How to Settle Into a New School as a Language Assistant

Starting at a new school can feel a little strange at first. You’re meeting loads of new people, trying to remember where everything is and figuring out what exactly you’re supposed to be doing.

If you’re feeling a bit lost during your first few days, don’t worry. It takes time to find your rhythm. Here are a few things that helped me settle into my school.

Get to know the teachers

The teachers you work with will quickly become an important part of your experience, so take the time to get to know them.

Ask them about their classes, what the students are working on and how you can help. Every teacher has a different way of working, so it’s useful to see what works for them before bringing in your own ideas.

And don’t worry about asking questions. It’s much better to ask than spend the whole lesson wondering what you’re supposed to be doing!

Take some time to observe

You might be excited to get involved straight away, but watching a few classes first can really help.

You’ll start to understand the students’ personalities, their level of English and how the teacher manages the class. Once you know the group a little better, it becomes much easier to plan activities they’ll actually enjoy.

Learn the students' names

This might seem like a small thing, but learning your students’ names makes a huge difference.

They’ll be impressed when you remember their name, and it makes it much easier to build a relationship with the class. You’ll probably mix a few up at the beginning, but don’t worry, you’ll get there!

Don't be afraid to be yourself

One of the best things about being a language assistant is that you get to bring your own personality and culture into the classroom.

Tell students about where you’re from, your favourite music, food or traditions. Even just chatting to them about your life back home can turn into a great English speaking activity.

You don’t have to make every activity complicated. Sometimes the simplest ideas work best.

Give yourself time

It’s easy to put pressure on yourself to feel completely comfortable straight away, but remember that you’re learning too.

After a few weeks, you’ll start knowing your timetable without checking it, recognising students around the school and feeling much more confident walking into a classroom.

There might be days when everything goes perfectly and others when you leave school thinking, “What just happened?” Both are completely normal.

The important thing is to give yourself time, ask questions and enjoy getting to know your new school. Before you know it, a place that felt completely new will start to feel like your everyday life.