Literature, Creative Writing and Drama/Public Speaking Teacher

Literature, Creative Writing and Drama/Public Speaking Teacher

Position Overview

Studio Education is seeking qualified English literature and creative writing teachers to deliver our custom-designed literature-based curriculum to small groups of students (eight per class) in Shanghai, China. At Studio Education, students read classic and contemporary English literature in its original and unabridged form, practice various forms of creative and academic writing, and deliver presentations about their work. Younger students will also participate in drama lessons, the purpose of which is primarily to help students inhabit the chapter books and novels they are reading through generating performances based on them.

Studio teachers guide their students through three-hour weekly sessions covering reading, discussion, writing, and presenting and/or drama. Outside of the lessons, teachers will maintain communication with parents and colleagues regarding student progress, diligently correct and edit students’ writing, and familiarise themselves with the novels they teach. Our curriculum is well designed, so excessive lesson planning is not required to teach lessons. Tasks which teachers are required to complete outside of the lessons can be done flexibly in terms of time and location, as we do not require teachers to keep office hours outside of teaching time.

Responsibilities and Duties

• The teacher will be able to teach our challenging and ambitious curriculum which is different from and more rigorous than commonly-used state, national, and international curriculums.
• The teacher will be a proponent of the philosophy that it is possible to teach non-native English speakers/bilingual students using native level materials, and that non-native speakers can be guided to perform at levels far beyond what are considered standard grade-level expectations. Ideally, a track record in this area will prove this commitment.
• The teacher will demonstrate outstanding classroom management skills.
• The teacher will be punctual and reliable.
• The teacher will wear professional attire during teaching/tutoring sessions, and at all times when working at our school, whether in-person or online. The complete dress code is detailed in the Teachers Handbook.
• The teacher will follow lesson plans provided by Studio Education and prepare for their lessons accordingly.
• The teacher will be responsive to questions and concerns from parents, as well as questions from colleagues and supervisors about student progress and lessons.
• The teacher will make careful and detailed corrections, and will provide written and timely feedback, on all story and essay writing assignments at the following lesson.
• The teacher will adhere to the standards and requirements for marking student work as described by the Teachers Handbook and level-specific Guidebooks.
• The teacher will ensure that all students maintain high quality writing portfolios.
• The teacher will monitor students to make sure that their writing portfolios are kept current.
• The teacher will guide the students to rehearse and deliver engaging presentations and/or drama performances.

Qualifications and Requirements

• The ideal candidate’s qualifications will demonstrate high achievement in their own academic background.
• Work experience will demonstrate versatility across age groups, and success in and enthusiasm for classroom teaching. Experience teaching literature and/or creative writing also strong assets, as are an enjoyment of drama and public speaking in the classroom, especially in the primary-school age group.
• Three or more years’ teaching experience
• Undergraduate degree + TEFL required, teaching licence an advantage
• Special consideration given to candidates with undergraduate and/or Master’s degree in English Literature, Education or related field.
• The ability to obtain a teacher’s work visa in China
• Candidates currently in China, or abroad, are welcome to apply.

Working Hours

30 weeks per year (4 days a week):

o  Fridays + Thursdays OR Mondays: 4:00pm-7:45pm

o  Saturdays and Sundays: 8:45am-7:45pm

o  15-21hrs group classes per week (maximum eight students per class)

o  Additional hours may be available for additional pay.

6-8 weeks per year (5 days a week):

o  Mondays to Fridays in Winter School (Jan-Feb 2-3 weeks) and Summer School (Jul-Aug 4-6 weeks)

o  8:30am-4:30pm

o  30hrs group classes (maximum eight students per class)

Benefits

• One-year contract
• Compensation packages competitive with top international schools, but with fewer days onsite and no office hours
• Teacher work permit provided and support in obtaining necessary documents
• Medical insurance with access to leading international hospitals provided
• 36-38 working weeks per year, 14-16 weeks holiday
• Two-week holiday at Christmas, plus generous time off for all Chinese public holidays
• Centres located in vibrant, cosmopolitan neighbourhoods
• Strong work-life balance; Teachers have pursued language lessons, music lessons, master’s degrees and PGCE certifications while working full-time with us
•  Opportunity to work additional hours for additional compensation
• Assistance with relocation and with integrating into life in China (setting up bank accounts, SIM cards, seeking apartments, etc.)

About Studio Education

Studio Education is an independent learning centre founded in 2013 in Shanghai, by James Jobbins, an Oxford-educated British schoolteacher. With multiple locations across Shanghai, Studio Education is a foreign-owned and foreign-managed company, delivering a custom-designed curriculum which supports students in appreciating and responding to literature, creative writing, critical thinking and drama / public speaking.

Studio is both a means to an end and an end in itself. It serves to support and to prepare students in their efforts to pursue a wide-ranging exploratory education, and it provides – and hails – education for its own sake. Studio’s courses nurture the skills and attributes necessary for successful admission into the world’s best middle schools, high schools and universities – and they go so much further than that, revelling in inspiring great thinking and creativity in intellectual pursuits.

The name “Studio” reflects a symbiosis of study and creativity – learning at Studio is infused with, and inseparable from, the creative temperament of conceiving, exploring, trying and applying new ideas. Studio’s programmes incorporate and go beyond memorisation, understanding and the application of functional skills; they develop the higher-order thinking skills of analysis, evaluation and synthesis. These are the essential elements of a flourishing intellect and of creativity.

Our Students:

• Range from 3 to 16 years old, with core programmes from 3-13, with the majority of students from 7-10 years old.
• Are English speaking, and most study at bilingual and international schools in Shanghai.
• Hope to study, live and/or travel abroad in the future.
• Come to us for rigorous lessons which exceed the level of challenge and depth of instruction which they receive in their regular full-time schools.