OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG TEACHERS TO SPEND A YEAR IN THE U.K. AS TEACHING ASSISTANTS DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2007-2008

Applications are invited from teachers or university students training to be teachers who are nearing the end of their course to spend one year in a British Independent School as a Teaching Assistant.

Arrangements

Age limits: 23 – 30 years old.

Objectives: To provide teachers with the opportunity to experience the British educational system, a sample of British life and to gain a greater command of English. Teachers of the following subjects are most easily placed :- Maths, Sciences, Information Technology, Design and Technology, Art, Music, Physical Education and Sport, Junior Classes and possibly also French, German , Spanish or History and Geography. Teachers of English should normally offer at least one other subject.

Most vacancies are for secondary teachers ( pupils aged 11 – 18 ) but some vacancies do exist also for teaching younger pupils ( aged 7 – 13 )

Essential Qualities:

a.. a good knowledge of English – you must be able to communicate easily but total fluency is not essential if you are willing to learn quickly.
b.. friendly and outgoing
c.. adaptable in unfamiliar situations
d.. able to integrate easily
e.. confident and independent
f.. hardworking, willing and highly motivated
g.. competent in subject area
h.. able to work in a team
i.. readiness to supervise sports and other extra-curicular activities
j.. a commitment to share the experience on returning to your country at the end of the year

Accommodation: this is generally provided by the host school, usually in boarding houses where the Teaching Assistant will act as a resident tutor for boarding children.

Food: will normally be provided during term time. i.e. eating with other resident tutors and school boarders.

Dependants: The allowance and accommodation is not enough for dependants. Applicants must be prepared to go alone, although short visits from dependants during the holidays have been successful in past years.

Finance:

Teachers will be paid not less than ¡ò150 per week throughout the year. From this the school may deduct approx. ¡ò20 per week for meals taken in school and also approx. ¡ò25 per week in respect of accommodation.

Teachers will also have to pay a National Insurance contribution of approx. ¡ò7 per week. This gives entitlement to treatment under the National Health Service for all Medical needs except Dental treatment which is not covered.

Travel and Visa Expenses: selected candidates cover their own travel expenses to and from the UK and the costs of obtaining a visa ( if required depending on country ).

Teachers whose applications are successful and who take up places at British schools will be asked to contribute ¡ò350 during the year to cover a part of the costs incurred directly for their benefit. Unfortunately this is the only way we can finance the programme. This amounts only to about ¡ò7 per week. We require a deposit equivalent to L75 when they accept places and then we accept the rest of payment in two parts, the first ¡ò100 being due on 1st December, 2007 and the second ¡ò175 on 1st March 2008. Thus it is not necessary for money to be sent in advance from your country and teachers can wait until they have been paid by their schools.

In consequence of these various expenses you should have at least ¡ò90 per week available for your own use ( perhaps more ) even after all the costs of accommodation and food have been met. This is sufficient to enable you to join friends when they go out, to go to the theatre or a football match, to buy some clothes in the Sales or to travel to intersting places around the country. We aim to ensure that you have enough money so that you can make the best use of your time in Britain though you will of course find many things expensive.

Interviews will be arranged by the OSF Prague. These will probably take place during the period mid – February to mid-March 2007. Applicants will normally be informed if they have been successful during the period end-April to end May.

For successful candidates departure for UK is at the beginning of September 2007 for Orientation where other Teaching Assistants from Central and Eastern Europe will be present also.

Applications should include a full cv., a covering letter indicating the reasons for applying and any special interests you wish to pursue in the UK . Applicants should also send letters of recommendation from two referees. Degree certificates etc. should not be included.

Application Form: hmc-application- form.rtf (23 kB)

Please return your application by January 31, 2007 to:

Nadace Open Society Fund , Zdenka Almerov«¡, Seifertova 47, 130 00 Praha 3, ¡É
teachers¡É

Source:
http://www.osf. cz/cz/programove -oblasti/ stipendia/ stipendia- pro-studenty- a-a
bsolventy-pedagogic kych-fakult