Bilkent University, School of English Language Faculty Academic English (FAE) Instructor Job Description

Responsible to : Head, Faculty Academic English Unit

General Aims

1. to provide quality tuition to develop students' academic skills, language competence and breadth of knowledge
2. to design and develop high quality courses and materials
3. to take responsibility for the fair and consistent assessment of students
4. to ensure professional standards at all times
5. to collaborate with FAE colleagues and contribute to a positive team dynamic
6. to collaborate with faculty members to meet FAE aims and support departmental aims
7. to collaborate with colleagues and units to meet School and University aims
8. to contribute to the development of high quality tuition throughout the University
9. to undertake specific job-related duties / research to contribute to the development of FAE and the School as a whole
10. to teach up to 15 hours a week, and provide additional tutorial support as required.

Specifically

1. to provide quality tuition to develop students' academic skills, language competence and breadth of knowledge by
• providing students with a clear course outline package which ensures students understand course expectations, requirements, objectives and assessment
• teaching in a professional, open, encouraging manner and developing a positive relationship with all students, irrespective of their level or approach to learning
• establishing a stimulating, challenging, interactive, academic learning environment which also has clear expectations and standards of behaviour
• providing lessons which:
• meet course, FAE, School and University objectives
• are linked into a coherent learning program
• are prepared and sequenced appropriately to meet student needs
• cater for different learning styles through varying teaching formats, materials and technologies
• are challenging and stimulating in pace and cater for the range of levels of students in a course
• encourage student involvement and student responsibility for their own learning
• address remedial needs effectively
• prepare students appropriately for assessment of learning
• providing high quality feedback to all students in written and tutorial form such that students have a clear view of their progress at all times
• being open and available to students for consultation
2. to design and develop high quality courses and materials by
• participating in the regular review of unit and FAE level expectations and objectives
• selecting and designing materials for courses to develop appropriate academic skills and language
• selecting stimulating 101 and 102 course content to reflect FAE and University objectives of broadening student's education outside their chosen field of study
• designing courses which incorporate teaching methodologies and approaches that will stimulate students and provide variety of format
• producing course plans that clearly outline weekly content, materials, language and skills objectives
• continually evaluating course topics, content, materials and methodologies
• adapting courses in light of evaluation, student performance, student feedback, unit feedback and departmental feedback, as appropriate
• contributing to the development of all FAE courses by providing feedback on shared courses and shared materials
• balancing the need to develop courses over more than one semester with the need to create new and stimulating courses for the teacher and students
3. to take responsibility for the fair and consistent assessment of students by
• designing assessment of learning tasks that abide by the agreed course objectives, course requirements and agreed team standards for that course
• providing students with quality feedback on all assessments of learning
• designing courses and lessons to facilitate students in the successful completion of assessments of learning
• contributing to the review and updating of course objectives and requirements on a regular basis
• contributing to assessment design meetings for each course by considering the design of each assessment task carefully, completing draft assessment tasks and providing detailed feedback to the group as required
• maintaining professional levels of confidentiality concerning all assessment issues and tasks
• participating in the invigilation of exams and assessments as required
• contributing to regular small group standardisation meetings and contributing to exam standardisation meetings, as necessary
• engaging in cross-marking schemes to ensure consistency of grading across the team
• abiding by agreed grading and standardisation in the marking of assessment tasks
4. to ensure professional standards at all times by
• contributing to students' personal development through the promotion of a suitable learning environment both inside and outside the classroom
• maintaining all FAE required records in a professional manner
• maintaining an open-door policy regarding classroom visits and participating in observations and sharing practice with colleagues in an open, supportive manner
• liasing with colleagues on professional matters: course development / lesson planning / materials development / testing and criteria / assignments set / student progress / marking of assignments
• providing cover or adjusting teaching schedules in order to support absent colleagues
• completing all administrative requests and procedures in a timely and professional manner
• adhering to and enforcing university rules
• participating fully in FAE meetings and other meetings as required
• taking an active part in personal professional development
• participating fully in designated professional review processes, as required
• participating in training programs, as required
5. to collaborate with FAE colleagues and contribute to a positive team dynamic by
• supporting all new staff as fully as possible, particularly during their first year
• behaving in a cooperative, supportive and understanding manner toward all colleagues at all times
• sharing practice, ideas and advice in an open manner
• accepting differences in personality and approaches to work of colleagues in a flexible and open-minded manner
• participating fully in any meetings / discussions by raising points clearly and concisely, being open to discussion, constructive criticism, suggestions and feedback regarding practice, issues of concern and unit decisions and taking minutes, as required
• addressing personal conflict issues with those concerned in a timely, professional manner, before seeking third party intervention
6. to collaborate with faculty members to meet FAE aims and support departmental aims by
• maintaining a positive relationship with relevant faculty staff by communicating regularly and openly about all course issues and concerns
• attending relevant course meetings with faculty staff and contributing actively in such meetings
• ensuring all faculty / FAE meeting minutes and decisions are communicated to the Head of the FAE unit
• ensuring connected courses meet FAE objectives and compliment faculty courses as appropriate
• addressing collaboration problems as they arise and in a constructive manner
7. to collaborate with all colleagues and units to meet School and University aims by
• contributing to liaison activities between FAE units, as required
• contributing to liaison activities between the Preparatory Program and the FAE Program, as required
• actively participating in School level and University level developmental activities, as required
• participating in, supporting and contributing to institutional and university conferences and symposia
8. to contribute to the development of high quality tuition throughout the university by
• contributing to the maintenance of high standards of tuition in class, in each FAE unit, in the departments and in the School/University as a whole
• ensuring students understand the importance of instructors having professional and academic standards, and the importance of these standards for personal development
• contributing to new initiatives and projects related to quality tuition as required
• contributing to training and developmental workshops / seminars as required
9. to undertake specific job-related duties / research as required to contribute to the development of FAE and the School as a whole by
• participating and taking on responsibility in task groups / special projects as required
• presenting information / writing reports on special projects as required
• sharing expertise / individual knowledge relevant to specific projects
• conducting research relevant to FAE / the School / the University when possible
• publishing / presenting research to the wider academic community, with the support of FAE / the School / the University
10. Teaching up to 15 hours a week, and providing additional tutorial support as required