No, you do not need prior classroom experience to apply to or be eligible for the Odyssey program; however, first-time Odyssey language assistants must attend the compulsory Pan-Canadian Training Session. This training session will take place in August or September before your placement begins and its activities and workshops are mandatory.

You are highly encouraged to also attend the provincial and territorial training sessions that are organized throughout the year.

The objectives of the Pan-Canadian Training Session are to:

• give you a better understanding of your role as a language assistant.
• give you some key pedagogical tips and techniques to prepare you to work with your students.
• introduce you to your Odyssey support network (coordinators, workshop leaders, current and former language assistants).

If accepted, please contact your coordinator before arriving at the session for any additional questions or information.

Working under the direction of the classroom teacher, an ESL, FFL, or FFL language assistant provides students with the opportunity to practise their English-language or French-language skills and learn about other Canadian cultural identities. Your tasks may include:

• preparing classroom activities that focus on enhancing your students’ speaking skills.
• encouraging students to practise English or French, using games and real-life situations in a respectful and creative way.
• sharing your culture and its unique features through activities.
• leading classroom activities with the teacher, or working with small groups of two to 10 students.
• participating in evening and weekend cultural activities.
• performing your tasks in a virtual setting when required.

The first step in the selection process is submitting and reviewing your application. Teams, under the supervision of provincial and territorial coordinators, will evaluate your application either by reviewing your file or by conducting a short phone interview with you.

If you pass this first step, you will then be invited to an in-person or virtual interview. This interview usually involves one or two interviewers and lasts about 30 minutes. After the interview, you will be notified by email of your interview results. Please note that a successful interview does not mean you have obtained a language assistant position; it means that your file will be forwarded to the coordinator of one of the provinces or territories you chose when you applied, for further consideration.

We do our best to consider your preferences!

During the application process, francophones can select up to three provinces/territories in their order of preference. Anglophones can indicate whether they only want to be considered for Quebec, only for New Brunswick, or both (and in their order of preference). Anglophones who are also fluent in French and would like to be considered for French as a second language (FSL) positions as well, can also apply to be an FSL language assistant and select up to three provinces/territories in their order of preference.

During the interview, you will be asked to identify your preferred location(s) again for confirmation.

Please check out the Odyssey interactive map to view the locations of the Odyssey work placements: https://englishfrench.ca/odyssey/interactive-map/.

Working under the direction of the classroom teacher, an ESL, FSL, or FFL language assistant provides students with the opportunity to practise their English-language or French-language skills and learn about other Canadian cultural identities. Your tasks may include:

• preparing classroom activities that focus on enhancing your students’ speaking skills.
• encouraging students to practise English or French, using games and real-life situations in a respectful and creative way.
• sharing your culture and its unique features through activities.
• leading classroom activities with the teacher, or working with small groups of two to 10 students.
• participating in evening and weekend cultural activities.

performing your tasks in a virtual setting when required.

Language assistants are not required to have prior classroom working experience to apply.

There is no age limit for undertaking the Odyssey program. To qualify, you must meet ALL the following criteria:

• have excellent language skills, both oral and written, in the language you will be working in (in English for ESL positions* and in French for FSL and FFL positions).

Even if you are an anglophone, there are opportunities to work as a French language assistant. To do so, you will need to have excellent French-language skills, both oral and written.

• be either a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident (those studying in Canada on a student visa are not eligible);

• have completed one of the following within the last 10 years:

  • For studies outside Quebec in Canada – at least one full year of postsecondary studies, in either college or university;
  • For studies in Quebec – two years of college-level studies or one full year of university;
  • For studies outside Canada – at least one full year of postsecondary studies, in either college or university. You will also need to submit a formal assessment of your academic credentials.

*If you are interested in working as an ESL language assistant, you do not need any French-language skills to apply and participate in the program. However, you will be placed in a francophone community, where French is the first language, so basic French-speaking skills will greatly enhance your experience.

Participants who complete the Odyssey program are eligible for the Explore program, an intensive language immersion program that is offered during the spring and summer. If you are interested in learning or improving your French- or English-speaking skills and travelling to a new part of Canada, Explore might be the perfect program for you.