Though a language assistant's classroom commitment is most commonly part-time, it often requires a great deal of out-of-class preparation. Because of the multiple lessons, and even multiple schools, that a language assistant includes in a day-to-day schedule, there is a lot of information and material to keep organized. Here are organization suggestions for language assistants to make the most of time available.
Basic Organization Tips for Language Assistants
Some language assistants are assigned to two, even three, secondary schools. This can make for a varied and full schedule. The key here is time management, mainly, devoting enough time to both schools, allowing for lesson prep time and any last-minute changes to the day's lesson based on what the teacher wants.
- Get a master planner for all lessons. Color code the schools in the calendar, writing each school's name in a different color. It's easy to spot, and will be useful especially in the beginning when getting used to a new schedule.
- Make a quick reference schedule on a spreadsheet, so that the layout of the week is clear, as are time slots. Knowing when extra time is or is not available is helpful for time management.
- Keep contact information for all teachers in the department. When working in more than one school, phone numbers and email addresses are essential, because there may not be as much time to coordinate lessons in-person.
- Make a to-do list for the week's lessons. Do photocopies need to be made? Lesson topics confirmed? Does research need to be conducted for a particular subject? Breaking down tasks into a list can make the weekly tasks seem less overwhelming.
- Always have a backup lesson plan prepared! A teacher may need unexpected backup for a lesson, or may change the day's topic at the last minute. It's always best to bring extra materials to the school every day in case this happens.
Keeping Lessons Organized
With handouts, assignments, lesson plans, and any other relevant assistant paperwork, what are some ways to keep track of lessons? Here are a few ideas:
- Label folders with lessons from each school or each class taught, or keep separate tabs in a three-ring binder for each school. An accordion file also works well for this purpose.
- Mark the calendar with the lesson used that day. This is a good way to avoid the possibility of repeating a lesson in the same class.
- Keep at least one copy of all lesson handouts, so that it is easy to photocopy. This eliminates the extra step of printing out material from a computer file. (Extra copies are especially handy if a teacher ever presents a lesson topic to an assistant five minutes prior to the start of the lesson.)
- Label any electronic files (word processing documents, photo slideshows, etc.) by the lesson subject, and keep those lessons in computer folders labeled with the school's name.
Must-Have School Supplies for Language Assistants
To summarize the tips above, here is a list of items to bring to the foreign country, or (if suitcase space is very limited) to purchase upon arrival:
- master calendar/planner with plenty of space for details
- computer (laptop) or at least paper to write out lessons on
- flash drive, CD-roms, or external hard drive
- file folders, accordion file, or three-ring binder with tabs
A dictionary with the two languages is also useful. For example, if a French language assistant is working in a school in Rome, he or she should have a French-Italian dictionary on hand. Also, since native speakers are often unaware of some of the trickier grammar rules in their own language, it's a good idea to find a basic grammar resource.
Organization, sufficient preparation for courses, and enthusiasm are key ingredients to success as a language assistant. Though staying organized can sometimes be an extra hassle, it makes for a far less stressful and far more enjoyable experience as a language assistant.
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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