Immediate Opening for a First Grade Teacher!

  Chile

• All Other Areas in Chile: 
Antofagasta

Length of Position: 2 years +

Description: Come and teach in our unique work environment with small classes (maximum of 18 students in each class), a diverse faculty and administration, and explore the diverse environment of northern Chile!

We are seeking a qualified and certified First Grade teacher to begin in July, 2009 through February 2011. We strongly prefer candidates with previous experience.

This year we inaugurated a brand new beautiful school building right on the coast of Antofagasta. The two story building boasts spacious classrooms, 3 computer labs, and a large library. A sports complex and casino are under construction and should be complete before the 2009 school year is done.

The English immersion class uses a Scott Foresman curriculum for Math and Language Arts. Teachers are encouraged to bring their creativity and experience to enhance the curriculum.

Salary: All salaries are in US dollars after taxes

* 0-1years of experience
Year One 1,100 USD a month
Year Two 1,200 USD a month plus 1,200 Bonus + plane fare upon completion of contract

*2-3 years of experience
Year One 1,200 USD a month
Year Two 1,300 USD a month plus 1,200 Bonus + plane fare upon completion of contract

* 4-5 years of experience
Year One 1,400 USD a month
Year Two 1,500 USD a month plus 1,200 Bonus + plane fare upon completion of contract

* 6+ years of experience
Year One 1,500 USD a month
Year Two 1,600 USD a month plus 1,200 Bonus + plane fare upon completion of contract

Any person not honoring their contract will be paid up until the last day worked.

Benefits: The school will provide:
- A work visa (you will enter the country on a tourist visa, and then your visa status will be changed once you sign a formal contract with the school and begin the application process for a work visa).
- A health care package that covers both health and dental- coverage begins 1 month after the signing of the contract.
- A room in a shared apartment with 2 to 3 other teachers. Teachers are responsible for paying their own water, electricity, gas, phone/cable and internet bills.
- The return flight upon the completion of the contract.

Other Sources of Income: While most teachers find the salary is more than adequate to live on, there are many opportunities to earn extra money tutoring after school hours.

Highlights: About Our School:

School Community: The students and faculty at AIS are from a wide variety of backgrounds. The teachers and administration are from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico and Chile. A majority of the students are native Spanish speakers, mostly from Chile. The rest are from Australia, Canada, Peru, Mexico, Belgium, Suriname and Argentina.

Class Size: The classes have 10-18 children, grades Playgroup (3 years old) through Twelfth Grade.

Language: The main language of instruction for grades Playgroup through Eighth Grade at the school is English. Students in these grades take 6 hours of Lenguaje y Comunicacion (Spanish) per week. This is a full language immersion process for the younger grades. The main language of instruction for Ninth through Twelfth Grade is Spanish, with 5-8 hours a week of English/Language Arts instruction. The majority of the parents speak Spanish, some speak English.

Weekly Hours: Teachers are paid for a 40 hour work week that ranges between the hours of 8am-6pm. All teachers are required to work 32 hours directly with students. Two hours a week are reserved for Staff Meetings and one hour a week is reserved for Parent Attention Hours. All teachers are required to offer an afterschool activity.

Specific Duties: The specific duties of the teachers vary slightly depending on the level.

* Playgroup-Kindergarten: Teachers are responsible for teaching Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Art and Music. Other teachers teach Lenguaje y Comunicacion (Spanish), Computers and Physical Education. Teachers are also responsible for recess and lunch supervision.

* First Grade- Fourth Grade: Teachers are responsible for teaching Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Art, Technology Education and Computers. Other teachers teach Lenguaje y Comunicacion (Spanish), and Physical Education. Teachers are also responsible for some recess and lunch supervision.

* Fifth Grade-Twelfth Grade: Teachers are responsible for their particular subject area and are in charge of one homeroom that meets once daily and one to two periods a week. Teachers are also responsible for some recess and lunch supervision.

Curriculum: The school uses Scott Foresman and Prentice Hall curriculum for Language Arts and Mathematics in grades 1-8. The school uses a Richmond/Santillana combined Social Studies/Science curriculum for grades 1-4 and a Santillana curriculum for Science in grades 5-8.

Qualifications:
* Current teaching certificate
* Prior experience strongly preferred
* An openness to and interest in living and working in a Spanish speaking environment and a new culture and community.
* Availability beginning in mid-February 2009 through February 2010.
* Ideal candidates are outgoing, independent, creative, and flexible.
* Must be a Native English speaker, Spanish ability is not required, but preference will be given to those candidates with Spanish language abilities.
* Once offered a position applicants will be required to receive a National police clearance.

Minimum Education: Diploma/Certification

Salary / Pay: See above.

Experience Required: yes

We strongly prefer a candidate who has had classroom experience.

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi and South African Participants.

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Letters of Reference
• Phone Interview
• Resume
• Written Application

Antofagasta International School's Mission Statement: We educate all children for life, whether Chilean or international, those who seed a bilingual, innovative, and challenging education at all levels. Our rigorous educational program has the highest standards possible to assure the success of every student, with the support of our highly qualified teaching staff.

Year Founded: 1996