Job Related Information
This document includes information about the role for which you are applying and the information you will need to provide with your application.
1. Role Details
Job title: / Lecturer in French
Reports to: / Head of School - Languages & Applied Linguistics
Salary: / £32,004 to £46,924
Terms and conditions: / Academic
Grade / AC2/3
Duration of post: / Fixed Term Contract for 3 years
Working hours: / Full-Time
Location: / Walton Hall, Milton Keynes
Closing date: / 5.00pm on Tuesday 22 November 2016
Type of application form accepted: / Covering Letter, Application Form and CV
Number of referees required: / Three
Unit recruitment contact: / Helen Jackman
2. Summary of duties
Overall job purposeTo contribute to the development and delivery of modules and resources in French language and culture.
To contribute actively to the School’s programme of research and scholarship, and to the academic development and organisation of the School of Languages and Applied Linguistics, Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies and The Open University.
Main duties
1. Contribute to the planning and preparation, writing and updating of distance learning modules and resources that may include the use of print, audio, video and information and communications technologies (e.g. synchronous and asynchronous computer mediated communication).
2. Contribute to the maintenance of French modules, including preparing and monitoring of assessment, membership of Examination and Qualification Boards, ongoing updating of content using the OU’s virtual learning environments, and provision of tutor and student support.
3. Contribute to decisions about curriculum, teaching and assessment strategies.
4. Brief, liaise with and co-ordinate the work of consultant writers as necessary.
5. Meet the requirement of direct contact with students through a variety of means, for example residential schools, day schools, e-moderating of electronic conferences and research student supervision, as appropriate.
6. Engage in high quality research and scholarship aligned with the School’s strategic priorities producing publications suitable for inclusion in future Research Excellence Framework assessments, as well as conference papers and external activities as appropriate.
7. Engage in bidding for external research funding and contribute to the research profile of the School, Faculty and University.
8. Contribute to the briefing, debriefing and training of part-time teaching staff (Associate Lecturers).
9. Contribute more broadly to the activities of the School and Faculty as required. This may include liaison with other academic units and with external partners in Britain and overseas.
3. Person specification
Requirements (E = Essential/ D = Desirable)Education, qualifications and training
Essential: / 1. Language graduate or equivalent, with a level of proficiency equivalent to CEFR level C2 (mastery) in French.
2. PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant subject area.
Knowledge, work and other relevant experience
Essential: / 3. Excellent command of spoken and written English and French, with the capacity to communicate clearly and influentially with individuals and with groups of varying sizes.
4. Knowledge and experience necessary to contribute to the development, production and presentation of modules in French.
5. Evidence of an innovative approach to pedagogy, teaching and learning; experience of module and curriculum design.
6. Experience of designing assessment for learning, and of language competence standards in the UK and Europe.
7. Proven ability to work effectively and flexibly in a team and collaboratively with others.
8. Proven ability to plan and organise work to agreed deadlines, within resource constraints, and sometimes under pressure.
9. Demonstrable experience of having used information and communications technology for a variety of purposes, and evidence of understanding of the potential of new and emerging technologies to enhance teaching, learning and research.
10. Evidence of engagement in research and scholarship in a relevant area through publications, conference presentations, or the development of bids for external funding.
Desirable: / 11. Qualification in teaching in a Higher Education context.
12. Experience of producing open- or distance-learning materials.
13. Experience of supervising research students.
14. Fluency in one or more of the other modern languages taught in the School.
15. Experience of teaching translation modules.
Personal abilities and qualities
Essential: / 16. Ability and willingness to travel for work purposes, and to live within reasonable commuting distance of The Open University in Milton Keynes.
17. Commitment to equal opportunities policies and practices.
Desirable:
4. Role specific requirements e.g. Shift working
5. About the unit/department
The Open University has embarked on a period of transformational change. A new Strategic Plan will further strengthen our offerings for students, providing an outstanding and professionally-focused learning experience. In August 2016, the University restructured into four new Faculties, each comprising of a number of Schools.
The new Faculty is based in Milton Keynes and in regional and national offices with our Student Support Team being located in Nottingham. The majority of our 35,500 students are in the UK, but the Faculty also has students in the Republic of Ireland, Continental Western Europe and elsewhere in the world. The Faculty’s curriculum comprises programmes at undergraduate, Masters and doctoral levels.
School of Languages and Applied Linguistics
The School of Languages and Applied Linguistics is home to over 12,000 students, more than 370 part-time staff, 58 academic staff, 16 academic-related staff and 39 doctoral students. We are the UK's major provider of open and distance education in fields of languages and applied linguistics. Our students, and some of our staff, are located across the UK, and beyond.
Our curriculum ranges from access modules to research degrees. We offer modules and qualifications in modern languages (French, German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish and Welsh), English language and applied linguistics, English for academic purposes, and intercultural communication. Undergraduate students can work towards a range of qualifications which include a BA (Hons) Language Studies, a BA (Hons) English language and literature, a BA (Hons) Open as well as Certificates and Diplomas in Higher Education. We offer an MA in Applied Linguistics, an MA in Translation Studies and PhD and EdD programmes. We also develop highly popular informal learning courses and resources delivered through a range of platforms, such as iTunes U, OpenLearn or FutureLearn MOOCs.Our evidence-based pedagogy is supported by the informed use of technology.
Our teaching is underpinned by world-class research based in the Centre for Research in Education and Educational Technology and covering a range of areas such as Academic and professional literacies, Children's informal language and literacy practices and children's literature, English in a global context, Intercultural communication, Language teaching and technology, Multimodal meaning making and Open Educational Resources, amongst others We enjoy fruitful partnerships with organisations including the BBC, Times Educational Supplement, British Library, Department for International Development and The British Council.
6. How to obtain more information about the role or application process
If you would like to discuss the particulars of this role before making an application please contact on or email: .If you have any questions regarding the application process please contact Helen Jackman on 01908 332247 or email: .
7. The application process and where to send completed applications
Post it to:
Name/Job title: / Helen Jackman, Staffing Assistant
Department/Unit: / Staffing Team, Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies
Address: / Room 116 – 118
Horlock Building
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
Post Code: / MK7 6AA
Or e-mail your application to: /
8. Selection process and date of interview
The other members of the interview panel will be: / To be confirmed
The interviews will take place on: / It is anticipated interviews will take place during week commencing 12 December 2016.
The selection process for this post will include / To be confirmed
/ We will let you know as soon as possible after the closing date whether you have been shortlisted for interview. Further details on the selection process will also be sent to shortlisted candidates.
Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
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