SEEKING a life-changing opportunity to live, work and travel abroad in 2026? The British Council is on the lookout for people from across Northern Ireland and the UK to teach English in one of nine destinations around the world.
Through their English Language Assistant (ELA) programme, they provide placements in countries including France, Canada and Argentina - giving participants a unique opportunity to teach internationally, develop professional skills and fully immerse themselves in a new culture for six months to a year.
Final-year Queen’s University Belfast student Chloe Meehan from Newry, who studies English and French, took part in the British Council programme last year in Toulouse, France. She had previously been afraid of living abroad - a fear that had almost led her to drop French at school.
The experience however, proved life-changing - with Chloe place in two middle schools in Toulouse, working with pupils aged 11 to 15.
She said: “I was terrified of the year abroad. It was the main reason I wanted to drop French at A-level, even though it was my best subject. I genuinely didn’t think I could live away from home for that long.
“At the start, it was overwhelming. You’re in a different country, people are speaking a different language, and you’re in a job you’ve never done before. The first month was really tough – I had my 21st birthday, was homesick and questioning myself. But once things settled, everything changed.”
Working 12 hours per week, Chloe supported teachers through conversation practice, small-group work and cultural lessons, while gradually gaining confidence in the classroom.
She said: “You are thrown in at the deep end, but that’s what helps you grow. I had no teaching experience and spent hours planning lessons, but I quickly learned that flexibility is key. Once I found my feet, I realised how much I enjoyed being in the classroom. It made me realise that teaching is exactly what I want to do.”
Chloe also embraced life outside the classroom. She explored the region, visiting Bordeaux, Marseille, Carcassonne, Narbonne, Saint-Raphaël, and Annecy, and later took a short-term role as an English-language counsellor at a summer camp in rural France. Beyond travel, Chloe built a network of friends through her workplace, fellow assistants, and the Erasmus Student Network, overcoming initial fears of isolation in a foreign country.
She said: “Before this, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but the programme made me realise what I enjoy and what I’m good at. When I came home, it was straight into action – and I started thinking about applying for a PGCE. I actually want to teach English in France. I don’t really want to teach French here, at least not yet. Maybe when I’m older and more settled, but I’m not done with France just yet.
“My advice to anyone thinking of applying to the programme, would be to just to try it. The fear beforehand is always worse than the reality. A year abroad isn’t a year of loneliness – it’s a year of independence, new friends, travel, and experiences you wouldn’t get otherwise.”
Each year, the British Council sends around 1,800 English Language Assistants overseas to support the teaching of English in schools, universities and language centres worldwide. Now marking its 120th anniversary, the programme has provided opportunities for young people to live and teach abroad since 1905. It operates on a reciprocal basis, with Modern Language Assistants from around the world also teaching in schools, colleges and universities across Northern Ireland and the wider UK.
Speaking about the programme, Colm McGivern, Director, British Council Northern Ireland, said: “The English Language Assistant programme offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in another culture, gain professional experience and develop skills that will benefit you for life. Participants represent Northern Ireland on a global stage while building confidence, resilience and intercultural understanding. I would encourage anyone considering their next step to apply and make the most of this incredible opportunity.”
Applications for the English Language Assistants programme are now open. Language requirements vary between countries, but applicants can be from any walk of life, and do not need a formal language qualification to apply – their language skills can be acquired through travel, private study, or university language courses.
The deadline to apply is Wednesday, 28 January 2025.
For more information and full eligibility criteria, visit:
https://www.britishcouncil.org/study-work-abroad/outside-uk/english-language-assistants
The English Language Assistants programme continues the British Council’s work to build connection, understanding and trust between people in the UK and around the world through education, arts and English language teaching.