Working abroad as a language assistant may have some similarities to studying abroad, but it is a more independent experience. Though language assistants are often the same age as or not much older than university students, there is often not the same type of support system for language assistants as for students.
There may also be fewer readily available opportunities to make friends, as not all language assistants are placed in a university to work, or even in a university city. Here is advice on making new friends for language assistants working abroad in both secondary schools and universities.
The Balancing Act for Language Assistants in Secondary Schools
Language assistants working at a high school walk a line between the teachers and the students. The age gap between a language assistant and the students is usually slight, but still evident. While it is certainly okay to make friends with students, it is important to remember a) not to play favorites in the classroom and b) to maintain professional boundaries.
Language assistants in high school have to keep a level of authority in the classroom, and this is sometimes difficult when boundaries between the assistant and students are more blurred. Teachers, fellow language assistants, and locals involved in an activity or group of interest are great people for language assistants in high schools to turn to.
Making Friends as a Language Assistant at a University
For language assistants working at a college or university, the line is slightly more blurred between assistant and students, as the language assistant is often the same age as most of the students. A language assistant at a university also most likely lives on the campus among students.
Some language assistant agreements at universities also require that the assistant take one or two classes, and the assistant is therefore also a student. Because of this, fellow language assistants and students are the most likely friends to find in the area. If the language assistant is living in student housing, this is an even more likely possibility.
Great Places for Language Assistants to Meet New Friends
Language assistants working at either a secondary school or a university have several avenues available for making friends in the foreign country:
- Among coworkers: Fellow language assistants, teachers or professors, and school staff can provide not only support for the language assistant's professional adjustment, but for the transition to life in the foreign country.
- Among students: At a university, making friends with students is more likely than at a secondary school (where the assistant is viewed more as a teacher), as university language assistants may even live among students in the dormitories, or take one or two classes with them.
- In a local group: Joining a sports team, taking a class (anything from karate to painting to knitting) offered in town, or participating in a club or organization (such as community theater or a charity group) are great ways to get to know people outside of work.
- At school events: Take advantage of activities such as concerts, ski trips, lectures, barbecues, sporting events, and anything else the school has going on. It's a great way to get to know people outside of the work setting.
- At local events and central locations: Festivals, parties, concerts, outdoor markets, cafes, parks, charity events...these are great places to meet friends of friends, or new people entirely!
Whether it is someone's first time abroad, or he or she is traveling to a foreign country for a second time to work, friends are an important part of the overall experience. While making friends as a language assistant may require more effort than making friends as a student abroad, there are still plenty of ways to meet new people and build lasting friendships.
Suzanne Swartz - During college, Suzanne spent a semester in southwest Germany. After receiving her B.A. in History and German Studies, she went back to ...
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