I am a third-year student in German and Business Management. For my Year Abroad I decided to become an English Language Assistant with the British Council. I thoroughly enjoyed my time and recommend this option for anyone who is considering it!
Initial Thoughts
I was placed in a small town called Lemgo in the region of Nordrhein-Westfalen. I was a little nervous about this because I was unsure of whether there would be enough to do, if I could meet people, etc. I quickly discovered it was actually the best way for me to experience ‘true’ German culture and ways of life. Additionally, I was also able to find some accommodation in Bielefeld, which is the nearest big city, and commute to my allocated school from there, so I really got the best of both worlds. Being placed in a small town meant that I was really challenged in my independence, as I couldn’t rely on any ‘international’ ways of communication; I had to use German as much as possible, which of course was great for practicing my skills.
The Assistantship
Choosing to do the assistantship was a super valuable choice for me, as I already had some interest in teaching. It was thus the best way to do a ‘trial-run’ of whether teaching would really suit me as a future career path. The job was not that stressful because I was only an assistant, so I never had to lead any classes, and my colleagues knew that I did not have much experience. However, I still had some autonomy and felt like I was making meaningful contributions to the lessons by preparing some materials unique to my experiences of the UK, such as the festivals we celebrate or what activities one can do in my local area. The students were very hard-working and dedicated, and I was able to teach all sorts of age groups, from 11 to 18 years old. When I think back to how scared I was at the beginning, I realise I was overthinking a lot and most of the anxiety came from the unknown and going into an entirely new experience that I could not prepare for. In reality, there was no need to be scared and I settled into my job very quickly.
Travelling
Living in mainland Europe and particularly Nordrhein-Westfalen brought so many opportunities for travel. I was able to go to several places in The Netherlands and Belgium, and it was super easy for me to go back to my hometown in Poland to visit family. Most importantly, I got to see a LOT of Germany. I visited Cologne, Hamburg, DĂĽsseldorf, Berlin, and more. I will say that a lot of Germany’s charm is also contained in its smaller cities and towns. I particularly enjoyed my visits to Detmold and Paderborn, which were very charming towns full of history. It was lovely to experience a slower and calmer pace of life. People in Germany really enjoy nature, sitting in parks or on benches with some ice cream and just taking in the present moment, which actually really helped me keep my mental health in balance and reminded me to check in with myself regularly.
Growth and Development
Looking back on my time here, I would say that independence and confidence are the two main characteristics I have developed as a result of my Year Abroad. Since you are moving to a foreign country and have to adjust to it all on your own, it leaves you with no choice but to be confident! It is all about putting oneself into a new environment and embracing everything that comes with it. Going to the local council and getting a residence permit was pretty scary, and although I was held up for an hour due to some complications, it all worked out perfectly fine in the end and filled me with confidence that I can take on anything the year has to throw at me; that ended up being the case! I learned the phrases one needs to get by in restaurants, at the supermarket, etc. and by the end of it I truly felt like a local, which was a wonderful feeling. Another huge lesson was grappling with loneliness. Rather than feeling lonely, I settled into a comforting sense of solitude, in which I thoroughly enjoyed my own company. I went to concerts and the cinema alone, took myself out for food and enjoyed every minute. Of course I also made some friends along the way. I made two special friends in particular, both of which are from Texas. It was such a cool experience to have my first ever American friends and share a lot about our respective hometowns and cultures. It reminded me truly how diverse and unique every person is and that there is always more to be discovered.
Conclusions
A Year Abroad can look different for everyone. Even for those who choose to do the British Council Assistantship, every individual’s experience will be pretty unique depending on their specific region, school, and personality. However, I can say without a doubt that there is always more to be gained than lost from undertaking such a placement. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and a nice break away from formal studying to live a slower pace of life, discover oneself a little more and figure out what you would like life to look like on a daily basis in the future. I would certainly choose this option again if I had the chance!