Zurich, Switzerland (Summer) (ZUS-0214)
This position is not currently available.
An experienced, energetic and broadly able Tutor with impeccable (British) English is required to fill summer tutoring role from mid-July to mid-August 2014. This is a one-month assignment, but could be offered to the successful candidate during successive years or perhaps during other vacation periods.

There is also a need for a long term Tutor starting August 15th 2014. This ongoing role is described in more detail in a separate Specification; applicants are welcome to apply for one or more of these positions.

This position concentrates on a boy, aged 11. He currently attends his local public school in Zürich, but needs help improving his command of English (speaking, writing and reading) so that he is brought up to the standards required for admission and comfort at a bilingual German/English school. The ideal Tutor will have a background that is firmly grounded in classics and the humanities, especially history.

Student

The student is the eldest of four children. He has two sisters (age 9 and 6), and a brother (who is also 6). He is a sensible and sensitive young man, well behaved, gregarious, polite and engaging. He is comfortable around people of a wide variety of ages and in different settings. He is quite good at English for his age with good pronunciation - by no means a beginner - but there is also clearly a long way to go before he will be at the level of fluency required for normal conversation. It is not known exactly at this stage, but it is likely that his reading is probably on target while his writing lags behind, in comparison to his speaking.

He likes teachers who are patient and thorough, but at the same time fun to be with and with shared interests. He plays the piano and loves many sports, especially tennis, football, sailing and boating in general, mountain biking and skiing. He also enjoys chess and is open to trying new sports, such as wakeboarding or rowing. Like most children his age, he does not like teachers who are unfair to him or other children in the class, seem to have favourites at the expense of him or others, or whose delivery is robotic and insensitive. Although his current school is fine, it is not in any way stretching him, hence the motivation to change school. It is fair to say that apart from close family, he has not really ever had a really good teacher who can challenge him, support him and provide a consistently high level of academic mentoring.

His sister is a bright and gregarious nine-year-old girl. She too enjoys sports and music. Although the Tutor is primarily being sought to support her brother, it is inevitable that some of his time will be spent with the other children, and of them she is bound to have the most to gain at this stage. Her English is, as would be expected, not as good as her older brother, although she seems more confident speaking and has good pronunciation. The Tutor will also spend some time with the six-year-old twins, even if this is only ad hoc. Again, while this is not the primary focus, it would be good if the Tutor were able to devise activities that suited all the children, perhaps even together.

Role of the Tutor

The successful candidate must be an experienced Tutor but need not be a qualified teacher. They will be erudite, well read, and well-educated in traditional British private schools. Their main subjects of interest or ability will include the Humanities, Classics, English Literature, French and Latin. It is expected that the ideal candidate will have secured top grades in a wide range of school subjects and public examinations and then completed their undergraduate degree from one the top British Universities. They will enjoy many sports and be open to trying new ones.

The primary role of the Tutor is to take responsibility for developing the boy's command of English, in all its forms - speaking, reading and writing, and in using English in his other subjects, including Maths, Humanities and Sciences. He wants a chance to move to a bilingual English/German school, and unless his English is good enough, this is out of the question. The study of English will take many forms, whether it be helping with schoolwork, playing chess and discussing the moves, spending time together on the water, kicking a football, visiting museums, art galleries, and other educational trips, or simply talking together about history, politics or philosophy at home during meals. This role is not limited to the student's English. It also extends to the wider educational values of developing a lifelong love of learning, determination and ambition, so the Tutor should be continuously thinking of and proposing opportunities to increase the student's comfort, confidence and comprehension in English within the gamut of educational contexts. Of particular interest to him are the scientific and technological, so a Tutor who shares these interests and can incorporate them into his tutoring would be ideal.

His parents do not mind what their son chooses in later life, but whatever it is they want him to strive for being the best he can be. They feel that the best thing that they can offer their children up to this stage is a rich education and the opportunity to get accepted by the best higher education institutions. This is one of the main reasons why the Tutor should himself represent this kind of pathway. The Tutor's role is also one of mentor, someone that is a positive role model for the student, and in time a friend.

Although the Tutor's main responsibility is to the oldest child, his siblings will also benefit from a British Tutor in the family's midst. They are bound to want some time with the Tutor, and the Tutor should be open and inviting in this regard, and see the opportunities that this brings for all concerned.

The children's mother has the responsibility for organising the family's domestic staffing and the children's busy after-school and weekend schedules. She also has other family homes to manage. The Tutor should be willing to help out in a more general way if requested, as part of the normal hours rather than in addition to them. This might running some errands or taking children to and from activities, or it might involve helping in ways that may be more usually considered the role of a personal assistant.

Hours and Holidays

The Tutor is expected to work an average of 40 hours per week, spread over 6 days each week. Any preparation time needed is in addition to these hours, not part of them. Where possible, the hours will follow a stable timetable agreed with the client, but the Tutor should anticipate that because it is the summer vacation there needs to be an immense amount of flexibility, especially regarding travel to other locations, and the opportunities available at any given locale.

It is not known at this stage which day the Tutor will be off each week, and this may not be consistent throughout the month.

No additional vacation entitlement accrues on this contract.

Accommodation and Miscellaneous

The Client will provide a fully furnished apartment with Internet while they are in Zürich. It is not known at this stage what the other destinations might be during the summer, but in each location the Tutor should expect to have their own room and bathroom.

While in Zürich, the Tutor will be provided with a car when needed to take the children to and from activities. At other times he will need to use public transport, walk or cycle. In other destinations, where lack of public transport limits personal freedom, the Client will make a car available for the Tutor's personal use as well as for errands related to his work. The Tutor will need to have a full, clean, driving license.

The Client will be responsible for the Tutor's full expenses arising from any travel required for the position throughout the contract term.

The Tutor should be a non-smoker, lead a physically active lifestyle, and be healthy and fit. They should be engaging, have a good sense of humour and a sunny disposition, yet be a serious educator who is continuously expanding his own knowledge, and who understands their responsibility in this important role.

Contractual details

  • Start: 15 July 2014
  • Duration: 1 month
  • Hours: 40 hours, six days per week
  • Salary: £15,000 GBP
  • Accommodation: Provided
  • Car: Available for tutoring purposes
  • Vacation: One day off per week
This position is not currently available.

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