Student Scholarship

HMC PROJECTS IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
OPPORTUNITY FOR TEACHERS TO SPEND A YEAR IN THE U.K.
AS TEACHING ASSISTANTS DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2009-2010

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


Arrangements
Objectives: To provide teachers with the opportunity to gain experience of the British educational system, to understand something of the British way of 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.
Each year there are a very few vacancies for teachers of English who generally assist with teaching the language to students from overseas, but these teachers 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 and occasionally for kindergarten).

Essential Qualities

  • 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,
  • competent in subject area,
  • willing to gain experience in residential situation,
  • friendly and outgoing,
  • adaptable in unfamiliar situations,
  • able to integrate easily,
  • confident and independent,
  • hardworking, willing and highly motivated,
  • able to work in a team,
  • readiness to assist with supervision of sports and other extra-curricular activities (expertise in a sport, music, drama or other activity would be welcome but not essential),
  • 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.

Dependent: The allowance and accommodation is not sufficient for dependants. Applicants must be prepared to go alone, although short visits from dependants or spouses during the holidays have been possible in past years.

Finance:
Teachers will be paid not less than £172 per week throughout the year.
From this the school may deduct approx. £25 per week for meals taken in school and also approx. £25 per week in respect of accommodation.
Teachers will also have to pay a National Insurance contribution of approx. £7 per week.
This gives entitlement to treatment under the National Health Service for all Medical needs except Dental treatment which is not covered.
Travel Expenses: selected candidates cover their own travel expenses to and from the UK.
Teachers whose applications are successful and who take up places in British schools will be asked to contribute £450 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 £9 per week. We do not require the total sum in advance but teachers must pay £75 as a deposit on accepting the position with a further £150 by 1st December, 2009 and another £225 by 1st March, 2010.
In consequence of these various expenses you should have at least approx. £100 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 and to travel to interesting 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 items expensive.
Interviews will be arranged by the coordinator in each country. These will probably take place during the period end-January to mid-March 2009. Applicants will normally be informed if they have been successful during the period mid-April to end-May.
For successful candidates departure for UK is around the end of August/beginning of September 2009 for Orientation in Cambridge where other Teaching Assistants from Central and Eastern Europe will be present also.
 

Applications should include a full cv (including postal address and e-mail address), 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 should not be included.


Application Form: form-hmc-stip-09-10.rtf

Applications should be made to Nadace Open Society Fund Praha
 by February 2, 2009
 at Seifertova 47, 130 00 Praha 3