Preparation Results

Findings on the type and level of preparation received bore out what is already generally known to the major agencies engaged in the assistantship scheme. The form of preparation is highly variable between institutions within both France and England, and differs between the two countries. Once again, it should be borne in mind that the institutions participating in the project were likely to offer above average quality of preparation.

It is clear from feedback that more attention could be given to preparation in both countries and that the potential for mismatches of expectation between the assistant and the school can be minimised if appropriate measures are taken during the year prior to departure. It should also be borne in mind that the data deriving from the PIC project is potentially misleading since the project itself involved intensive preparation workshops. This will largely have neutralised any differences between institutions which might otherwise have been present. Where misunderstandings do occur in our data, they will therefore be all the more significant. From the perspective of the type of responsibilities which foreign language assistants have to take on, probably the most important area in which preparation is needed is that of practical pedagogy. It is probable that the need for preparation is more acute for English students going to France than vice versa, due to the more diverse way assistants are used in French schools, the greater initiative required of them in devising pedagogical activities and the increased likelihood of being shared between a number of schools, especially in the primary sector.

Notwithstanding the excellent information available on the internet and the official documentation provided by the British Council and the CIEP, many students felt under informed in their insight into the educational system of the host country: types of institution, levels of class, nature of examination etc. They were grateful when these were explained to them by MRs. This appears to be an area which could receive greater emphasis in preparation courses.