Language teaching assistance abroad
As a language assistant you can teach your native language for up to one school year, for example in France, the UK or Spain. We place Swiss students, graduates and teachers with little work experience at host schools abroad.
Overview
For whom
- For students and graduates of a university in Switzerland
Duration
- 6 to 12 months
Where
- Worldwide, depending on native language
What we fund
- Placement at an assistantship position at a host school abroad
- Financial support for the stay in addition to the local salary
What to do
- Participants submit an application to Movetia
Deadlines
- Application deadline: 31 January - 15 March (depending on country of destination)
- Start language assistance: 1 August - 1 October (depending on country of destination)
In detail
As a language assistant at a host school, you will gain teaching experience abroad. You will teach your native language German, French or Italian on site. You will get to know the culture and language of the country and make international friends.
Would you like to speak to a former participant who has already completed a language assistantship? Contact our ambassadors
Requirements
- German, French or Italian is your first or second native language.
- You have attended school in Switzerland from at least lower secondary level onwards.
- You are under 30 years old (Singapore: under 25 years), or not older than 35 years if you are a second degree student.
- You have studied for at least 4 semesters at a university or university of teacher education or have completed a degree in a relevant subject related to the teaching profession, e.g. linguistics such as German, Hispanic, English or Romance studies as a major or minor subject; German as a foreign language (DaF), Français langue étrangère (FLE), Italiano lingua straniera (Ils) or you are attending a teacher training programme at a university.
- Your professional experience as a teacher must not exceed three years.
- You have a good educational background and are able to express yourself clearly.
- You have already acquired basic knowledge in pedagogy and in working with half classes or groups, e.g. through tutoring.
- Each country of destination can define its own conditions of participation. Therefore, please check the Requirements for your preferred country of destination.
Funding amounts
- For the stay: Flat rate of 380 CHF per month, or a maximum of 3’520 CHF per stay, in addition to the local salary.
Details on funding and payout:
Procedure
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1. Select country of destination
Select a country in which you would like to complete your language assistantship. The following countries of destination are currently available:
- For native language German: Belgium, France, Great Britain, Spain; additionally Swiss schools in Spain, Colombia, and Singapore
- For native language French: Germany, Great Britain, Austria and Spain; additionally Swiss schools in Spain, Colombia and Singapore
- For native language Italian: France, Austria
In the programme description of the target countries you will find detailed information about the requirements, the start of the assistantship, the duration of the assignment, the number of lessons, the salary in the respective host country and the entry requirements.
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2. Prepare and submit your application
Submit your application via our online tool [Link: https://sap-outgoing.movetia.ch/]. Please note the different deadlines:
- United Kingdom, Colombia, Singapore: 31.01.
- France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Spain: 17.03.
- France and Austria for Italian speakers: 28.02.
Begin with the application as early as possible in order to familiarise yourself with the requirements. You can save it temporarily and continue later. You will need various documents for your application:
- Education: Record of studies (min. 4 semesters)
- Certificate: Copy of the last diploma obtained (school-leaving certificate or university degree)
- Proof of language skills and/or teaching experience (if available)
- Audio recording in your native language in MP3 format according to the question in the application tool.
- Curriculum vitae (if available)
- Two letters of reference from professors and/or other lecturers according to the template (about your language skills in your native language and about your pedagogical skills)
- Questionnaire for self-assessment of your health
- Health certificate from your family doctor according to the template (for Belgium at the time of application, for other countries before taking up the post)
- Additional documents for Swiss schools abroad:
- Copy of passport
- Proof of Swiss health insurance (only for Swiss schools in Europe)
Once all the documents are at your disposal, it will take about 30 minutes to complete your application.
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3. Decision and placement
- We evaluate the dossiers submitted between February and April (UK: early May).
- In case of lack of clarity, we will invite you to a job interview.
- In some cases we will decide in consultation with the local partner organisation and inform you in writing whether we can consider your application.
- In case of our confirmation of acceptance, the processing fee of 150.00 CHF will be due.
- The placement process is managed by the organisation in charge in the selected country in collaboration with regional education authorities or the host school.
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4. Conclude contract
- The host school will contact you. You clarify the details and conclude your employment contract directly with the host school.
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5. Prepare assistantship
- At the end of June, we organise a mandatory one-day preparatory seminar in Bern. You will receive all the information you need to successfully organize your assistantship. The seminar costs, including lunch, are covered by the processing fee.
- You are responsible for travel arrangements, accommodation and the necessary formalities with the authorities in Switzerland and abroad, e.g. visas, international health insurance and work permits. The preparatory seminar will provide you with useful information.
- Consider environmentally friendly means of transport in your planning.
More on the topic Green Mobility
You can also consult the websites of the partner organisation in your country of destination to prepare for your stay:
- Germany: Pedagogical Exchange Service
- Belgium: Wallonia - Bruxelles International.de
- France: France Education International
- Great Britain: British Council
- Austria: Teaching worldwide
- Spain: Spanish Department of Education
- Swiss schools: Educationsuisse
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6. Experiencing assistantship
- Your language assistantship starts between 1 August and 1 October, depending on the country of destination.
- At the beginning of your stay in the host country, our partner organisation will hold an introductory seminar to prepare you for your work and the life in the host country.
- The first salary from your employer is normally paid onto your account in the host country after one month.
- Financial support will be paid out within 3 months of the start of the programme and will be transferred to your Swiss bank account.
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7. Fill in feedback
- At the end of your assistantship, we will ask you to take part in an online survey. By taking part in this survey, you are helping to maintain the quality of our language assistance programme.
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8. Spread the word
- Your experiences are valuable for other applicants. Ask the host school to provide you with a platform to introduce yourself and tell them about your experience. Make sure you mention Movetia. We provide a logo and text modules.
- Contact us to increase your reach: We would be happy to publish your post on our website and in our social networks.
Q & A
I have already found a host school, can I apply for funding without a placement?
No, the funding can only be applied for as part of the Language Assistant Programme.
Can I finance my fixed costs in Switzerland and abroad with my local salary and the grant money?
The salary from the host school usually covers your living costs in the country of destination, given the low workload. It is important that you have some money reserves on the side in case you receive your salary later than expected in the first month.
