Spanish regions expand language assistant programs in schools

Aragon and Galicia are implementing programs to provide language conversation assistants to public schools to enhance linguistic and cultural competence among students.

In Aragon, 104 assistants from 13 different nationalities will support 106 educational centers across Zaragoza, Huesca, and Teruel for the 2026/27 academic year. The team includes 84 English, 19 French, and one German speaker. The program, coordinated by the Government of Aragon, aims to promote natural language acquisition and cultural awareness.

In Galicia, the Xunta has approved a contract worth approximately 1.8 million euros to provide assistants to 320 plurilingual public centers starting next quarter. This initiative follows a previous pause in the program due to administrative conflicts with the Ministry of Education. The new contract will be divided into lots covering the provinces of A Coruña, Lugo, Ourense, and Pontevedra. Selected personnel must possess university degrees, specialized training in language pedagogy, and high-level English proficiency.