Language teachers - if you had an assistant in which ways could they help you?

[bunjies]

This sounds a strange question I know but it will make sense...honest

I live in France and am about to apply to be a foreign languages teaching assistant, the foreign language being English. The role would involve helping the teacher to help the kids learn English. What I'd like to know is, if you had an assistant to help you, in what areas would they be of most help. I am hoping I can use any information gathered here to demonstrate why I should be considered for the job.

Any help would be gratefully received.

bump

I did this as part of my degree (years ago mind!)
Tonnes of stuff you van do to make a language come alive.

Songs, games, recipes, magazines, tv shows.

God, it's endless.

My DD is an A level student doing 2 languages. She has 1-2-1 sessions with the language students to improve her conversation skills. This has been available from GCSE study time and is MUCH appreciated.

The student also takes small groups so they get more attention than in large classes.

DS's Student teachers also go on all the foreign trips with them

I did this too 8 years ago.

I think I was most appreciated for being young and having actually stepped foot in UK in the last 20 years, unlike the teachers .

I would say you would want to:
show how you could take the initiative
lead classes (large and small)
be prepared to work with and for other teachers
exploit technology to your advantage (using films, music, online magazines and newspapers etc)

I was sent to a large high school in Spain. I had a mix of groups: conversation classes with groups of 4-8 17/18 year olds; leading a bachillerato class once a week while the teacher sat at the back marking; leading a section of a class of 14yo while the teacher monitored closely.

Anything to show that you can be flexible and be what they want you to be, while still bringing your own ideas to the table will be useful.

Sorry, I 've waffled a LOT.

Hope you get the chance to do it. I had a great time when I did it!

These replies are brilliant. Thank yo so much for sharing them with me.

I'm currently volunteering in my son's class with English and they seem to really enjoy it. I'm hoping this will add to my desirability .

Anyone else been a language teacher or assistant?

Thanks cat64. These are just the sort of ideas I need. Now I just need to actually sit down & write it all out....in French .