Part-time French Language Teacher

Job Posting Organization:
The Language and Communications Training Unit (LCTU) is part of the Capacity Development and Operational Training Services (CDOTS) within the Office of Support Operations (OSO) of the Department of Operational Support (DOS) at the United Nations. The LCTU is dedicated to promoting linguistic balance and multilingualism within the UN Secretariat, enhancing the language abilities of staff as mandated by various General Assembly resolutions. The unit offers language and communication skills courses in multiple languages including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish to UN staff at Headquarters in New York and across the Global Secretariat. The LCTU operates with a mission to align its offerings with organizational goals and priorities, ensuring compliance with UN policies and instructions on learning, as well as the Secretary-General's recommendations on multilingualism. The unit's personnel are distributed across six language programs, focusing on the delivery, development, and assessment of language skills courses. The LCTU hires part-time teachers as individual contractors to meet the demand for language learning that its current staff cannot cover, with the number of contractors varying based on demand and budget availability.

Job Overview:
The position of Part-time French Language Teacher involves preparing and facilitating lessons for assigned courses, correcting assignments and homework promptly, and monitoring students' progress while suggesting effective learning strategies on a weekly basis. Teachers are expected to provide both group and individual feedback, administer evaluations, tests, and exams as scheduled, and deliver final evaluations and attendance reports at the end of each language learning term. The role also includes responding to emails within 48 hours and participating in the development of language or communication skills projects when assigned. Teachers must report periodically on project progress and integrate feedback from supervisors to ensure quality deliverables and timely completion of assignments. The position can be performed in-person in New York or remotely, depending on the needs of the organization and the teacher's availability.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties of the Part-time French Language Teacher include preparing and teaching French language and communication skills courses at all levels, utilizing in-person, online, or hybrid modalities. Teachers are responsible for assessing student performance and providing constructive feedback. They must effectively use Learning Management Systems (such as Moodle) and e-learning tools for course preparation and delivery. Additionally, teachers are tasked with administering courses in the Learning Management System, maintaining attendance and grading records, and developing new French language courses and learning materials using innovative instructional technology. They are also required to design assessments for French language learning and construct and grade language proficiency exams according to specific guidelines. The role emphasizes promoting multilingualism and enhancing effective work-related communication skills among UN staff in French.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in language area studies, language teaching, applied linguistics, communication, education/pedagogy, or a related field. Degrees with a focus on the theory and practice of teaching a second or foreign language to adult learners are particularly desirable. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Post-degree training in second or foreign language teaching is highly desirable, enhancing the candidate's qualifications for the role.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in relevant fields such as language area studies, language teaching, applied linguistics, communication, or education/pedagogy. Candidates with degrees emphasizing the teaching of a second or foreign language to adults are preferred. A first-level university degree, along with two years of relevant experience, may also be considered acceptable in lieu of the advanced degree. Additional training in second or foreign language teaching is highly regarded.

Experience:
Candidates must have a minimum of five years of experience teaching French as a foreign or second language to adults in a multicultural setting, which can include corporate, academic, or other professional environments. Out of these five years, at least three years must involve recent experience in curriculum development, language examination design, and/or language teacher training. Experience with various e-learning tools, learning management systems, online collaboration tools, and social media platforms for teaching a second or foreign language is desirable. Furthermore, experience in an international and multicultural environment is highly advantageous.

Languages:
The working languages of the United Nations Secretariat are English and French. Candidates must demonstrate expert-level competence in French, both oral and written, in accordance with the UN Language Framework. Advanced knowledge of English is also required. Knowledge of additional UN official languages is considered an advantage, enhancing the candidate's profile for the position.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration for this position is linked to the language learning calendar and specifically to the length of courses and pedagogical activities assigned. The role is part-time, and the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or training. The organization also does not request information regarding applicants' bank accounts.