Teacher Internship Program
Location
Russia: Moscow (Moskva), Samara (Kujbysev), St. Petersburg and 2 other cities
Length of Position: 9 months (plus 2 week initial training period)Description
Each year, Language Link offers teaching employment to a number of applicants who do not have a TEFL certificate or significant teaching experience. By joining Language Link as Teacher-Interns, these applicants receive 2 weeks of intensive TEFL training prior to the start of their contract. They are then allocated their own groups and begin teaching independently, but training continues throughout the course of their paid 9-month internship in the form of seminars, written assignments, observations and feedback from supervisors, as well as regular academic support with Language Link's Directors of Studies. There are approximately 10 vacancies for the Internship every year. Normally, our interns are recent university graduates looking for both an international experience and the opportunity to develop their skills as a Teacher of English to speakers of other languages.
Participants in the Teacher-Internship usually come to Russia in late August, early September or early January. Entry into the program can occur throughout the academic year, though training is more limited outside the official start dates.
The Internship is nine academic months in duration, and consists of 3 three-month blocks referred to as Blocks A, B and C. A summary of what each block entails is as follows:
Block A (Months 1 - 3): A two-week, classroom-based, Initial Training Program, Practical Teaching (12 weeks), Regular seminars and workshops, Lesson observations, Weekly individual tutorials with a Director of Studies,
One written assignment.
Block B (Months 4 - 6): Practical Teaching (12 weeks), Regular seminars and workshops, Lesson observations, Biweekly academic support sessions with a Director of Studies, Start of group project.
Block C (Months 7 - 9): Practical Teaching (12 weeks), Regular seminars and workshops, Lesson observations, Monthly academic support sessions with a Director of Studies, Completion of group project, Award of Language Link certificate in TEFL to successful participants.
Highlights
This is a paid, on-the job-internship.
Language Link has been working in the Russian market since 1994. Our attention to our teachers, academic programand the Russian educational community accounts for the following:
1) Language Link, Russia maintains a 65% annual retention rate of teachers. Another 15% go on to other Language Link Schools in other countries (England, Germany, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, the Ukraine, Viet Nam and China), and 15% go on to other teaching opportunities or are placed into managerial positions including being given Directorships within our organization. As Language Link is really one organization and not a loose affiliation of annual fee paying language schools, upward mobility is quite possible for those with the skills to take advantage of such opportunities. Our former Director of Studies is now the Managing Director of Language Link, China; the Director of Studies of Volgograd opened Language Link in Voronezh, Russia and is the Administrative Director and The Director of Studies for St. Petersburg is slated to open Language Link, Bulgaria in the 2001-2002 academic year. Three of my teachers are presently involved in the writing of books which our publishing group will publish for Russia and beyond.
2) Our attention to our academic program is far ahead of the other schools of English. These are not just words but are proven. Language Link enjoys the support of both the Ministry and Department of Education for Russia/ Moscow. This support has been earned by our commitment to 'Teaching Excellence'. Language Link was chosen to enter into contract with the Moscow Department of Education. Our Teacher Training Programs are recognized by both organizations and we conduct the Teacher Training for MIPKRO (Moscow Institute for the Upgrading of Foreign Language Teacher Qualifications) as a full partner.
3) Language Link is the only School of English to be invited to both attend and present at the annual Conference for Foreign Language Teachers. We have done this for 4 years.
4) Language Link was asked to preside over and judge the Moscow English Foreign Language Olympiade, and to train the semi-finalists for competition in the all-Russian Olympiade. Not only were we asked to make a key note address at this same event, but the Moscow semi-finalist won.
5) The Moscow Mayor's Office presented Language Link with an award for excellence.
6) Language Link is the only foreign school of English to be made 'Specialized English Language Testing and Examination Expert' in Moscow (in Russian it sounds worse).
7) Language Link both makes presentations and acts as an educational consultant for one of the largest pedagological institutes in Russia (run by O.V. Afanasyeva whose books form the basis of Russian English language education).
8) Because of all this, Language Link is the only foreign language organisation allowed to invite and employ over 100 teachers in Russia. We have had this right since 1995. No other school of English enjoys this right on such a scale; thus, our teachers are all legally working in Russia.
9) Language Link is an authorized Trinity College, London Examination Test Centre, and we have been asked by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Business Examination Test Centre to act as Coordinating Authority for the CIS. We are a fully authorised UCLES CELTA and DELTA Training School. A member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia and the only School of English to be endorsed by them (we train their personnel).