The American Language Institute at Indiana University of Pennsylvania offers job opportunities in different areas of expertise

Instructor

Assistant to Director

Student Advisor

Activities Coordinator

Activities Assistant

Lab Supervisor

Tutor

Internship Opportunities

     Open Lab Assistant

     Teacher Assistant

      Video Series Coordinator

      Materials Developer

      Event Coordinator

      Activities Assistant

      Presentation Night Coach

      Marketing Assistant

  
Open Lab Assistant/Tutor

Intern is responsible for assisting the Open Lab Coordinator and serving as an on-demand tutor for students. This position would include functions in the area of pedagogy, administration, technical service and research. The pedagogy might include helping students with writing or vocabulary in the computer lab; assisting students in correcting, selecting and interpreting listening tasks; helping students with homework; and tutoring students. Administration might include preparing materials for student use; creating answer keys for TOEFL tests; keeping records of student attendance and work done; and recording service requests. The technical area might require the intern to keep the hard drives of the computers uncluttered; install programs; instruct students in the use of programs and equipment; copying tapes; replacing printer paper; and maintaining the equipment. Research could include reviewing listening and video materials; writing annotations for listing; and searching for current or interesting materials. The intern for this position should have knowledge of computer equipment and possibly language lab equipment. A strong motivation to learn about or knowledge of language learning materials would be helpful as well.

Teacher's Assistant

The intern would serve under direct supervision of a Master Teacher who would direct the intern in a variety of support positions. An observation journal or similar instrument could be used to record and react to observations, which could be designated and examined at the discretion of the Internship Advisor. Courses the intern could join include Writing, Conversation, Listening, American Culture, Grammar and Reading. This position requires a strong interest in developing ESL teaching skills and would be most appropriate for those interns who have little practical teaching experience.

Video Series Coordinator

Intern is responsible for presenting weekly or biweekly videos to students, who would participate on a voluntary basis. This intern would be expected to select the videos for showing (perhaps based on a common theme) and present appropriate pre-viewing information to students to activate schema and provide essential vocabulary and understanding of the video's context. The intern would also be responsible for coordinating post-viewing discussions to allow students the greatest benefit from the video viewing experience. In order to encourage students to join the video sessions, the intern would need to inform ALI staff and students of the schedule for viewing and promote student attendance. This position requires an interest in learning language and culture through videos. Theintern will need to be creative in how they encourage student participation and should be willing to work to help ESL students understand videos through pre and post viewing activities.

Materials Developer

Intern is responsible for developing materials and activities to facilitate and enrich extracurricular events on the ALI calendar for the appointed semester. Intern will assess the needs of students and teachers in order to create useful and appropriate materials/activities. Topics could include but are not limited to local and long distance trips, holidays, customs, etc. Certain projects will require preliminary research on the part of the intern before attempting to create the accompanying activities. A final product might consist of a binder of the completed materials and activities arranged for easy use by the ALI teachers. The intern should have an interest in the process and procedure for materials development and should be willing to use their creativity to produce materials for the teachers to use in class.

Events Coordinator

Intern is responsible for organizing two special events during the semester. These include International Food Extravaganza (4th of July party during the summer) and Presentation Night. The intern will make arrangements for these events and focus on encouraging student involvement through personal contact with the students and advertising. Possible tasks include arranging the locations, gathering necessary equipment, liaison with IUP offices, garnering teacher support and performing supporting clerical duties. In addition, the intern would be expected to actively pursue opportunities for ALI students to participate in other IUP or Indiana-area events (Diversity Days--spring, Children's Festival at the Indiana Library--spring, Kid's Korner at Aging Services--fall, Indiana Arts Festival--summer, etc.) and would be primarily responsible for helping students to involve themselves in these activities by offering suggestions and support. The Intern for this position should be interested in the administrative/organizational aspects of an English language program and should also be interested in providing student services.

Activities Assistant

Intern is responsible for promoting trips and events on the ALI activities calendar and for attending the trips and events to provide support to the students. The intern will need to make students aware of coming events in ways that will encourage student participation. Prior to the trip the intern should orient the students geographically, historically, culturally and linguistically to the trip. This can be done by using the Student Activities bulletin board to display pictures and information, or through videos, orientation meetings, guest speakers, theme-based games, etc. During the trip or event the intern should help students by answering questions and engaging in similar activities with the students. Follow-up activities should be incorporated into each trip or event to help the students benefit as much as possible from the excursion. The intern does not create the event themselves, though. Their role is to enrich scheduled trips and events. The number of events will be determined by the total number of hours required for the internship and the time that each trip or event requires. The intern for this position should have an interest in direct contact with the students and should be dedicated to creatively using trips and events as language-learning experiences.

Presentation Night Coach

During the Fall and Spring semesters the ALI students are asked to participate in ALI Student Presentation Night, held at the HUB in the Multipurpose Room. All students at all levels are encouraged to participate, either as groups or individuals. This intern will be responsible for working with specific groups of students to help them choose topics and, if necessary, write or find scripts. The intern will then join with the group(s) in arranging practice sessions and will supervise the practice sessions. The intern will also help students find necessary props and equipments for their presentations, and will participate in set and/or costume making. The intern will create a program for the event and will work with the ALI Student Activities Assistants to make sure the event runs smoothly and is videotaped. The intern for this position should have an interest in working with the ALI students and acting as a mentor. It would help if the intern has an interest in the use of dramatic techniques in language learning. Energy and enthusiasm are qualities that would come in handy, as well as the ability to motivate potentially passive students.

Marketing Assistant

The intern for this position would work on special projects to help market certain aspects of the American Language Institute. Possible project areas might include the Home-stay Program (marketing for host families and/or students), the ALI Homepage, special programs development (English for Visitors, English for Specific Purposes), and promotional literature. The intern for this position should have a practical or theoretical background in marketing, as well as an interest in the business of English language instruction. Experience working with international companies would be a plus.