Information for potential language tutors

Recruitment and selection procedures

On completing and sending in the application (below) we shall contact you to arrange a short interview. We interview potential tutors periodically in batches, so you may not hear from us immediately. Following interview your name will be added to a reserve list of potential tutors ranked in order of perceived competence. If a vacancy appears in your particular language(s) and you are next on the list, we will get in touch to offer you the class. If you do not hear from us, it means that there is nothing currently on offer. There are times when tutor turnover can be constant (though some reserve lists are lengthy), but there are also times when it can be years before we need a new tutor. Most of this is out of our control and completely unpredictable.

The Language programme

Languages* currently taught on the programme are: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Danish, Dutch, French, Gaelic, German, Greek (Modern), Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish. Depending on the particular language being taught, there can be up to four different stages of courses, stage 1 being for absolute beginners and stage 4 being for students who are already fairly fluent but wish to continue practising and learning. A course normally runs for twenty two-hour classes, ten in the term October to December and ten in the term January to March.

*If you would like to offer a language not currently on our programme we would still like you to submit an application.

The University has an equal opportunities policy and we try to reflect this in our selection procedures for tutors.

Language tutor's job description

Tutors teach their particular language to groups of no more than twenty five adults. While reading, writing and the study of grammar are necessarily part of the coursework, tutors will actively encourage conversation in the classroom (techniques such as paired activities, group work, role-play, games, communicative activities etc. are all very useful here). While there is also some formal assessment of student competence, tutors have responsibility for what they do in class, the main language points covered must fit into the overall, integrated programme for the particular language they teach. This programme would be agreed jointly by language tutors and the Centre for Open Studies Language programme co-ordinator.

Administrative competence is essential: taking registers, recording assessments, collaborating on the writing of course descriptions and self-administered tests. The Centre for Open Studies also runs some teacher training sessions which tutors are encouraged to attend. Ideal candidates would:

• be fluent in the language for the level they were teaching
• have already done some teaching: experience of teaching adults and using a "communicative" methodology would be an added bonus*
• be able to communicate well and have good interpersonal skills.

*Linguists with no teaching experience are not ruled out as some training can be provided.

Language tutor job description (pdf file)

Please download a copy of the language tutor application form.