The German Language Assistant will join Westminster’s Modern Languages Department, a department that prides itself not just in the high levels of participation and excellent outcomes, but also in its ethos and approach. It is a a department in which pupils feel supported, valued and challenged. Through the teaching, pupils learn to communicate in a new language, but they also value the opportunities to learn about cultures and identities beyond our shores, and learn to see the world through new eyes. Pupils very much appreciate the time they spend with the School’s Language Assistants, and they recognise the unique contribution that these colleagues make to their learning of languages.

All pupils at Westminster study French to IGCSE level, and have a good linguistic grounding thanks to this. They also learn Latin at least until the end of Year 9. The majority of pupils pick a second modern language from Year 10 – either German, Mandarin, Russian or Spanish. In these languages, pupils are offered an accelerated two-year (I)GCSE course. Languages remain popular in Key Stage 5: in a typical year, around 60 pupils take at least one language as an A-level subject. The department has an excellent track record of preparing significant numbers of pupils for undergraduate study in Modern Languages at top universities in the UK and abroad.

Trips and visits abroad are an important part of studying languages at Westminster. Typically we run expeditions to France, Germany, Spain and the Baltic. The department is also home to a number of language-related, pupil-led societies, covering French, German, Spanish, Slavic Languages, multilingual debating and linguistics. Pupils are encouraged to participate in a full range of competitions, from the UK Linguistics Olympiad to various essay, public speaking and creative translation competitions that take place throughout the year.

The role
We are looking for a fluent, highly literate and passionate linguist, to teach KS4 and KS5 pupils, 1:1, in pairs or in small groups. The German Language Assistant will focus on pupils’ oral proficiency and work nearly exclusively in the target language. They will be patient and encouraging of pupils, and seek to enamour them of German language and Germanophone culture. They will also show a willingness to be involved in the wider life of the department, such as supporting the running of Societies and co-curricular events, and taking part in trips.

The ideal candidate will be educated to degree level. They will be an ambassador for the German language and display excellent knowledge of German culture and social issues. In addition, they will be able to work both independently and as part of a team, and will have excellent organisation and interpersonal communication skills, to support their pupils in their studies.