We are seeking native English speakers to form our international staff for the 2005-2006 school year (August 2005-August 2006). Working at CEDEI School is an excellent opportunity to travel abroad, gain teaching experience, and learn Spanish.

CEDEI School is located in Cuenca, Ecuador. Cuenca is a small colonial city in the Andes mountains. Our school opened in September 2003. In the 2005-2006 school year, the school will include a nursery school classroom (2- and 3-year-olds), three preschool classrooms (3- and 4-year-olds), two ¨primero de basica¨ classes (5- and 6- year olds, equivalent of kindergarten/first grade), and a ¨segundo de basica¨ class (6- and 7- year olds). One grade level will be added each year.

The educational philosophy of the school is based on the multiple intelligences of Howard Gardner: language, math and logic, spatial vision, kinesthetics, music, nature, and interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships. CEDEI School also attempts to teach its students about the world, its cultures, traditions, festivals, foods, dress, traditional stories, and the like with the intention of giving each child a sense of belonging to the human race.

Each classroom has a Spanish-speaking Ecuadorian teacher, but the English-speaking international staff teaches content in English and is expected to speak to the children in English only. This way the children learn English from native speakers at the same time and in the same natural way that they acquire their native language of Spanish.

Besides being immersed in an English speaking environment, the idea behind having an international staff is that from a very young age, the children will be exposed to a variety of cultures. With the presence of international teachers of different religious, social, and educational backgrounds, our hope is that these children will have a very marked experience from early on, in an environment that promotes thought stimulation and analysis of their emotions. We hope that in the future they will learn to criticize and propose alternatives to political, social, economic, artistic, and cultural problems that exist.

REQUIREMENTS:
--Educational background and/or experience in early childhood education or elementary education, experience working with 2-7 year-olds
--TEFL or English as a Second Language education or experience is helpful.
--Spanish is not required but is helpful.
--Flexibility, patience, and a sense of humor required

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE (details are subject to change):

All teachers:
--Speaking to the children at all times in English.
--Leading daily opening and closing activities (songs, games, calendar activities, etc.) in the classrooms.
--Planning and teaching Math, Linguistics, and Library lessons in English (along with other responsibilities that are assigned to individual teachers).
--Assisting with snack time, recess, and bus duty.
--Assisting in chaperoning field trips to various sites in the city.
--Schedule is 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. (Except for the Segundo de Basica Teacher/Coordinator, who will work 7:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.)
--Teachers should arrive for orientation in August 2005 and commit to stay until July 31, 2006.
--You will need to obtain a cultural exchange visa (12-VIII) for Ecuador (we will help provide necessary documents, but all costs will be your responsibility). You can also come with a tourist visa and we can help you get your 12-VIII visa once you arrive.
--Please read the individual job descriptions below for more specific responsibilities.

Teacher #1 (SB Teacher/International Team Coordinator):
Work with a Spanish-speaking teacher to teach ¨segundo de basica¨ (6- and 7-year-olds). Plan and teach Math, Linguistics, Art, Library, and other activities in English, assist the Spanish-speaking teacher in other subjects.
Serve as the International Team Coordinator. Advise and supervise international team, keep international team informed, translate and mediate between English-speaking and Spanish-speaking teachers, help to train and hire new teachers.
Should have a good level of Spanish, good understanding of Ecuadorian culture, work well with people, have experience teaching and/or supervising.
This teacher will have longer hours (7:00 am-1:30 am) and will have a stipend of $330/month.

Teacher #2 (PB-a Teacher/Computer Teacher/Math Coordinator):
Work with a Spanish-speaking teacher to teach ¨Primero de Basica¨ (5- and 6-year-olds). Plan and teach Math, Linguistics, Library, and other activities in English.
Teach computers to PB-a, PB-b, and SB classes. Provide support in nursery school classroom.
This teacher will be in charge coordinating math activities for the International Team and in charge of the math materials.

Teacher #3 (PB-b Teacher/Corporal Expression Teacher):
Work with a Spanish-speaking teacher to teach ¨Primero de Basica¨ (5- and 6-year-olds). Plan and teach Math, Linguistics, Library, and other activities in English.
Plan and teach corporal expression lessons (physical education, games, sports, activities, dance, etc.) to other classes. Provide support in nursery school classroom.

Teacher #4 (Preschool Aula Amarilla Teacher/Computer Teacher/Linguistics Coordinator):
Work with a Spanish-speaking teacher in one of the preschool classrooms to teach Math, Linguistics, Library, and other activities in English.
Teach computers to preschool classrooms. Provide support in nursery school classroom.
This teacher will also be in charge of coordinating Linguistics activities for the school and in charge of the Linguistics and Library materials.

Teacher #5 (Preschool Aula Anaranjada Teacher/Art Teacher)
Work with a Spanish-speaking teacher in one of the preschool classrooms to teach Math, Linguistics, Library, and other activities in English.
Plan and teach art activities to other classrooms. Provide support in nursery school classroom.

Teacher #6 (Preschool Aula Azul Teacher/Science Teacher):
Work with a Spanish-speaking teacher in one of the preschool classrooms to teach Math, Linguistics, Library, and other activities in English.
Plan and teach science activities in other classrooms. Provide support in nursery school classroom.

BENEFITS INCLUDE:
--A stipend of $296 a month for those with a bachelors degree in education or $265 for those without a bachelors degree. If budgeted well, this stipend will be enough to live comfortably in Cuenca. (The Segundo de Basica Teacher/Coordinator will get a stipend of $330 a month)
--Free high quality Spanish classes at your level in the afternoons at CEDEI (Centro de Estudios Interamericanos)
--Possibility of participating in free art classes and salsa dance classes.
--Free internet access, ID card with discounts, access to CEDEI’s library
--We can help you find living arrangements.