Chinese Language Assistant

One Year Fixed Term Contract, Term-Time Only

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a fluent Mandarin Chinese speaker to join our vibrant and dynamic Chinese Department as a full-time Chinese Language Assistant from September 2023. This position is offered as a full time, fixed term, term-time only contract from 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024, with possible extension in September 2024 for a further academic year.

The Languages Faculty at Whitgift is one of the largest in the country, with over thirty staff teaching French, Spanish, German, Japanese and Chinese. Five Chinese teachers and two assistants make up the Chinese Department. Chinese is taught from Year 7 and is a popular choice at all levels within the School. GCSE cohorts are around the 60 mark, there are currently over 20 pupils studying Chinese in the Sixth-Form and we regularly send boys to university to read Chinese. We offer very broad co-curricular provision in which the assistants are instrumental. Students have the opportunity to take part in several trips and exchanges, including our Beijing exchange and a popular Sixth Form Trip to Shanghai and Hong Kong.

As a full time language assistant, the successful candidate will be pro-active and enthusiastic about promoting the culture of China and Taiwan across the School. They will play an important role in preparing students for examinations, working with students in small groups, assisting teachers in the classroom and tailoring individual support for native-speaker pupils. They will be able to produce stimulating resources and lead enjoyable discussions that challenge students while simultaneously building their confidence and ability to converse in both a natural and articulate manner. In addition to preparing resources for their own teaching, the successful candidate will work with the Head of Chinese to assist in the production of high quality and innovative resources to support classroom teaching. A high level of accuracy in both spoken and written Chinese and English will be essential, and the ideal candidate will excel in encouraging our students to engage with current Chinese and Taiwanese issues, drawing inspiration from the media and other authentic sources. Flexibility and a willingness to engage with the broader life of the school is a prerequisite. An ability to teach Chinese literature would be an advantage. As would the ability to speak Cantonese in addition to Mandarin Chinese.

The successful candidate will:

• Be fluent in Mandarin Chinese and knowledgeable about the culture of the region
• Be excited to work in an environment where global mindedness, tolerance and linguistic diversity are front and centre
• Be proactive and enthusiastic about promoting Chinese across the School
• Have excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Have an excellent command of the English Language
• Be in possession of outstanding IT and administrative skills
• Be professional, confident and well-organised
• Have the ability to meet changing deadlines and work under pressure
• Have the ability to work independently and also as part of a team
• Possess high levels of flexibility and co-operation.

In return we offer a generous salary and benefits package including a money purchase pension scheme (plus Life Assurance over), Employee Discount Club, discounted school fees for the Foundation Schools, access to our onsite gym, membership of a healthcare plan, a range of family-friendly benefits and season ticket loan.

We welcome applications from all parts of our community as we aspire to attract staff that matches the social and cultural diversity of our student intake.

For further information and an online application form, please visit www.whitgift.co.uk/vacancies For any queries, please telephone the Human Resources Department on 020 8688 9222 or email SchoolHR@whitgift.co.uk

Applications will be reviewed daily, and interviews may occur at any stage after applications are received so we invite interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Whitgift School (part of the Whitgift Foundation) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Where applicable, applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service and online media checks (including personal, professional and other online activities).