCDO) advice
During a crisis, official advice for British nationals will be published on the travel advice website
and regularly updated. For your safety and to stay well-informed, we strongly recommend you
subscribe to receive FCDO email updates for Colombia so that you are immediately notified of
any important changes to the FCDO’s advice.
The FCDO have published a comprehensive guide for Living in Colombia. The guide sets out
essential information for British nationals residing in Colombia, including advice on health,
education, residence requirements and more. We recommend you read this guide thoroughly.
You can also contact the British embassy for advice in event of an emergency.
Passports and visas
You must meet the passport requirements for Colombia before leaving the UK – instructions will
be sent to you directly by ICETEX during the departure process.
Those who are not in possession of a passport, or need a new one, should complete the
application procedure as soon as possible either through a regional Passport Office or online:
http://www.gov.uk/browse/abroad/passports.
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This process requires your own investment of time and money. The British Council UK team will
provide step-by-step guidance on this process when the time comes to apply.
Assistants are expected to cover the costs of this, which can include sourcing documentation,
attending visa appointments and paying service fees as required.
Travel to and around Colombia
You are responsible for the upfront cost of your own travel and any travel to and from your place
of appointment during the year.
The British Council strongly advises against booking your travel until you have received your
visa and are certain that you will be able to travel on your chosen date. The British Council is
not responsible for arranging your travel.
Past teachers have advised that you check the baggage allowance for both outbound and
return journeys when travelling by plane.
Travel Insurance: Information on travel insurance
The British Council is unable to advise on insurance packages; you are recommended to
consult professional advice, or to check whether you are covered by any existing family policy.
Booking insurance should be carried out before any travel.
Undergraduate assistants should consult with their university to check what cover is provided
for it is important to check the small print of your policy.
Personal Accident Travel insurance is recommended to cover medical expenses, air
ambulance, repatriation, personal accident & civil liability, luggage & valuable items, and
cancellation in extreme cases.
Personal Accident Travel policies are readily available on price comparison websites, or by
using a search engine to search for ‘travel insurance’. The UK Foreign & Commonwealth
website offers additional advice on taking out Travel Insurance: www.gov.uk/foreign-
travelinsurance.
Health and wellbeing
Before you go
Planning
In advance of your trip, check the latest Colombia-specific health advice from the National
Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website.
Guidance is also available from NHS (Scotland) on the FitForTravel website.
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General information on travel vaccinations and a travel health checklist is available on the NHS
website.
Make sure you have comprehensive travel and medical insurance covering healthcare and
medical evacuation and repatriation for the duration of your stay.
Medication
The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or purchased in the UK can be
different in Colombia. If you’re travelling with prescription or over-the-counter medicine, read
this guidance from NaTHNaC on best practice when travelling with medicines. For further
information on the legal status of a specific medicine, you’ll need to contact the embassy, high
commission or consulate of Colombia or territory you’re travelling to.
If you’re on prescription medication, make sure you either bring enough with you or have access
to a supply once in Colombia. Certain medicines may not be available in Colombia (including
major brands readily available in the UK), and you may be prohibited from bringing some
medicines into Colombia. For more information and advice, check with your GP and the
Embassy of Colombia before travelling.
EHIC/GHIC
UK-issued European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs) are still valid and offer the same cover as
GHICs in the EU. Once your EHIC has expired, you’ll be able to replace it with a GHIC.
The Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) gives you the right to access state-provided
healthcare during a temporary stay in the European Union (EU). The GHIC is not an alternative
to travel insurance but gives you access to healthcare which becomes medically necessary
during your stay, and you cannot reasonably wait until you’re back in the UK to get it.
You can find out more online about the free UK Global Health Insurance Card from the NHS.
In Country
Medication
If your medicine is available from suppliers in Colombia, doctors may first want to conduct their
own diagnosis before repeating a prescription issued elsewhere. It is also important to find out
where your nearest doctor, dentist and hospital are as soon as you arrive. You should ask your
school for information about the facilities in your area and advise staff and your landlord of any
medical conditions.
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Colombia health service
We recommend that you carry out some research on the Colombian health system in advance
of your stay. In general, the quality of service can vary based on location, so be sure to look into
your local services as well as at the national level. The FCDO website is a good place to start:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/colombia/health
If you require urgent medical attention in Colombia dial 123 to ask for assistance in Spanish.
Mental health
Although working abroad can be enjoyable, it can also be challenging. Moving away from
support networks, adapting to new routines, language barriers, culture shock and unexpected
situations can intensify stress levels.
It is important to remember that culture shock affects everyone. There is no shame in admitting
that you are having a difficult time. Colombia is a very culturally distinct place. If you do feel
homesick or frustrated, please talk to your mentor teacher, and consider reaching out to fellow
ELAs in Colombia.
Resources:
• www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health
• www.gov.uk/guidance/foreign-travel-advice-for-people-with-mental-health-issues
• Mental Health Travelling Abroad
• Mental Health Travelling Abroad Checklist
• The NHS website
• International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers
Outside of school: Arrival and settling in
Accommodation
6.1.1 General Advice
Booking accommodation is not the responsibility of the British Council, the overseas partner
organisation, or the host institution. This responsibility lies with the language assistant and you
will be required to carry out independent research and make a booking.
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When contacted by your host institution it is worth asking them if they have any suggestions. It
is possible in some cases that the school may even be able to offer you a place, or a guest
room if another teacher offers to host you, although this should not be expected.
Finding a temporary short-term solution is advisable so that you can take a little time to get used
to the area and not get stuck in the same place for the whole year if it turns out to be unsuitable.
You may find some of the links below a useful place to start:
6.1.2 Before Signing an Agreement
• Always ask about additional fees such as Agency charges
• Landlords may ask for 1 month’s rent as a deposit and 1 month's rent paid in advance.
• Get any agreements in writing, and obtain receipts for any transaction, keeping them
secure.
• Confirm your period of notice you must give to move out – there will usually be a legal
minimum requirement in the host country. You may also have to give this notice in writing
• Enquire about the possibility of including a ‘diplomatic clause’ in the rental agreement to
allow for a shorter notice period in case of early termination of your placement.
• take photos capturing the condition of your room and the flat before moving in to prevent
unfairly losing any of your security deposit
• check health and safety issues (temporary and long term) such as fire alarms and exits,
gas leaks, electrics, water etc.
In school: arrival, settling in and support
Induction
ACCOMODATION TYPE
USEFUL LINKS
Temporary
accommodation:
www.hihostels.com
www.hostelbookers.com
www.hostelworld.com
www.airbnb.com
When you have found somewhere to live, even if it has been arranged for you, do not sign
any agreement you are not comfortable with and make sure that there is a period of notice
written in the contract to avoid problems, should you decide to change your
accommodation during the year.
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ICETEX will likely run an ‘induction course’ for English language assistants in the week before
placements are due to begin. Induction meetings have been disrupted by the pandemic so the
exact format and arrangement may differ from previous years.
Please note, the British Council is not involved in the organisation of these meetings. The
purpose of the induction is to provide you with useful information about your placement directly
from ICETEX, adapting to local life, important information about the education system, and is a
great chance for you to meet other assistants in your region! Attendance is expected
depending on travel arrangements. If you are unable to attend, we recommend
contacting fellow ELAs and catch up on what was missed.
Observation Period
When you first arrive at your school(s) you should ask for a period of observation of 1-2 weeks.
It may not be offered to you automatically. Observation will allow you to familiarise yourself with
the school environment, to experience classroom management techniques as well as to get to
know the names, faces and personalities of your pupils and gauge their level of English. Try to
note the following:
• How the teacher starts and ends the lesson.
• How the teacher speaks to pupils.
• How the teacher involves all pupils, including shy ones, in the class activity.
• What the teacher’s attitude is to pupil errors and error correction; and
• How the teacher controls disruptive behaviour, lateness and lack of effort
This can also be a valuable opportunity to discuss with your mentor teacher about the following:
- How you are finding your experience and settling in
- If you have any additional requirements which may facilitate your placement.
7.2.1 Settling into school life
You can hear tips from former assistants in our settling in podcast.
Starting any new job can be a daunting experience, no matter how confident a person you are.
It’s completely normal to be unsure of where to go, what to do or who to talk to at the beginning.
Remember – it is not good practice to correct another teacher in front of students.
Apart from your work in the classroom you may be able to attend other classes in subjects
which interest you. You will find that you become much more integrated into school life and gain
considerably more from your stay if you become involved in activities organised by the school,
such as sports days, theatre or music productions or modern language societies. Go to school
Open Days or Parent Evenings as these are also a good way of meeting people.
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Teachers who are proactive and take the initiative often settle into school life much faster. Being
a self-starter is a great way to make a strong first impression. Teachers are often very busy and
will certainly appreciate your efforts to help and try to make an impact.
Absence from school
Please remember that you are a member of staff and must therefore adhere to the holiday
dates set by the school. If you cannot work because of illness, you should inform your school(s)
and ICETEX (if applicable) immediately and within 48 hours by telephone.
Any prolonged absence on account of illness should be reported as soon as possible to
ICETEX and to the British Council. Requests for leave of absence for any other reason should
be made in advance to the head of the school(s) who is within his/her right to refuse it. You are
reminded that if you are absent from school without prior authorisation, your allowance will be
discontinued from the first day of your absence.
If it becomes necessary to resign from your post, you must give sufficient prior notice in writing
of your intended departure to the school, ICETEX and the British Council, setting out your
reasons in full. If you are an undergraduate, you must also inform your university/college in the
UK.
Social media
You should be very careful about how you use social networking sites while you are working as
a teacher. Keep your profile private so that it can only be seen by people you intend to see it. If
you invite other teachers to be ‘friends’, remember to remain professional in what you post and
be careful what you say about your employer.
You should not exchange personal contact details with students, invite them to be ‘friends’ or
accept similar invitations from them. Check with teachers about the school’s internet policy,
particularly regarding any online communication involving students either in or outside school. It
is exceptionally important that you understand issues around child protection, both to protect the
students and to protect you from any damaging and potentially serious accusations.
Support networks
Give yourself some time to adjust –in the beginning, you will have a lot of administrative matters
to deal with. While your programme peers can provide a very good support network for each
other; former assistants have recommended that you don’t spend all your free time with other
programme participants, as you will not be able to integrate into your community and new
surroundings.
Here are some other ways to meet people within the area:
• Enrol for an evening class, join a sports club, music group, choir etc.
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• Join or set up a language exchange
• Join the local Erasmus society through the ESN network
• Enquire about joining the local university and attending lectures
• Get involved in the local culture and join clubs that you couldn’t join in the UK
• Volunteer for a charity, society, festival, etc.
Start at school
- Showing that you are enthusiastic to get to know staff and your mentor
- Accept invites to social occasions or team meetings
- If you hear about something happening which interests you, ask if you can become
involved. Don’t wait to be invited as people may assume that you’re not interested.
Rural Posts
Past assistants based in rural or remote areas have had very positive experiences. While it can
be more challenging to adapt it can be a very enriching experience on a personal development
level and a real immersion in culture and language. You may also receive much more support
from your school and integrate into the community quicker which can help with setting into life in
Colombia.
Concerns and Queries:
You may hear from past assistants that their assistantship was the best year of their life, not
reflecting the reality that they had to work at it until the rewarding experiences could be
appreciated. Be careful to reasonably set your expectations and do not be worried if you find
your experience initially more challenging than you thought it would be.
The assistantship year is a wonderful opportunity to absorb the local language and culture and
you will gain much in life experience and transferable skills. However, it is perfectly
understandable that when abroad in a completely different environment there may be times
when you feel homesick, have trouble with pupils or colleagues, or with your living situation and
so on.
Meeting regularly with your mentor gives the opportunity for them to feedback about your
performance and for you to raise any concerns or issues. Do tell people if you have problems or
if you need information as otherwise, they may assume everything is fine.
The British Council has a zero-tolerance policy approach to discrimination of any kind. If a
serious incident occurs and the who to contact sheet is not appropriate, please contact us.
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Money Matters
Bank Account
It is essential that you open a local bank account in order to receive your payments. We
recommend waiting until you arrive in your town of appointment allowing you to research all the
local options, seek recommendations and receive help from your school.
Things to consider:
• Assistants are usually entitled to open a standard account which provides a cheque book
and cash card; some banks also offer a ‘student account’
• Do not open a savings account as your school will not be able to pay your allowance into
this.
• Check with local banks in advance to find out what kind of documents will be required
Tax
Assistants often ask our team questions around tax issues but unfortunately, we are unable to
assist in this area. We do not have the authority or passing knowledge of tax systems in the
various countries we work with to answer any questions.
Enquiries regarding UK income tax should be addressed to a local Inspector of Taxes. Please
check www.hmrc.gov.uk for information about who to contact.
We do recommend looking into the Double Taxation Agreement between the UK and Colombia
and you can find out more at https://www.gov.uk/tax-foreign-income/taxed-twice.
It is important to note that the agreement only covers teaching jobs.
Monthly Salary
Details on the estimated monthly allowance can be found on our destination pages on the
Language Assistants website. While we keep this information as up to date as possible,
allowances listed can change each year so may vary.
Consider taking a Credit Card to cover initial costs and be aware that you are often charged for
using your British debit card to withdraw money abroad.
The British Council does have any budget to help cover any costs or refunds.
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Additional Income
Please check that additional work is permitted under the terms of your visa and that it does
not conflict with your school timetable. If you wish to supplement your income with extra
work you such as by giving private tuition in English, you are strongly advised not to advertise in
local papers or public places. In general pupils are easily found through school or private
connections, i.e., by word-of-mouth. However, it is essential to check that the other English
teachers in your school(s) do not mind, so that you are not perceived to be ‘stealing’ their
private pupils.
Useful Documents
Prepare copies and documents prior to leaving and keep safe and secure when abroad:
• Passport
• Copy of passport
• Insurance cover
• Certificate of appointment
• Another valid form of photographic ID
• Bank statements from your UK bank
• Birth Certificate
• Certificates of qualifications
• Passport sized photos
• Documents to set up bank account
• Proof of address
• Payslips
• Rental agreement
Language learning and studies
For language learning
• BBC- Learn Spanish. Offers a wealth of resources for learning Spanish, including short
guides, videos and the BBC World News service in Latin America. There is also a link to
Colombian TV - https://www.senalcolombia.tv/
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• Memrise www.memrise.com. A sophisticated platform for language learning, with a large
online community. App also available.
• Duolingo https://www.duolingo.com/welcome. A simplistic platform for language learning
which is very easy to access. Bite-size lessons allow the user to practice for anywhere
from 5 minutes a day. App also available.
• Anki: An online platform for learning, focusing on memory-recall. Packs for specific levels
of Spanish are available.
• Blooket.com: An online vocabulary learning platform.
End of your placement
Administrative matters
Bank: You are advised to keep your account open for a month or so after the contract with your
school has ended to ensure that all outstanding payments have been received. Please do check
on the conditions for transactions relating to your account. For example, it might be that you can
only close your account in the same branch in which you opened it.
Accommodation: Please make sure that you leave a good impression with your landlord – a
future assistant may be depending on this:
• Leave a forwarding address with your landlord so that they can forward any mail on to
you.
• When you leave your accommodation, remember to cancel any personal contracts,
e.g., internet or utilities.
• Discuss with your landlord what you need to do for them to return your deposit and
terminate your rental agreement, as well as arranging the return of your belongings if
you have already left.
• If you rent your flat through a property agency, they may want to carry out an
inspection before returning your deposit; if possible, you should make sure that you
are present during the inspection to avoid any potential disagreements at a later date.
Alternatively, you may wish to take photos of your accommodation before leaving to
document how it was left.
Reference: If you haven’t already done so, please liaise with your host school to ask for a
reference.
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• This will be invaluable when it comes to an official record of your assistantship and for
any future applications to be an ELA. This should ideally be on headed paper,
stamped and comment on your performance as an assistant.
• Please note that as the British Council is not the employer, we are unable to provide
references for language assistants, only a certificate certifying participation upon
request.
Staying a consecutive year
To stay for a consecutive year as a British Council language assistant in Colombia, please see
our website for details on how to apply. ELAs applying for a consecutive year in Colombia are
limited to 2 years in total. This rule is to ensure new applicants can enjoy the same benefits of
the programme with there being limited posts available. If late posts do become available due to
withdrawals, we may contact you to offer an additional consecutive year.
Programme Ambassadors
Ambassadors play an essential active part in promoting the opportunity of being a Language
Assistant. By representing a British Council programme, former assistants will be able to
develop their creative, organisational and professional skills and network with the future
generation of assistants. To have an opportunity to be involved with this, you must have filled
out our end of year survey after which you may be invited to take part in the scheme.
Alumni network
We are currently establishing an alumni network to help former ELAs and MLAs stay in touch
with the programme and each other. This is currently hosted on a LinkedIn group which you will
be invited to after your placement is concluded.
Getting into Teaching
If you want to take your assistantship to the next level, find out more from the links below of how
to get into teaching and inspire future linguists:
• England: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/
• Wales: https://www.discoverteaching.wales/routes-into-teaching/
• Scotland: https://teachinscotland.scot/
• Northern Ireland: https://gtcni.org.uk/professional-space/professional-
competence/getting-into-teaching