"Variable Hours Officer, ESOL Instructor"

Position Summary

University Life was created to develop and enhance the student experience at Columbia. Working in collaboration with students, faculty, and staff, University Life strengthens resources, policies, and conversations, and builds community outside of the classroom. Our efforts all connect to core values for the Columbia community: Inclusion and belonging, Health and well-being, Sexual Respect, Community Citizenship.

University Life is a central division focused on enhancing the student experience across Columbia’s 17 schools and colleges. We serve as a student life hub for the University and are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive campus culture where students can thrive in all dimensions of their lives. In University Life, we focus on connecting students to each other, to the broader University and surrounding community, and to opportunities beyond their schools.

Community Impact (CI), in partnership with neighborhood partners, strives to advance the public good, by providing quality social services, food assistance, youth mentoring, tutoring, and adult education in the Morningside Heights, Harlem, and Washington Heights communities.

CI provides classes in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Pre-GED and HSE preparation for adults ages 18 and above. We incorporate job readiness and college preparation into its curriculum. The goal of the program is to help adults improve their English language proficiency, enhance literacy and numeracy skills, obtain high school equivalency diplomas, transition to advanced training, and obtain or improve employment.

The ESOL instructor is a dynamic, committed instructor who has significant experience working with a diverse population of adult and non-traditional high school equivalency students. The GED Instructor should have teaching experience developing the 4 skills; speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in English; must be able to work independently and have excellent interpersonal skills; be creative, organized, and committed to learner-centered, participatory education.

Under the supervision of the ESOL Manager the ESOL Instructor will provide immersive learner-centered instruction to morning and evening students. Hours may vary from 10 am-8:30 pm.

Responsibilities

• Create a student-centered, engaging learning environment.
• Develop theme-based, contextualized lessons.
• Assess student content knowledge; develop instruction to maximize oral language production; prepare learning resources and materials.
• Evaluate student progress through quizzes, tests, and assignments.
• Administer required pre and post-BEST Plus 2.0.
• Maintain attendance records and work collaboratively with the GED Manager and Case Manager on student needs, participation, and retention.
• Ability to create thematic, content-based curricula.
• Ability to assess differences in learning styles and capitalize on student strengths.
• Proficient at integrating technology into lessons.
• Strong computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office, and Google Suite.
• Commitment to incorporating innovative teaching methods.
• Ability to engage a diverse population of adult learners; excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with specifics of workforce development and how to incorporate it into the curriculum is highly preferred.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Teaching Certification or Masters in TESOL preferred.
• Up to two years of related teaching experience, preferably in grant-funded workforce development and/or literacy program.
• BEST Plus 2.0 certification.
• Ability to create thematic, content-based curricula.
• Prepare lesson plans according to students’ learning needs and deliver instructions to meet their learning objectives.
• Ability to assess differences in learning styles and capitalize on student strengths; support and guide individual students to develop a growth mindset.
• Proficient at integrating technology into lessons.
• Strong computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office, and Google Suite.
• Commitment to developing and incorporating innovative teaching methods.
• Ability to engage a diverse population of adult learners; excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong awareness of the barriers facing immigrants looking to integrate into the US workforce and academic environment.
• Willing to travel within the Harlem, Manhattanville, and Washington Heights communities.