The British Council's Language Assistants programme is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, having provided opportunities for young people to teach abroad and gain invaluable cultural experience since 1905.
For the first time since 2021, there are language assistants back in state schools in Scotland, with five schools in Glasgow currently involved in the programme. Over 530,000 Scottish pupils have benefitted from having a British Council language assistant in their classroom since 2002, with over 3,000 Modern Language Assistants placed in Scottish schools.
The programme works both ways: since 2013, 3,700 assistants have travelled from Scotland overseas to teach English, with 239 currently abroad in nine countries, the majority in France and Spain.
To celebrate the anniversary, over 30 Modern Language Assistants currently placed at Scottish schools gathered at the Institut Français d'Écosse last night (Tuesday 9 December), alongside programme alumni, local authority representatives, and consulates from France, Germany, and Spain. They all gathered to celebrate the continued impact of the programme in connecting Scotland with the world.
We spoke to two language assistants, one who took part in the programme over 20 years ago, and one currently teaching in Glasgow.
Jennifer McHarrie from South Lanarkshire was a language assistant in Santander, northern Spain, in 2003. She has since worked in international exports for a whisky company, in qualifications development, as a translation project manager, and most recently as Director of Education at Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the principal public body in Scotland responsible for promoting Gaelic development.
Speaking about her experience, she said: "I was studying French and Hispanic Studies at Glasgow University, and the British Council Language Assistants programme was offered as an option for the compulsory residence abroad requirement for my honours degree, I jumped at the chance.
"It was great but also a challenge to be in Santander where English wasn't widely spoken. I think my Spanish improved much more than other students who went to big cities like Madrid or Barcelona, because I was in an area where you often didn't hear English outside the classroom.
"I worked with pupils of various ages at I.E.S Cantabria, a secondary school, preparing lessons and helping students hear different accents beyond the standard 'BBC English' they were used to.
"I threw myself into it, going on a hiking trip in my first couple of weeks, which wasn't the gentle walking I'd assumed! But it gave me the chance to get to know staff and students. The teachers at the school really took me under their wing, inviting me to their houses at the weekend and sending me home with bags of bread and shopping. If you really put yourself out there, you become part of the community.
"The skills and confidence I gained in Spain have stayed with me in the workplace – giving presentations and public speaking, I've given evidence at Scottish Parliament committees for example – and I genuinely think if you make the most of the year abroad, you can get through anything.
"The experience was foundational for my career, and I've always worked in something to do with languages or education, and having that background in languages made learning another language easier too. When I wanted to learn Scottish Gaelic, I knew what I had to do to immerse myself in it.
"But it's not just about language skills, I think of it as cultural intelligence. I'm much more aware now of appreciating different cultures and customs. That's helped me working with people from different countries and backgrounds throughout my career.
"I've been back to Santander six times since and I'm still in touch with my flatmate and one of the teachers from the school. Now I'm passing that on to my own children – they're aware of culture and traditions from the north of Spain that many of their peers are unaware of. My eldest has just started secondary school and could study Spanish and French, and I think this early exposure to languages and culture from our holidays in Santander is really beneficial.”
Meanwhile, 24-year-old Victor Ballesteros from Cuenca in Spain is currently working as a Spanish language assistant at Holyrood Secondary School in Glasgow, one of the largest secondary schools in Scotland.
Victor arrived in October 2024 after completing a degree in translation and English studies, followed by a master's in teaching Spanish as a foreign language. For the next six months, Victor will be working with students aged 14 to 17, leading small group conversations and preparing materials on topics like ordering food and cultural life in Spain.
Speaking about why he applied, he said: "This is a great experience to get to know what it feels like to live abroad and to teach my language in another country. It’s also a great start to a teaching career.
"When I came in, the students asked, 'Is he actually Spanish?' I feel it's a more enriching experience for the students to be in touch with someone who is actually from Spain. They’ve asked me all about football and food.
"I love Glasgow! I’d heard mixed things from people back home and I know that there is a big rivalry with Edinburgh, but honestly, I'm loving it. Everyone's so kind to me and I’ve had the opportunity to go to some significant teacher meetings and engage with the other language assistants. I’ve also travelled and visited Edinburgh and further afield to Balloch and Glencoe.
“The experience has confirmed my career direction. I plan to stay in Scotland to complete a PGCE and become a qualified Spanish teacher. I love speaking English, and I prefer teaching Spanish to teaching English. This is the perfect mixture for me."
Victor is one of three new Modern Language Assistants placed across five local authority schools in Glasgow for the 2025-26 year, including Holyrood Secondary and Hillpark Secondary Schools, both hosting assistants for the first time in several years.
Claire de Braekeleer, Director, British Council Scotland, said: "Language assistants bring something invaluable to Scottish classrooms, a direct connection to another language and culture. When a pupil hears about life in France, Germany, Spain, or China from someone from there, it sparks curiosity and engagement in a way that's hard to replicate. That kind of authentic exchange supports a multilingual and internationally connected Scotland. We're delighted to see language assistants returning to local authority schools in Glasgow this year, and as we celebrate 120 years of the programme, we'd encourage more schools across Scotland to consider hosting an assistant."
Jennifer's advice for anyone considering the programme is simple, saying "Really immerse yourself. The temptation now with social media is to FaceTime your family and friends all the time. But there is no better way to learn the language and culture than just speaking it day in, day out. Go for it, and don't be afraid to join and sign up for things."
Victor agrees and added: "Don't put too much pressure on yourself about making friends in the first weeks. Keep trying, join sports clubs, find social media groups. You will have a very enjoyable experience."
You can now apply to become a Language Assistant and travel from Scotland to one of nine countries, for more information about the programme, its history, impact and how to apply you can visit: https://www.britishcouncil.org/study-work-abroad/outside-uk/english-lang...
For Scottish Schools interested in hosting a language assistant you can find out more here.
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For more images of the celebration event and of Jennifer and Victor, please visit the dropbox.