Assistant Language Tutor - School of Languages, Cultures, Art History and MusicGrade 6

The University of Birmingham; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Join the University of Birmingham as a full-time lecturer in German studies. You will deliver engaging language lessons and supervise undergraduates, contributing to an inclusive and vibrant academic environment. Our commitment to your development includes flexible working arrangements and a competitive benefits package.

Benefits

40 days paid holiday per year

Occupational sick pay

Pension scheme

Subsidized day nurseries

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant subject, achieved by the application or interview date.
• Knowledge of German society and culture, with potential experience in a German-speaking country.

Responsibilities

• Teach German language and cultural content through seminars.
• Assist with marking and provide tutoring to students.
• Participate in outreach and promotional activities for the department.

Skills

Fluency in German

Effective Communication

Resource Organization

Education

Degree-level qualification (minimum equivalent to UK BA 2:1)

Job description

Description

Position Details

School of Languages, Cultures, Art History and Music

Location: University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range 32,546 to 35,116 with potential progression once in post to 39,355

Grade: 6

Full Time Fixed Term contract up to August 2026

Closing date: 11th June 2025

This role is also open as an internal secondment opportunity which would need to be agreed by your current line manager.

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.

The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years and we are equally proud to be recognized as a leading global institution. We aim to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.

We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional program, which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide range of functions in Edgbaston and our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to develop your career at the University.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and collaboration. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.

Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University. We offer a variety of flexible working arrangements and welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. You will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high-quality subsidized day nurseries.

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston with excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on campus. We have a state-of-the-art sports centre with a pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum, and botanical gardens.

Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham.

Background

To contribute to elements of teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students within German studies, which will be across both the BA in Modern Languages programme and our Institution-wide Languages for All provision.

Role Summary

The postholder will be expected to teach courses predominantly in German through allocated seminars and language classes so that the Department's teaching objectives are met.

Up to 16 hours of lessons per semester/week: for advanced learners in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th years of study, as well as the University's IWLP offer, including exercises for beginners or post-beginners if required.

Main Duties

• Deliver teaching activities within a class, tutorial, or other group context in support of teaching for which others have primary responsibility.
• Supervise class activities within a framework designed by others.
• Contribute to the design of modules with other colleagues, overseen by the academic with ultimate responsibility for the modules.
• All teaching units combine language lessons with cultural, historical, or regional content; there are no traditional conversation lessons. Class sizes are usually 6 to 15 students.
• Supervision of around 15 students as a personal tutor.
• Assist with marking coursework, applying assessment criteria as directed. (If the marking is summative, including assessed work contributing to the final award, then the roleholder's marking is subject to validation by the academic supervisor.)
• Support at Open Days, Offer Holder Visit Days, and outreach activities organized by the academic responsible for promoting the Department of Modern Languages.
• Update own subject knowledge and teaching expertise.
• Carry out administrative tasks related directly to the delivery of teaching.
• Participate in relevant institute assemblies, examination boards, etc.
• Assist students as required, offering advice to help them with learning problems.

Person Specification

• Degree-level qualification (minimum equivalent to UK BA 2:1) in a subject relevant to the post (the qualification must have been achieved by the time of application or at the latest by the time of interview).
• Fluent in German and up-to-date knowledge of German society and culture, as well as the German university system. This may be demonstrated, for example, by successful completion of a major part of a degree at a university in a German-speaking country or by the attainment of a German degree.
• Ability to analyze information and communicate effectively.
• Ability to access and organize resources successfully.

Informal enquiries to Elisenda Marcer via email.

View our staff values and behaviors here.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing barriers faced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter, and Disability Confident accreditations. Our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Centre focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.