ESOL & Orientation Instructor

Job Overview: The ESOL & Orientation Instructor is responsible for providing integrated English language instruction and community orientations for non-native English speakers. The instructor must be able to successfully develop and tailor curriculum and materials to the needs of students enrolled into the program including the support of student recruitment, registration, attendance tracking, retention, progress and assessment.

This is a full-time non-exempt 37.5 hours per week position, reporting to the Instruction & Curriculum Coordinator of the Adult Education Program. In spring 2023, classes are scheduled Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. On Mondays, the program conducts orientations and registration for prospective students and new student enrollment occurs on a rolling basis throughout the year. The instructor will have regular check-ins with supervising staff and regular team meetings and they will work with supervising staff to fix a regular schedule for planning time and other duties that fits the needs of the program and supports the enrolled students.

Major Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Deliver integrated ESOL instruction:

• Plan and prepare curricula and lesson plans for mixed-level classes to meet the English language learning needs of students. Integrated ESOL combines English language lessons with job skills and workforce preparation, digital literacy skills, civics, and other life skills.
• Tune lesson activities to meet student needs across a range of English proficiency levels, from the most basic through intermediate and advanced levels of speaking, comprehension, reading, and writing.
• Utilize and oversee community volunteers as classroom assistants, managing the delivery of lesson plan activities through those assistants in breakout groups.
• Document student progress with goal setting and conference notes and assist in recruitment and retention activities.

Organize and Lead Community Orientation Programming:

• Plan and prepare orientations to community services following organizational guidelines, combining supplemental educational activities as appropriate.
• Establish relationships with appropriate community partners for relevant community services to plan for field orientations to those services with small groups of students on a regular basis.
• Recruit members of the community, including those from funder-defined backgrounds, to participate in community orientations, based on funder-defined objectives.
• Deliver community and cultural orientations through interpretation. Coordinate with IRC logistics teams to schedule and present orientations in a manner that elicits understanding and empowerment.
• Track individuals as they attend orientations, keeping documentations per program requirements.
• Orient and conference with current and potential students, assisting students in completing necessary intake and enrollment forms, both virtually, using phone and web-based platforms, and in-person.
• Administer English language assessments to measure and track student progress and gains.
• Assist with record-keeping and data entry to support program administration and compliance with programmatic requirements. Document student progress by keeping accurate and timely attendance records, case notes, assessment data, program participant surveys, and observations of student progress.
• Maintain a positive learning environment. Facilitate student learning activities that build cultural and community knowledge and encourage collaboration and positive peer support.
• Maintain open and effective communication with adult education team members. Report regularly on program goals, client attendance, learning activities, student progress and any problems or concerns with clients or program.
• Actively participate in regularly scheduled staff meetings and professional development opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field of study preferred. Completion of a certificate program in Adult Education, TEFL, TESL, and/or TESOL is preferred.

Work Experience:

Relevant professional experience in education and/or human services field preferred; minimum of 2 years’ experience strongly preferred.

Demonstrated Skills & Competencies:

• Strong desire to support vulnerable individuals and families and enthusiasm for working in a multi-cultural setting.
• Enthusiasm for adult education and language learning.
• An interest in immigrant and refugee and asylee issues and the resettlement process.
• Strong communication abilities, including the ability to lead classes and oversee community volunteers and adult learners.
• Comfortable working in a cross-cultural environment, in-person, online, and over the phone, with adult learners, sometimes with little or no English proficiency.
• Ability to take initiative, work independently on projects, and follow through on critical tasks.
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment, co-teaching and facilitating learning through others.
• Strong time management skills and comfortability with computer and web-based office and communication platforms.
• Fluent in spoken and written English. Bi-lingual abilities in a language spoken by an IRC client group is desired.

Working Environment:

• Standard office work with in-person, virtual, and hybrid delivery of orientations, meetings, and class sessions.
• Work schedule to oversee day-time orientations and weekday day-time ESOL classes.

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Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires new hires to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for any in-office or hybrid positions. All IRC US offices require full vaccination to attend any in-office functions (e.g., meetings, trainings).

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $120 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.