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Foreign Language Assistants

Foreign Language Assistants and the new secondary curriculum

These pages highlight how FLAs can contribute to key aspects of the new curriculum, with thanks to Joan Hoggan at the British Council for some inspiring examples.

Having a foreign language assistant is a very effective way of bringing the curriculum to life. Assistants recruited through the British Council receive training for their role and can access creative ideas and resources for engaging the interest of pupils.

Benefiting the whole school

If your school doesn’t employ an assistant, the new curriculum provides an opportunity to make the case to senior management for doing so:

  • For a modest amount of money, a foreign languages assistant benefits not only languages, but also the whole school
  • An investment in the school’s international dimension will have many benefits for pupils’ engagement, outlook and aspirations
  • Assistants can help to deliver many of the cross-curricular dimensions of the new curriculum, especially identity and cultural diversity, creativity and critical thinking, healthy lifestyles, community participation, and of course the global dimension and sustainable development.

How do FLAs link in with the new curriculum for languages?

FLAs contribute to the first two key concepts of the revised programme of study, which are at the heart of language learning:

Linguistic competence

  • Developing the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in a range of situations and contexts
  • Applying linguistic knowledge and skills to understand and communicate effectively

Knowledge about language

  • Understanding how a language works and how to manipulate it
  • Recognising that languages differ but may share common grammatical, syntactical or lexical features

Assistants also make a contribution to other aspects of the languages curriculum:

FLAs can contribute to… Reference to revised programme of study Quotation from programme of study
Intercultural understanding Key Concept (1.4) Intercultural understanding
a Appreciating the richness and diversity of other cultures
b Recognising that there are different ways of seeing the world, and developing an international outlook
Creativity Key Concept (1.3) Creativity
a Using familiar language for new purposes and in new contexts.
b Using imagination to express thoughts, ideas, experiences and feelings
Communicate with native speakers Curriculum opportunities The curriculum should provide opportunities for pupils to… communicate in the target language individually, in pairs, in groups and with speakers of the target language, including native speakers where possible, for a variety of purposes.
Engaging topics and issues, and cross-curricular activities Curriculum opportunities (4g) The curriculum should provide opportunities for pupils to… use the target language in connection with topics and issues that are engaging and may be related to other areas of the curriculum.
Accessing authentic materials Curriculum opportunities (4f) The curriculum should provide opportunities for pupils to… listen to, read or view a range of materials,
including authentic materials in the target language, both to support learning and for personal interest.

Examples

These inspiring examples from Laura Rodriguez illustrate all of the aspects above, with a strong cultural focus… (web page, with a downloadable Word version available)

Pupils at Castle Rushen High School on the Isle of Man have been having a lot of fun with their Assistant, Anne-Cécile... (downloadable pdf, 77KB)

Where can I find out more?

There is more information on the British Council’s language assistant website: www.languageassistant.co.uk

You can find tips, materials and lesson ideas for FLAs and their mentors at http://www.britishcouncil.org/flasonline. FLAs are automatically enrolled onto an online discussion group where they can get advice and support from a virtual mentor, June de Silva.

Photograph courtesy of the British Council