Position Announcement: Bard-Smolny Summer Program Director

[Irina Shevelenko]

Position Announcement
Director of the Bard-Smolny Summer Language Intensive Program
St. Petersburg, Russia

Bard and Smolny Colleges are looking for a director of our summer Russian language intensive program to be held at Smolny College in St. Petersburg June 12 - August 10, 2008. A competitive stipend will be offered for a total of 10 weeks of work (June 2 - August 15). This short-term position has potential to evolve into a permanent position within Smolny College, or an annual summer appointment.

The Bard-Smolny Summer Language Intensive Program is designed for undergraduate students from American colleges and who have completed between two and six semesters of college-level Russian language. The program accommodates up to 28 students split into four groups by level. It emphasizes vocabulary acquisition, speaking, listening comprehension, and grammar. Coursework in the upper language groups includes a thematic workshop that focuses on language learning through content-specific instruction. Past workshops have included Russian politics, literature, and art history. A total of twenty-two hours of instruction are offered weekly. The Bard-Smolny Summer Language Intensive Program provides both a four- and an eight-week program. Many students who complete the summer program also study at Smolny during the academic year. More information about the Bard-Smolny program is available at: www.smolny.org. 

POSITION REQUIRMENTS include fluency and excellent communication skills in Russian and English; Ph.D. or "kandidatskaja" or ABD in Russian Literature, Linguistics, or Language Pedagogy; familiarity with Russian as a Foreign Language instruction methods in the US and in Russia; teaching experience in American educational environment.

DUTIES OF THE DIRECTOR include:
 	Preparation of the program, including reading applications; assessing placement tests that come with applications (grammar and essay); placing students into appropriate levels; hiring language instructors, coordinating course material preparation and related logistical issues; training instructors in American grading practice, as needed; developing academic policies and schedule of classes; hiring student assistants; working on budget in coordination with colleagues from Bard;
 	Day-to-day supervision of the program, including orientation session in the beginning of the program, daily presence at Smolny for the duration of classes and lunch; observing classes; solving any academics-related problems that arise; monitoring student progress and satisfaction with the program; ensuring enforcement of academic policies; coordination of student assistants' work;
 	Working with the Bard-Smolny program manager, his assistants, and the cultural program coordinator on any issues related to the program set up.

The actual duties for the summer 2008 may exclude the preparatory stage, depending on the current location of the successful candidate. The incoming director will be trained either on the preparatory stage or during the first week of the program by the outgoing director.

To ensure full consideration, please send your application by March 10th. Please submit a letter of interest and CV to:

In Russia						In the US
Smolny College						Bard College
Attn: Irina Shevelenko					Attn: Emilie Dickson
Lt. Schmidt Embankment 11, Office 416			P.O. Box 5000
199034 St. Petersburg, Russia				Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504
E-mail: shevelenko at mail.lanck.net 			E-mail: dickson at bard.edu 

Electronic submissions to both email addresses will be appreciated.

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