Discover newfound independence whilst helping at our school in Haubinda, Thuringia, Germany

Details

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  Description

  *️️️️️️*️️️️The ability to communicate effectively in German is essential*️️️️️️*️️️️
  **Please only apply if you are a native English speaker**
  
  We are a small, rural day and boarding school for German and international pupils aged from 7 to 18. Our school is one of a group of three German boarding schools founded over 100 years ago. Based at the picturesque border of the German states of Thuringia and Bavaria, it has lovingly been described by previous assistants as a cross between Hogwarts and the Shire.
  
  Every year for over 20 years, life in our school has been enriched by at least two native English-speaking Language Assistants, who spend a school year (September to June/ July) enriching boarding school life alongside encouraging unwilling, weak or especially gifted learners to improve their English abilities.
  
  Our school is not just a school, but also a village with its own small organic farm with horses, pigs, sheep, vegetable gardens and orchards. Our school motto is "Kopf, Herz, Hand", so leading regular activities with pupils in the sport's hall, stables or art room (just a couple of examples) is equally as important for us, as this helps to build a basis of trust, which is the essence of a successful teaching relationship.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Teaching
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  The benefits of life here are numerous.
  - Gain teaching experience
  - Have a once-in-a-lifetime experience
  - Learn to live in harmony with nature
  - Improve your German skills
  - Discover newfound responsibility, independence, and calling
  - Discover Europe (made affordable by flixbus and couchsurfing)
  - See countless castles
  - Take part in school trips as an additional supervisor
  - Experience German culture through theatre and music
  - Ample vacation time
  - Coffee breaks galore
  
  We pay the German minimum wage (12€/ hour, 15 hours/week in term time) and we provide assistance with completing registration and visa applications.
  
  Language Assistants are encouraged to share their hobbies with boarding staff and pupils. Previous assistants have led a chess club, led evening soccer sessions or volleyball training, helped take care of the school horses, offered creative arts courses, joined the school choir, given guitar lessons, learned how to bake bread, …
  The list really is endless. It's a question of discovering common interests with members of staff or pupils. It is much easier for you to do this if you have a working grasp of German before you come.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage

  This host offers accommodation and payment.

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  Help

  We are looking for responsible, reliable people who aren't afraid of hard work, We expect you to have previous experience of working with children or young people and to be able to speak at least intermediate German, as this will aid you in communicating with staff and pupils alike and become integrated into school life.
  
  Primary responsibilities include: English tutoring sessions, assisting in English lessons, covering English classes when a colleague is sick (this can include lesson planning and grading work - great if you're thinking about going into teaching), attending the mandatory meals and meetings, chaperoning and attending events, and other miscellaneous and unforeseen responsibilities (i.e. one assistant was asked to teach a weekly Spanish class and another led a storytelling-group in the primary school).
  
  Assistants also take on extra duties in the boarding school, leading small group extra-curricular activities in the afternoons or at weekends. An ability in sport/ art/ music/ IT/ … would be of advantage here. Sometimes unforeseen responsibilities occur, such as taking charge of boarding students (during the evenings and/ or overnight) for a period of time if their house parent is ill. This may entail moving in to a room in another boarding house for a specified period of time. We like to encourage flexibility!
  Having an international driving license would also be an advantage.
  
  Our Language Assistants are expected to maintain professionalism in appearance, behaviour and discipline. In addition to this, they are basically expected to be role models to the students (especially for the boarders) as well as acting as unofficial ambassadors for their country. Willingness and openness to adapt to living in a new culture really is important.

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  Languages spoken

  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  Currently assistants live in single rooms in our boarding houses, with access to the school's home economics kitchen. Assistants have access to the school laundry. There is Wifi coverage on site, but it is not always 100% reliable.
  
  During term-time, all meals are provided in our school cafeteria. There is always a vegetarian alternative and most allergies can be catered for. Our boarders live in small "families" in houses on site. Assistants are attached to a family, eating meals with them in the school cafeteria, helping with evening study periods and spending an evening each week doing activities ranging from hiking to cinema visits to cooking pizza. About 20 staff members also live on site.
  
  It should go without saying that drugs are completely forbidden for all staff and students. It is also not permitted to smoke in the room/ apartment. For over 18s there is a designated smoking area on site.

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  What else ...

  We are 3 km from the nearest village, with a small shop, church and pub. The nearest towns are about 20 minutes away but it's often possible to get a lift there with teachers from school to do a bit of shopping or just have a cup of coffee. At weekends when we have Saturday school, there are bus trips to Coburg or other towns in the local area.
  
  Every 2 weeks boarders return home and Assistants use this time to relax or travel. There are buses to main train stations (Fulda or Lichtenfels) for these exeat weekends, which make them a great time for personal travel. Some assistants have chosen to accompany our international students to famous German cities for these weekends, acting as additional chaperones.
  
  Living in a rural part of Germany, on the border between the states of Bavaria and Thuringia (the border between former East and West Germany), can feel isolated and secluded at times; on the other hand, the nature can prove incredibly relaxing and therapeutic.
  
  We all lead our own busy and hectic lives and most of the teachers who live on site have families of our own. The Assistants who had an amazing time here were always the ones who share a common interest or hobby with staff members. Staff members who live on site often enjoy a cup of tea (or a beer) with assistants. Previous assistants (protestant, Catholic, free-church) have taken part in relatively regular bible study and church services with myself and/ or other Christian members of staff.
  
  We generally appoint new Assistants in early spring. If we are interested in appointing you, we will send you our standardised application form and safeguarding information. This is particularly necessary as you will be living and working in a school. After hearing positively from your referees we will invite you to an interview on Skype or Teams.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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