Year Abroad

Language Assistantships

Students in 2BA and 3/4BA (as well as recent graduates) may apply to spend a year (7 months approx.) as an English Language Assistants in primary and secondary schools all over France.  Apart from improving your language skills and confidence in speaking, gaining in-depth knowledge of French life and culture, a year abroad can also boost future employability and give you an insight into the world of teaching.  It's also possible to apply for a post in Belgium.  Details below.

Important Note for 2BA Students:  In the past the "BA Intl" degree was awarded exclusively to students who spent their year abroad studying at one of our partner ERASMUS universities (where during the year they had successfully completed the required examinations and coursework).  Since 2009 students who pass Second Arts and who are successful in obtaining a placement abroad as a language assistant for the subsequent academic year, are also entitled to the "BA Intl" award, subject to College and departmental approval of the placement and successful completion of the year abroad (including satisfactory submission of all reports, assessments, etc. required).  As with students who go abroad on ERASMUS, students are liable for fees (at the University of Galway) for their third BA year abroad. Students who are normally in receipt of a grant should liaise with SUSI in relation to their grant.

French Ministry of Education

English Language Assistant posts are on offer within the primary/secondary education system in France as part of the Franco-Irish Language Assistant scheme.  The programme is open to Irish nationals aged 20 to 35.  See the CIEP website for further details. 

• Consult the information here to verify your eligibility for the programme.
• Please note that applications are made via the online platform ADELE.  A Teacher Evaluation Form needs to be completed by a Lecturer/Teacher and uploaded by the candidate to his/her dossier. 
• The link to the online application portal ADELE and a tutorial on how to use the portal and what is required can be found here.  The portal for 2025-26 applications is now open and the deadline for uploading your dossier is 23rd April 2025.

Programme Administrator (French Embassy, Dublin)

Any queries in relation to the programme or the application process can be addressed to the contact in the French Embassy in Dublin at the following email address:  linguistic@ambafrance-ie.org

• The deadline for completing your application dossier online: 23rd April 2025

Some paperwork is involved in the application process for these posts.  It is wise to start the completion of the required paperwork as soon as possible.  

Assistants normally do not work more than 12 hours per week alongside an English language teacher. The function of the English Language Assistant is to help the pupils to see the foreign language as a living language of millions of people rather than as a "school language". The basic duties of an Assistant are:

• To assist the regular staff of the school;
• To conduct conversation classes in the foreign language;
• To supplement such classes by exercises in reading, dictation and oral composition;
• To give the pupils an insight into the institutions and way of life in his/her country.

Find out more
(and read about the experiences of previous participants in the programme).

The Department of Education and Skill's website has more general details on the Language Assistant Scheme between Ireland and France (and five other EU countries).  The application form for Assistantships in Belgium, for example, can be downloaded below. 

Belgium

Students are also offered the opportunity of applying for English Language Assistant posts in Brussels or Wallonia (French-speaking) southern Belgium.  Applications are managed by the Department of Education, International Section in Dublin, FLA@education.gov.ie. 
Deadline to apply is normally March with applications opening in December.  More details can be found here: English Language Assistantships Belgium (Wallonia/Brussels).