Cultural Exchange Ambassador Programme: Advice for schools
Are you a UK school hosting a German Language Assistant? Find out more about the benefits that our Ambassador Programme could bring to your school and pupils…
With the challenges of both German language learning in the UK, and the impact of Covid-19 on international school exchange, it’s more important than ever to bring language lessons to life. This programme provides your students with the opportunity to connect meaningfully with their peers in the other country, whilst discovering a new culture!
About the programme
The British Council advise that a great way for Language Assistants to make an impact during their year as an assistant is to organise and run a project with their pupils.
We offer the opportunity to make this project bilateral:
- partner up with an English Language Assistant working in Germany
- run a project together across the two schools during the assistantship year
- connect UK and German pupils, providing an authentic idea of what life in the other country is like
Benefits of taking part
For pupils
- Authentic contact with peers in Germany, improving their intercultural awareness and language competencies
- Increased engagement and motivation for the culture and language of the other country.
- Long-term connection with young people from the other country
“It’s so exciting to contact new people with a different mother-tongue. Everybody can learn about the other culture and make new friends.” (Pupil from Germany)
For schools
- The possibility to create a connection with a school in the other country
- More engaged pupils, who better understand the real-life value of language learning
- Virtul, intercultural exchange for your pupils, which complements the curriculum and promotes German in the wider school
“A brilliant initiative by our FLA, thoroughly enjoyed by all participants, most of whom have now opted for GCSE German” (Head of German department)
For Language Assistants
- Participating Assistants learn transferable skills at both seminars and throughout their Ambassador year, including project management, organisation & timekeeping, and creative thinking
- Increased confidence, which really allows them to thrive in their role as Assistants
- Contact with other Language Assistants, and their involvement in this wider network helps them to develop new and creative ideas for their language teaching
“Taking part in the CEA programme has greatly enriched my experience as a Language Assistant. It has offered me more responsibility in my school and opportunities to try new activities, new roles and build more relationships with my pupils, while increasing their contact with native speakers.” (English Assistant)