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Becoming a Comenius Assistant

Assistants

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be a comenius assistant

Spend up to an academic year living and working in another European country

An assistantship may help you decide if teaching is the career for you. The Comenius assistants programme provides you with the opportunity to:

improve your language skills
work with experienced teaching staff
gain an insight into another European education system.

Comenius Assistants work in schools and colleges across Europe for 12 to 16 hours per week. Placements are flexible from 13-45 Weeks.

You must:

be a native level speaker of English
not have previously received a grant to be a Comenius Assistant.
be a UK national or a national of one of the other participating countries ordinarily resident in the UK
be a national of other countries enrolled in regular courses in institutions of higher education or vocational training, or in adult learning organisations in the UK or employed or living in the UK according to the national legal requirements.
not have previously been employed as a teacher at Primary, Secondary or Further Education level, including as a probationer or supply teacher
not have previously been employed as a TEFL teacher (defined as holders of a recognised certificate level TEFL qualification, e.g., Cambridge ESOL or Trinity TESOL, and with over 6 months TEFL teaching experience)

Academic requirements are one of the following:

a teaching qualification, although you have not yet regularly worked as a teacher
studying towards a teaching qualification
a minimum of two years of study at higher education level providing access to a future career as a primary or secondary teacher in any subject

How do I apply?
The deadline for placements during the 2012/13 academic year is 31 January 2012. The application form and guidance notes for 2012/13 are available on the Application Forms and Guidance page.

Which countries can I travel to for my assistantship?
For a full list of participating countries, click here.

For further information, please contact: comenius@britishcouncil.org

Find out about the British Council Language assistants scheme. If you are an undergraduate studying a foreign language, you can apply to be a language assistant in a country where that language is spoken.