Spanish Assistantship 2012 — 2013

Each year, St. Catherine University awards two assistantships to native Spanish speakers who are interested in becoming language teachers. Usually, one assistant is from the Americas, and one is from Spain. If you are an enthusiastic, engaging young women who is interested in working for our Spanish Language Department for one year and taking classes for personal enrichment, we encourage you to
apply by February 15, 2012.

The assistant is given a tuition waiver for three courses per semester, waiver of the student services fee, free private room and meals. The assistant is responsible for covering the cost of her travel, mandatory health insurance and books. We estimate that the assistant will have expenses of approximately US$3,400 for the
academic year not covered by the assistantship.

Spanish Language Assistantship
Requirements:
Ideal candidate has already successfully completed her licenciatura/licenciado, is between 20-30 years of age, and has an interest/experience in teaching, obtained minimum TOEFL score of 500 PBT/61 IBT, and able to provide approximately US$3,000 for annual expenses. The student must be academically admissible to the university.

Responsibilities:
Assistants will work in the language department approximately 13 (thirteen) hours per week with the following duties:

• A. Work with language professors as a Teaching Assistant in training. Design semester and weekly lesson plans for language conversation classes, which are taught exclusively by assistants and some are offered on Saturdays. Consult language department guidelines for the appropriate level of help with student assignments. Devise tutoring schedule appropriate to language department needs.
• B. Work with language department faculty consistent with departmental needs (e.g. assist in creating and promoting French or Spanish events on and off campus; be prepared to do occasional grading, photocopying, research, translations, and be prepared to act as a teaching substitute if instructors are absent). These duties apply to the beginning, intermediate, and advanced classes.
• C. Help in supervision of and actively participate in creating and promoting French or Spanish Club activities on and off-campus.
• D. Organize and support creative French or Spanish groups beyond the club requirements (such as a video club or French Drama club). Assistants will work jointly with the language department and Residence Life Office for approximately 2 (two) hours per week with the following duties.
• A. Tutoring in the residence halls.
• B. Be a Spanish/French presence on campus (i.e. speak in French/Spanish as much as possible with students; be available to students for academic, social, and cultural development). Assist the Residence Life Department for approximately 5 (five) hours per week.
• A. Participate as a member of the Residence Life Programming Staff to:
1. Live in the Global Perspectives Theme Hall and work closely with the Resident Advisors to plan cultural programs such as games, music and films in French or Spanish, on and off-campus cultural activities including dinners, church services, dances, festivals, museums and theaters.
2. Meet twice monthly with the Complex Coordinator and hold appropriate office hours needed to plan residence hall programs.
• B. Attend training with the Residence Life Department during the first week of classes in September.
• C. Assist the Residence Life Department with other tasks or assignments that may come up throughout the year.

Additionally:

1. St. Catherine University provides the I-20 for the assistant to come with F-1 status.
2. The ideal candidate has her first university degree completed, preferably in teaching or English, and already has some experience teaching.
3. The assistant would be eligible to enter a master's level program at St. Catherine, provided she has obtained the equivalent of US bachelor’s degree prior to beginning the assistantship position.
   
   Please note that because the assistantship is for one year only, it DOES NOT lead to a graduate degree. The student must apply directly to the desired master’s program which is a separate application process from the assistantship application.
4. At St. Catherine, the assistant is considered a non-degree-seeking student since the assistantship is for one year only.
5. Past assistants have not always had prior experience teaching at the university level. Some have taught at high schools, others at elementary schools, prior to receiving the assistantship.

To apply:
Please submit the following:

1. International Student Application for Admission
2. Certification of Form showing $3,400 available for personal expenses for one year.
3. Bank statement as proof of availability of $3,400
4. TOEFL or MELAB score
5. Certified photocopy of university transcript and Licenciado/Licenciatura certificate
6. Proof of graduation from secondary school
7. Two letters of recommendation
8. Personal statement - The personal statement should be written in English and address the following: reasons you wish to be considered for the assistantship, past teaching experience (if any), and the personal qualities that you possess that would make you a good assistant.

For more information, contact:
Aimee Thostenson, Associate Director, International Admission
St. Catherine University, 2004 Randolph Avenue, F-29, St. Paul, MN
55105 USA
Phone: 651-690-6029
Fax: 651-690-8824
Email: international@stkate.edu
aethostenson@stkate.edu
For more information on St. Catherine University, visit:
www.stkate.edu