Role Profile
Job Description
Job Title
DPRK University Teacher / Trainer / Curriculum & Materials developer
Directorate or Region
East Asia
Department/Country
China (responsible for DPRK)
Location of post
Pyongyang, DPRK
(North Korea)
Pay Band
OAS
Reports to
Andrew Carte
Duration of job
Start – 31st March 2012
Purpose of job:
To continue mainstreaming Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) and other up-to-date ELT approaches and
methodology in key universities in Pyongyang by;
 Teaching and training small groups of Korean students & teachers.
 Contributing to curriculum renewal for new tertiary level English Courses.
 Participating in annual training conferences and other smaller externally funded ELT related projects
 Maintaining existing relationships in three existing universities and building relationships in three more.
Context and environment:
The DPRK Teaching and Training project has been working in the DPRK for just over 10 years in three key
universities in Pyongyang. In the last three years the project team has grown to include a Senior Trainer / In Country
Project Manager, this has given the project more focus and direction. In the next three years we are set to expand
into 3 more universities and generally extend our training through annual conferences to teachers in other
universities within and outside of Pyongyang.
Accountabilities
Reports to Line Manager / in-country project manager and university department heads.
Responsibilities
Co-ordinates with Line manager and local university co-ordinators to agree teaching and training schedules
Co-ordinates with Line manager and other project team members on targets, outputs and deadlines for curriculum
renewal and training materials.
Main duties and deliverables
1. Design, update and deliver English Teacher Training, Trainer Training and Development
courses in conjunction with key institutional stakeholders.
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In cooperation with line manager and other team members contribute to the ongoing development and writing of
a body of materials that make up a training and development menu
In agreement with university Heads of Department and line manager design a scheme of training for teachers in
a university
Deliver teacher training and development courses, using existing materials or by designing and writing your own
to selected small groups of university teachers
Monitor, collect feedback, record and evaluate all training.
Take an active role in ongoing delivery of INSETTS and Certificate level training courses
2. Work with line manager, other in-country teacher trainers and relevant institutional colleagues
on the development of all aspects of curriculum design (planning, drafting, piloting,
evaluating, editing, assessment and training) as well as accompanying materials cultivating a
sensitive and flexible approach
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Take an active role in all planning meetings with other team members, line manager and local writing teams
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Resourcing team November 2010
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Assist in developing strategies for / and production of drafts, piloting, evaluating and editing all materials,
including supplementary teacher’s notes, activities and assessments
Provide training in elements of curriculum and materials design to small teams of local materials writers,
encouraging their contribution to the curriculum
Assist in the production of training materials and delivery of trainer training to support the rollout of the new
materials
Personal development in curriculum and materials design supported in-country by Line Manager and other incountry teachers
3. To plan, prepare, adapt and supplement materials to deliver General English, Business
English, EAP & ESP classes that take account individual learning styles, prior education,
background knowledge and culture that create an environment conducive to learning.
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In cooperation with line manager and other team members contribute to the ongoing development and writing of
a body of materials that makes up the teaching menu offered to the universities
In agreement with university Heads of Department and line manager agree a teaching schedule for a university
Lessons are professionally and purposefully planned, managed and delivered
Where and whenever necessary materials are adapted to take into consideration students past learning
experience and lack of knowledge of the outside world.
Effective use is made of audio, video and information technologies (whenever possible) to achieve lesson aims
and to enhance BC's reputation as a progressive ELT provider.
Explicit reference, where appropriate is made to UK society, customs and traditions during classes to facilitate
learning and to enhance mutual understanding.
Encourage other local teachers to observe classes and to make time available for discussion after the lessons
4. As and when required to work with line manager, other in-country teacher trainers to plan,
initiate and deliver smaller projects financed by other external donors (examples)
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In cooperation with line manager and other trainers, plan, prepare and deliver teacher training conferences to
teachers from other universities within and outside of Pyongyang
To assist in the delivery, piloting, observation of teaching and assessment of published materials as part of the
curriculum development process
To assist in the ongoing role out, evaluation and reporting of an Extensive Reading Programme in three
universities
5. Attend meetings with the DPRK project team, British Council Beijing, Line Manager, Faculty
Heads and HMA North Korea.
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Weekly meetings with line manager, other trainers, university faculty
Meetings at BC Beijing during 3 annual procurement visits
Bi-annual BC monitoring visits
Monthly meetings with HMA, Pyongyang
Key relationships:
Internal
 The DPRK project team and in-country project manager
 The British Council project supervisor in Beijing
 The UK Embassy and HMA in Pyongyang
External
 Local Co-ordinators
 Local university senior faculty members
 Other donor organisations running smaller joint projects (UN & EU)
 Local Committee of Education officials
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Resourcing team November 2010
Other important features or requirements of the job
Living and working in the DPRK is as rewarding as it is challenging.
The job
In discussing these posts with other past trainers all of them have said that at times they have felt isolated and that
the requirements of the job outstripped their knowledge and experience. Remain calm, you are not alone, make the
best use you can of the other team members, and take this really unique opportunity to develop, experiment and
grow. It is not many posts that offer Teaching, Training, Material Design and the opportunity to work where very few
others will ever get the opportunity.
The Universities
The teachers, staff and students are warm and friendly (not necessarily the case in full public view or on the
corridors). Of all the international community working in Pyongyang, we possibly have the greatest opportunities of
meeting and interacting in a fairly open way with local Koreans. This for obvious reasons needs be nurtured and
maintained with care and understanding. Due to local problems and outside commitments, changes to teaching and
training schedules can be made at very short notice, being understanding and flexible will go a long way in
maintaining and building relationships where you work. You will be provided with a car and driver for commuting to
and from work.
The International Community and City.
We all live on a fairly large diplomatic compound with others who work for embassies, the United Nations or a small
number of resident European Union Programme Support Offices (NGOs). Our flats are spread around the
compound so we’re not all living on top of each other. They are all furnished and have a small office (with a laptop
and printer). They are practical not “bijou.” There are two diplomatic shops with an interesting mix of supplies, that
do from time to time run dry and three restaurants. We have a bar (The RAC) which is open most Friday evenings
and occasional film nights hosted by the Swiss or the Polish. Most socialising tends to revolve around small groups,
dinners, meeting for a drink and the monthly book club.
We are allowed to go into town on our own (not the case with tourists), There are health facilities (swimming pools,
gyms, saunas and therapeutic massage) that we use, as well as other shops and restaurants. We are not
encouraged to interact with the public, and most certainly be careful when walking around with a camera. Getting to
know other foreigners in our community who have a car will certainly help in getting around.
The weather
Pyongyang can be bitterly cold in the winter. So please make sure you’re ready for this. If not be prepared to stock
up in Beijing during one of the three annual procurement visits. Thermal underwear, good shoes and a thick winter
jacket are a must! The universities are closed for the worst of the winter months, and this is usually when we take a
large portion of our leave, however there are still times that you will be teaching in classrooms without heating.
During these times the local staff will not encourage you to spend more time than necessary at the universities, so
continue working at home, our flats are heated!
UK passport holders
Please specify any
passport/visa and/or nationality
requirement.
Please indicate if any security
or legal checks are required
for this role.
Employment is subject to permission from the DPRK Committee of
Education.
This is an unaccompanied posting or in exceptional cases the authorities
might agree to a married couple with one partner taking up post
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Resourcing team November 2010
Person Specification
Essential
Desirable
Assessment stage
Behaviours
Connecting with Others –
actively appreciating the needs
and concerns of myself and
others
Working Together – ensuring
others benefit as well as me
Being Accountable –
delivering my best work in
order to meet my commitments
Making it happen –
challenging myself and others
to deliver and measure better
results
Interview
Skills and
Knowledge
Teaching Skills Competencies
- level 2
 Classroom Management
 Course & Lesson Planning
 Subject Knowledge
 Understanding Your
Learners - level 1
 Learning Technologies
Short listing
& Interview
Computer skills – level 1
Experience
Experience of;
 Curriculum planning
 Materials development for
teaching and training
 Delivery of TKT, ICELT,
CELTA type courses
 English Language
Teaching and Teacher
Training experience
overseas (Min 3 years)
Working in a ‘hardship’
environment
Short listing
& Interview
Qualifications
Diploma level qualification in
TEFL (eg UCLES
DTEFLA/Cambridge ESOL
DELTA, Trinity College London
Dip TESOL) plus 2 years’ postqualification experience
MA in ELT or similar
Short listing
Submitted by
Andrew Carte
Date
4 of 4
25 April 2011
Resourcing team November 2010