Roles and requirements - Language residential schools

All appointments for language residential schools are advertised on the OU Human Resources Job Opportunities site.  Accommodation is provided, usually in standard undergraduate rooms, and you will need to be fully resident at the site throughout your appointment.

Modern language residential schools will be held in France, Germany and Spain.

Due to the current Covid19 pandemic the 20J presentation (February to March 2021) schools will all be held online only.

Requirements

Some Open University academic staff have an obligation to tutor at a residential school and will be appointed first.  Preference will then be given to module tutors with relevant experience and knowledge and then external applicants will be considered.

Candidates who have appropriate qualifications and experience are welcome to apply for these posts and as the appointment involves an overseas school, applicants must have proficiency in the spoken language.

Monitoring and assessment of tutors

It is customary for the University to take note of an individual tutor's performance in relation to the aims of the residential school. This helps both in the task of selection for the following year's appointments, and allows us to gather information about teaching methods and styles at the schools.

During the school your performance will be monitored by a senior member of the residential school staff. At the end of the school a monitoring form will be completed and given or sent to you. If the senior staff member is making any adverse comment that might be seen as prejudicial to future appointments, he or she will talk to you about it and show you the form before you leave the school. The monitoring grade recorded on the form will be kept on the OU's computer record for your staff appointment.

Job descriptions

Academic Assistant

Provides administrative, clerical, and some technical support to School Module Directors to help ensure the smooth running of the residential school.  They have particular responsibility for school set-up and pack-up operations.  Academic assistants are responsible, as part of the residential schools team, to the School Module Director.

Please view the Language School Academic Assistant Job description/person specification

Tutor

Your main duty as a residential school tutor is to provide academic guidance and support to Open University students at residential school, within the framework provided by the module material and the academic programme. You are responsible, as part of the residential school team, to the School Module Director. Your tasks will vary according to the aims of the school.

Please view the Language School Tutor Job description/person specification