A Language Assistant, Conversation Assistant or Teaching Assistant is a native speaker who offers language support in the classroom, teaching their native language or another language with which they have advanced knowledge (certified C1).
The majority of Teaching Assistants are students or recent graduates, who help with the teaching of a language whilst sharing their culture.
Working with the teacher in the classroom or independently with small groups of students to offer language support. They help develop the listening comprehension and verbal fluency of the students as well as helping to prepare students for oral exams.
All Language Assistants must have a criminal record certificate issued by their country of origin as well as medical and visa insurance if necessary.
For EU Assistants going to another EU country, they can apply for the European health card (EHIC) to receive medical support. More information here: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559
No, you don't need to. However, having this kind of training as well as having teaching experience or experience of working with children is highly valued by the schools/ businesses and will increase the chances of being selected as a Language Assistant.
No, you don't have to be. However, having the support of an Erasmus grant or another type of grant is always an advantage as it gives the Language Assistant additional financial support.
Language Assistants receive numerous benefits, among which:
They obtain a number of skills that are transferable to any professional field, such as:
- Improve communicative capacity
- Social skills
- Planning and Organisation
- Persuasion
- Teamwork
- Motivation
- The ability to adapt and overcome
- Creativity
- Leadership
In addition to the skills you obtain as a result of teaching practice, you also acquire other practical skills.
The salary varies, because it depends on the conditions agreed with each school (according to the regulations in force in that country) and the number of hours per week of teaching.
In Spain a language assistant might earn between €400-€1,200, depending on the number of hours and tasks involved. On top of the salary, there are some schools that also offer some other sort of additional benefits like: Spanish classes, accommodation, food, training, transport ticket, etc.
Yes, the Language Assistant receives a diploma that makes his training in the teaching of a language for foreigners official where all skills acquired while teaching are recognised. This diploma is certified by the British organisation TEFL-UK and Erasmus In School.
The difference between our TEFL diplomas and those provided by other companies, is that ours can only be obtained after successfully completing the program at the Educational Center. In this way, the Language Assistant receives a significantly more practical training program because they have guaranteed contact with students from the first day.
The diploma can be requested online after the teached program is completed in the Educational Centre. This diploma is issued by Erasmus in School in collaboration with the Educational Center where it has been achieved. The diploma can be ordered online and costs €150.
Yes, the Language Assistant will be able to teach during after-school hours. The timetable and number of hours per week must be specified in the agreement between the Language Assistant and the college/academy beforehand.
Yes, many employers ask for a deposit in order to guarantee the full commitment of the selected candidate towards the school. The deposit will be given back at the end of the contract.
Please, be aware that you should not pay for a deposit until you have the contract signed by both parties where all conditions are written and detailed.
Yes. You can obtain your Postgraduate Certificate in Education International recognised by the University of Nottingham (UK) at the same time you teach English language in Spain.
More information:
https://pgcespain.com or contacting shona@pgcespain.com
Schools/ businesses are encouraged to set out in writing the terms and conditions of working together (that both parties agree on) before the start of the Language Assistant Program.
The Language Assistant may receive financial support according to the law of the country as well as other optional extras such as free transport, training, help with accommodation etc.
If the Assistants are volunteers, they will receive another form of financial support.
All Langauge Assistants have a tutor. The tutor is the mentor responsible for guiding and supervising the work of the Assistant. The tutor is the person in charge of aiding the Langauge assistant with the learning process as a teacher as well as in his/her integration in the new educational community that the Language Assistant is part of.
Hosting a Conversation Assistant is a unique way to improve student language skills, foster communicative-based learning, and broaden their inter-cultural understanding.
The Assistants provide security and improve the communicative skills of students and teachers in different contexts, encouraging foreign language acquisition in a natural and practical way.
The Langauge Assistants also provide constant contact support and interaction with foreign language and culture, offering Educational Centers the following benefits:
- Improve verbal fluency and listening comprehension in a natural and fun way.
- Prepare for oral exams with the help of a native teacher.
- To promote a quality bilingual education.
- To broaden knowledge about other cultures and their ways of thinking.
- To develop international educational projects
The age, nationality and language appear in the public profile of each assistant. The Assistant has the option of sending his/her CV to the educational centers, so that they can see the employment history of the Assistant.
Normally, the Assistants are young people between 18 and 30 years old, and students or recent graduates.
No, it's not the school's responsibility to find a host family for the Language Assistant.
However there are schools that provide a host family for the Language Assistant, through families of the students, to make the program more attractive and reduce the Language Assistant's costs.
All registered centres in the portal of Erasmus In School have access to download for free the agreement called "Language Assistant-Family". In order to access to this document, the school/company needs to follow the next steps:
1. Log in www.erasmusinschool.com with your e-mail and password.
2. Click in the button "Find a host family for Language Assistant".
3. Click on "Download Agreement Family-Language tutor" and "Download informative document for potential host families"
We recommend you find out the nature of the program in as much detail as possible, have a video conference beforehand so that both parties are familiar with each other as well as agree and sign the agreement conditions before you start the program.
Erasmus In School asks for language assistants selected in Spain via the university internship agreement to pay for a deposit of 400€, which is given back fully at the end of the program. This deposit is asked in order to guarantee the full commitment of the language assistant towards the school.
You can access to all information regarding the University Agreement Contract here: (This information is only available in Spanish language in the website).
Precio Convenio universitario de prácticas:https://www.erasmusinschool.com/eis/Precio-convenio-universitario-de-pr%C3%A1cticas/15
Preguntas frecuentes en español: https://www.erasmusinschool.com/faq
