modern language assistant mentor briefing...modern language assistant mentor briefing making the...

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www.britishcouncil.org/languageassistants

© ITN Productions

1

MODERN LANGUAGE ASSISTANT MENTOR BRIEFING MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR LANGUAGE ASSISTANT

This webinar will begin at 4.00 pm Please dial 08005285280

Enter the 7 digit access code 3894379

AGENDA FOR TODAY’S WEBINAR

Part one: Webinar basics

Part two: Role of the mentor

Question and Answers

Part three: Role of the assistant

Part four: Other British Council opportunities

Questions and Answers

www.britishcouncil.org/languageassistants 2

WEBINAR BASICS PART ONE


Please ensure your microphone is muted throughout the duration of this call.

PART ONE: WEBINAR BASICS MAKING THE MOST OF THE WEBINAR


This is the chat facility where you can ask

questions and talk to other participants

Use this icon to ‘raise your hand’

If you don’t want to dial in to listen to the audio, you can also try connecting to the audio through your computer

If you have a question please type it in the chat facility. This will allow us to answer the most commonly asked questions during the Question and Answer sessions.


PART ONE: WEBINAR BASICS MAKING THE MOST OF THE WEBINAR

THE ROLE OF THE MENTOR PART TWO


PART TWO: THE ROLE OF THE MENTOR TASKS FOR YOU

Provide a formal offer letter

Complete the confirmation of appointment survey

Starter Check List (replaces the P46)

Carry out the relevant DBS/PVG/Access NI checks Provide accommodation advice

Introduce the school system and curriculum type

If applicable, familiarise yourself with UK Visas and Immigration legislation


PART TWO: THE ROLE OF THE MENTOR TASKS FOR THE ASSISTANTS

Check if MLA has

Found suitable accommodation Applied for a National Insurance number Set up a bank account Registered with a doctor and dentist Enough money to last up to two months Sorted their tax status Bought a UK SIM card Registered with country’s consulate

Non-EU assistants will also need to

Collect bio-metric residency permit Register with local police (if applicable) Get passport certified by British Council or School


PART TWO: THE ROLE OF THE MENTOR MAKING INTRODUCTIONS


Introductions

• Mentor Teacher • Senior Management Team • Teaching Staff including other language teachers • Guided tour of school • School handbook • School calendar • School newsletter

PART TWO: THE ROLE OF THE MENTOR OBSERVING YOUR MLA

Observation Period

• One week

• Shadow a teacher or a variety of teachers

• Observe a range of ability groups

• Mix observation with ‘in-class’ support


PART TWO: THE ROLE OF THE MENTOR SUPPORT NETWORKS AND RESOURCES

• Local authority training

• Cultural institutes

• British Council inductions

• Schools Online

• Language Assistants team at the British Council

• British Council Information Booklet for Modern Language Assistants in the UK


PART TWO: SUPPORTING THE ASSISTANT PROBLEM HANDLING

• Best dealt with quickly and at the source

• Open discussion

• Use code of conduct

• Use performance management

• Disciplinary process

• Contact with British Council

• Line of referral


Language Assistant

Mentor Teacher

Head Teacher

British Council

Local Authority contact

Partner Agency abroad (e.g. CIEP, PAD)

QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION


ROLE OF THE MODERN LANGUAGE ASSISTANT

PART THREE


PART THREE: ROLE OF THE MODERN LANGUAGE ASSISTANT WHAT MAKES YOUR MODERN LANGUAGE

ASSISTANT SPECIAL?


Model of authentic pronunciation, intonation and usage of the language students are

learning

A ‘living’ cultural reference point, with a unique set of experiences, skills, and

interests

Pivotal figure to help broaden the school’s cultural provision and perspective

PART THREE: ROLE OF THE MODERN LANGUAGE ASSISTANT POPULAR USES OF A LANGUAGE

ASSISTANT

• Work in a variety of contexts including whole classes (under teacher supervision), with small groups or individual pupils

• Model authentic pronunciation, intonation and usage of the language pupils are learning

• Revise new vocabulary or grammar points covered in a particular lesson in the form of a game or other type of interactive activity

• Prepare pupils in senior classes for speaking assessments

• Prepare resources for teaching


PART THREE: ROLE OF THE MODERN LANGUAGE ASSISTANT WHAT CAN MY MODERN LANGUAGE

ASSISTANT DO?

Revise new vocabulary or grammar points in the form of a game or other interactive activity

Engage learners in conversational practice or help them get ready for oral assessments

Prepare language learning resources

Help make the case for language learning


PART THREE: ROLE OF THE MODERN LANGUAGE ASSISTANT FULLY UTILISING YOUR LANGUAGE

ASSISTANT

• Prepare pupils for local or national language-based competitions

• Support senior pupils in promoting language learning to younger age groups

• Establish or reinforce partnership links with another country (e.g. through parcel or video exchanges)

• Contribute to school gaining International School Award


http://schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org/programmes-and-funding/linking-programmes-worldwide/connecting-classrooms/international-school-award

PART THREE: ROLE OF THE MODERN LANGUAGE ASSISTANT CONSIDER A PROJECT APPROACH

• Giving them the opportunity to plan activities for a longer-term/ on-going

project reduces the need for teachers to plan their input on such a

frequent basis

• Games and other ‘fun’ activities do create a buzz in the language

classroom but do not necessarily change pupils’ underlying views about

the role of languages in today’s global society

• By harnessing the Language Assistant’s unique set of knowledge, interests,

and skills and channelling them into a project has a greater chance of

helping pupils to recognise the importance of language learning


PART THREE: ROLE OF THE MODERN LANGUAGE ASSISTANT IMPLEMENTING A PROJECT

SUCCESSFULLY

• Find out about the Language Assistants strengths (knowledge of their own and other countries, interests and skills in other subjects)

• Discuss ways of incorporating them as an independent slot in the overall scheme of work (i.e. as part of a weekly lesson)

• Provide lots of advice and encouragement at the start but let the language assistant take the lead in moving things forward


PART THREE: ROLE OF THE MODERN LANGUAGE ASSISTANT BENEFIT TO THE WHOLE SCHOOL

• Raise the profile of language and culture at all stages in the school

• Build capacity to strengthen the language element of the

curriculum

• Broaden the international perspective of the school


OTHER BRITISH COUNCIL OPPORTUNITIES

PART FOUR


PART FOUR: OTHER BRITISH COUNCIL OPPORTUNITIES SCHOOLS ONLINE


PART FOUR: OTHER BRITISH COUNCIL OPPORTUNITIES LANGUAGE PROGRAMMES

HSBC

Enter your students into the our Mandarin Chinese speaking competition. Closes on 9 October.

Lefèvre

Get funding for a reciprocal study visits with your partner school in France. The funding is aimed at secondary students aged 11-16. Closes on 30 November.

Charles de Gaulle

Funding is for students aged between 17-19. No language skills are necessary, this offer is open to sixth form colleges, vocational colleges.


http://www.britishcouncil.org/education/schools/support-for-languages/partnerships-courses-resources/chinese-speaking-competition

http://www.britishcouncil.org/education/schools/support-for-languages/partnerships-courses-resources/chinese-speaking-competition

https://schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org/programmes-and-funding/charles-de-gaulle

https://schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org/programmes-and-funding/charles-de-gaulle

PART FOUR: OTHER BRITISH COUNCIL OPPORTUNITIES CURRICULUM WIDE OFFER

• E twinning

• New Connecting Classrooms offer

• International School Award



Primary Language Starter Pack

Languages for the Future

World Class: How Global Thinking Can Improve Your School

https://schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org/sites/so/files/files/Primary Language Starter Pack(2).pdf

http://bit.ly/BC_Languages4Future

http://bit.ly/BC_WorldClass

http://bit.ly/BC_WorldClass

QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION


Thank you for your attendance and participation!


[email protected]

Elizabeth Lynch ([email protected]) – Language Assistants from France

Martina Volker ([email protected]) – Language Assistants from Belgium, Canada and Switzerland

Rowan Burnett ([email protected]) – Language Assistants from Germany and Austria

Rosie Kennedy ([email protected]) – Language Assistants from Spain and Italy

Lynsey Pilcher ([email protected]) – Language Assistants from Latin America

Sam Gray ([email protected]) – Language Assistants from China and Russia


mailto:[email protected]







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