About
The
Job.
Modern Languages Teaching Centre, School of
Languages and Cultures
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
University Teacher
and MLTC Spanish Co-ordinator
About
The
Job.
Pursue the extraordinary
Overview
About the Department
The Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Sheffield has an international
reputation for its high-quality and innovative learning and teaching, delivered by staff
who are both committed to providing an outstanding student experience and who are at
the cutting edge of research in their own disciplines. The University of Sheffield has been
awarded the Times Higher Education University of the Year for 2011, and Arts and
Humanities is a major contributor to this success.
The University is a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities and is
currently ranked 8th in the UK in the Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World
Universities. The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) ranked the University 5th in
the UK in terms of the number of subject areas with 50% or more of their research
judged to be ‘world-leading’ (4*) or ‘internationally excellent’ (3*).
The
performance by the Arts and Humanities in RAE 2008 was particularly impressive with 9
out of our 10 subject areas having 50%+ of their research in the 4* and 3* categories.
The Faculty comprises the following departments:
•
Archaeology
•
Biblical Studies
•
History
•
School of English
•
School of Languages and Cultures
•
Music
•
Philosophy
Six of the seven units are located in the Jessop quarter of the university campus, adjacent
to the award-winning Humanities Research Institute.
The Faculty has its own
governance structures and is one of the five faculties of the University.
The School of Languages and Cultures (SLC) consists of the Departments of French,
Germanic Studies (including Dutch and Luxembourgish), Hispanic Studies (including
Portuguese and Catalan), and Russian and Slavonic Studies (including Czech and Polish)
together with the Modern Languages Teaching Centre which has a major strategic role in
the delivery of language courses and services across the whole University.
The School has roughly seventy academic and teaching staff. Administrative support is
provided by a School-wide team of eight staff. The student population is currently:
undergraduate students: 700 full time equivalent (FTE); postgraduate taught – 60 FTE;
postgraduate research – 45 FTE. Between them the SLC departments offer a wide range
of single and dual-honours degrees which is further enhanced by the large number of
dual-honours programmes with non-language subjects. There is also a school-wide
undergraduate programme, the BA in Modern Languages, permitting the study of three
languages to degree level. The high reputation of modern languages study at Sheffield is
attested both by the buoyant demand for admissions and excellent results in the 2008
Research Assessment Exercise.
The Modern Languages Teaching Centre (MLTC) has a staff of twelve full-time and
part-time teachers, plus additional visiting tutors. We deliver non-specialist language
training at all undergraduate levels for French, Spanish, German and Italian, as well as
modules in Arabic, Greek, Latin, and Portuguese.
The specialist language components
of degrees with Engineering, Maths, and Pure Science are offered through the MLTC, as
are some components of the School’s BA in Modern Languages, such as the provision
of Italian. A significant proportion of MLTC students therefore also undertake a year of
study abroad.
MLTC staff are involved in a range of innovative teaching and other activities, including:
tandem learning; intercultural communication; local schools outreach; and Foreign
Languages at Work certificates.
In addition, we run language training courses for
MA/PhD students, and offer non-degree modules and vacation courses to students, staff
and the public for a modest fee.
The MLTC is at the forefront of the University’s new Languages for All initiative
(http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/languages ), which aims to see half of all undergraduates at
the University undertaking language study by 2015. Last year alone, enrolment in our
modules rose by 13% to c. 135 (165 for 2012-13) FTE, equating to c. 1620 (2000 for
2012-13) discrete module enrolments from students across the University.
Concomitant with this, the University has just completed a major expansion of its
language lab facilities, with a new lab and self-access centre opening this autumn in the
Learning Hub on Glossop Road and a School lab in the Hicks Building that is shared with
the MA Applied Languages courses.
Job Role
The post-holder will be responsible for co-ordinating the work of the Spanish teaching
team and of one or more less-commonly-taught languages within the MLTC such as
Arabic, Greek or Portuguese. S/he will design, prepare and deliver teaching programmes
in Spanish and possibly one of the other languages, including preparing and supervising
different modes of assessment as well as carrying out administrative duties to a level
commensurate with their grade. S/he will have good familiarity with current language
teaching technology and nationwide developments in foreign language teaching
practice. S/he will also be encouraged to develop a profile in the innovation and delivery
of language teaching methodology, technologies and materials, or in second language
acquisition (SLA) research.
Web link to departmental web pages and Languages for All gateway:
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/mltc
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/languages
Job Description
Main Duties and Responsibilities

Work under the supervision of the MLTC Director and in collaboration with other
Language Co-ordinators and the School Support team to ensure the administration,
delivery and development of MLTC courses to the highest standards, in line with
departmental guidelines and strategies.

Co-ordinate and supervise team teaching, assessment and course evaluation, including
student feedback, in Spanish and one or more less commonly taught language such as
Portuguese, Arabic or Greek.

Support, coach, mentor and review teaching staff within the language areas that you
co-ordinate and promote their professional development.

Have responsibility for innovation in the subject area, including overseeing provision, use,
and standards of facilities and technologies such as virtual learning environments (VLEs)
and labs for language teaching and learning, and promoting cultural agility through
raising intercultural awareness in language teaching modules.

Deliver teaching and undertake assessments of Spanish language modules at all levels,
including preparing language and cultural teaching material, communicating material
and encouraging critical engagement with it, observing and reacting to student
interventions, responding to questions outside class times.

Conduct personal teaching-related professional development, which includes: reflecting
on own teaching design and delivery and implementing ideas for improving own
performance, keeping abreast of professional developments, identifying literature and
assessing its validity and contribution in relation to the development of own field,
developing teaching methodologies in classroom and online, disseminating findings
widely through recognised publications and conferences, both at home and abroad.

Supervise undergraduate and Masters project students and be available to students
during consultation hours to provide academic support.

Identify appropriate sources of funding for Learning and Teaching within the University
and elsewhere, prepare proposals, manage or co-manage funding over period of
grant(s).

Contribute, as appropriate, to the Faculty’s knowledge transfer and civic engagement
agenda.

Participate in School/Departmental committees and have a role such as member of
Departmental Committee and, in some cases, member of a School committee.

Plan and prioritise own daily work; deal with reactive requests such as those relating to
teaching, supervising staff, students and administrative tasks.

For teaching, plan up to one year ahead unless there are significant teaching programme
changes or new courses, then plan for up to two years ahead of their introduction.

Any other duties, commensurate with the grade of the post.
Person Specification
Applicants should provide evidence in their applications that they meet the following
criteria. We will use a range of selection methods to measure candidates’ abilities in these
areas including reviewing your on-line application, seeking references, inviting shortlisted
candidates to interview and other forms of assessment action relevant to the post.
Criteria
Essential Desirable
Qualifications and experience
1.
A good honours degree in Spanish, (or equivalent experience)
X
2.
An MA or PhD in a relevant subject area (or equivalent
X
experience)
3.
Near-native proficiency in Spanish with knowledge of current
X
affairs and cultural life in Spanish-speaking countries and
regions.
4.
Proven teaching ability at undergraduate level, ideally with a
X
teaching qualification, to non-native speakers at all levels
5.
Considerable familiarity with national trends in language
teaching and the use of
X
ICT
6.
A record of relevant publications.
X
7.
National or international profile in language teaching
X
development or teaching-related research
Management skills
8.
Experience of managing a small team
9.
Proven ability to capture funding from internal or external
X
X
sources and to manage funded projects
Communication skills
10.
11,
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, in
X
English and Spanish
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, in
Portuguese
X
12.
Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to liaise effectively
X
with colleagues, students and external stakeholders
Team working
13.
Ability to work as an effective member of a team, to support the
X
work of colleagues, and to teach as part of a team
Problem solving and decision making
14.
15.
Ability to think strategically and innovatively
X
Awareness of the strategic and funding imperatives driving
X
policy towards language teaching in the UK
Personal effectiveness
16.
17.
18.
Excellent organisational skills and the ability to undertake
X
significant administrative duties
Proven ability to work to and meet deadlines
X
Experience of developing and maintaining a network of contacts
X
throughout own work area
Further Information
This post is open ended and has a start date of 6 January 2014 or as soon as possible
thereafter.
This post is full-time:
This role has been identified as a full-time post, but we are committed to exploring flexible
working opportunities with our staff which benefit both the individual and the University.
Therefore, we would consider flexible delivery of the role subject to meeting the business
needs of the post. See www.sheffield.ac.uk/hr/wellbeing/info/wlb.html for more
information.
Benefits
Terms and conditions of employment: Will be those for Grade 8 staff.
Salary for this grade: £37,382 - £44,607 per annum. Potential to progress to £50,186 per
annum through sustained exceptional contribution.
More details on salaries, terms and conditions and our wide range of benefits for staff are
available at www.sheffield.ac.uk/hr/reward/structures
Informal enquiries:
For all on-line application system queries and support, contact:
e-Recruitment@sheffield.ac.uk .
For informal enquiries about this job and department, contact:
Selection-Next Step
Following the closing date, you will be informed by email whether or not you have been
shortlisted to be invited to participate in the next stage of the selection process. Please note
that due to the large number of applications that we receive, it may take up to two working
weeks following the closing date before the recruiting department will be able to contact
you.
The University of Sheffield is committed to achieving excellence through inclusion.
The University of Sheffield is proud to be a Two Ticks employer
www.sheffield.ac.uk/hr/equality/support/twoticks/
Pursue the extraordinary