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Expectations of a Candidate:

Every year Bard hires a group of foreign-based teaching assistants to assist our foreign language faculty. Foreign Language Exchange Tutor's value their time here as an opportunity to teach and take courses at a U.S. college. Most FLET's have graduate school plans or arrive as Fulbright scholars.

Recruitment

Recruitment by Language

Language programs begin selecting their tutors for the following year in the spring term. Language program chairs MUST interview candidates on the phone via SKYPE or (if possible) in person. The tutors should have at least a bachelor degree and, ideally, experience in language teaching.

Arabic, German, Italian, and Spanish: These program identify their tutors through the Institute of International Education (IIE), based in New York City. We prefer to use IIE for several reasons: they handle all immigration paperwork, pay for tutors’ airfare, and offer assistance along the way—all this for $150 per referred tutor.
French: The French Program works with a local group called American Year Abroad. The AYA does not cover airfare. In exchange for our hosting tutors, it provides scholarships for Bard students in study abroad AYA program.
Chinese: The Chinese Program in most cases recruits tutors from Qingado University (site for the summer intensive course). Bard pays for travel costs and processes the visa.
Hebrew: The Hebrew Program recruits through personal contacts. Bard pays for travel cost and processes the visa.
Japanese: The Japanese Program plans on recruiting directly from Seiko/Kyoto University starting 2006. Bard pays for travel costs and processes the visa.

Appointments

An official appointment letter will be mailed and e-mailed to each FLET at the end of the spring semester. We have a standard letter that covers all issues of compensation, housing, insurance, etc. The appointment letter also covers what Bard expects of the FLET's, such as the following:

"Student teaching": tutors may teach beginning level or conversation courses, serve as resource person in conversation groups, cultural representatives, coordinators of extra curricular activities, or supervisors of clubs or language tables depending on the individual departmental needs.
Tutors are expected to have 15-20 contact hours per week.
Tutors are required to enroll in 2 Bard courses per semester; they are entitled to enroll for credit but, depending on the requirements of the institution through which they were hired, they may choose to audit some or all of the selected courses. Tutors should be advised that courses are often over-subscribed and their choices might be limited.

Requirements

Expectations of a Candidate

FLET candidates should be enthusiastic about teaching, and should have a sincere interest in teaching their native language and culture to American students. They should demonstrate knowledge of their culture and current events in their home country. They should have leadership skills, the ability to motivate students, and the ability to relate to them in an emphatic manner. FLETs should have a desire to meet people and become a part of the community by participating in community events and campus activities. They should be able to work creatively and be self-reliant, but also be good team players who maintain excellent relationships with faculty, staff and students.

Qualities of an Ideal Candidate

Clearly demonstrate maturity, dependability, integrity and professionalism;
Be outgoing and dynamic individuals with a sense of humor.
Demonstrate fluency in English;
Possess the equivalent of a Bachelors degree (U.S.) with a good academic record (Masters degrees are highly desirable)
Prior teaching experience is preferred

In addition, candidates should be aware of the following:

Candidates are usually expected to teach beginning level or conversation courses.
Tutors are expected to have 15 - 20 contact hours per week and to serve, depending on departmental needs, as resource person in conversation groups, cultural representatives, coordinators of extracurricular activities, or supervisors of clubs/language tables.
Applicants usually are in their 20's. The FLET Program does not provide sponsorship for dependents.

Insurance and Medical Requirements

FLET's will be on the Bard College Student Health Plan that allows access to on-campus Health Service and enrollment in a basic insurance plan.

A medical exam is a condition of the appointment and the college will not release the stipend without one. In addition, the New York State Department of Health prohibits students from being on campus without a complete immunization record on file. Medical forms will be sent with appointment letters. Completed paperwork is to be returned to:

Office for International Student & Scholar Services
c/o Tamara Stafford
PO Box 5000
Bard College
Annandale, NY 12504
USA

Copies of the medical documents will be forwarded to and screened by Health Services. All FLETs are given health insurance as a condition of their visas.

Visa and Tax Information

Visa Requirements
Visa Holders in J-1 status are responsible for learning, understanding, and complying with U.S. federal laws and regulations governing the J visa. Failure to do so will violate your legal status in the United States and will have serious consequences.

Tax Information
All tutors who come to the United States for less than 2 years on a J1 visa are exempt from having the following withheld from their pay:
Social Security
Medicare
If any of the tutors visited the US before coming to Bard, these exemptions might be effected.

Code of Conduct

The Bard Student Handbook outlines College policies and regulations; a link to the academic year calendar, and provides a guide to campus resources, facilities, and information about Bard students rights and responsibilities. FLET/FLTA housing, is considered an adult community. It is expected that all tutors will negotiate the needs of other housemates with respect for cultural and individual differences. A Facility Use Agreement, describing the expectations for FLET/FLTA on campus housing, will be reviewed and signed during orientation.

Facility Use Agreement