Multilingual Learning Specialist

 

 

Job Summary

 

Rhode Island School of Design is seeking a Multilingual Learning Specialist to join its Center for Arts & Language (A&L). The Multilingual Learning Specialist is a language teaching professional based in one of RISD's academic support offices, and primarily serves RISD's international and multilingual student body. A&L supports students in developing linguistic skills and efficacy through peer tutoring in written, spoken, and visual communication; advising for multilingual learners and student publishing, and a range of workshops and online resources. A&L offers a community where all forms of language are welcome and advocates for artists and designers telling their own stories and making significant contributions to scholarly, community, and public discourse.

 

 

 

The Multilingual Learning Specialist provides academic and English-language support, instruction, and advising for RISD’s multilingual learners through design and delivery of one-to-one tutoring in writing, speaking, and reading; co-curricular workshop series; and online resources such as topical handouts and sequential learning modules.  This position supports wider institutional needs and goals, including conducting English-language level assessment of applicants and students and collecting and analyzing comparative data on multilingual students’ learning in relation to various pathways of support. The person in this position is part of a team of professional staff and tutors in the Center for Arts & Language (A&L) who work toward RISD’s strategic plan objective to “build the capacity of our learning support systems to meet existing and emerging needs, including multilingual learning, peer tutoring, and professional support for writing practices across the curriculum.” Together with the Associate Director, the specialist serves as an informed, critical, and asset-oriented advocate for cultural and linguistic diversity, actively sharing expertise with community members, including A&L tutors and faculty, to promote a deeper understanding and practice of teaching and learning in a multilingual educational community.

 

 

 

As an employer, RISD offers a supportive, collegial, and inclusive work environment, and a competitive benefits package. 

 

 

 

Essential Functions

 

• Provide instruction in rhetorical and mechanical academic literacy skills to undergraduate and graduate students in tutoring sessions.

   

• Provide ongoing instruction and advising for selected students requiring ongoing support, with a focus on goal-setting, skill development, learning outcomes, and accountability.

   

• Lead co-curricular and in-class workshops for students on a variety of topics pertaining to academic skills, art, and design language, and conversational English throughout the academic year.

   

• Conduct English-language proficiency assessment as needed, including in partnership with Admissions, for select graduate program applicants, as well as occasional assessment of matriculated student levels.

   

• Collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data on multilingual student learning.

   

• In support of holistic peer tutor education program, develop materials and provide training and consulting for Arts & Language peer tutors in support of their tutoring multilingual students.

   

• Conduct outreach, including classroom visits and orientation presentations.

   

 

 

Required Knowledge/Skills/Experience

 

• Bachelor’s degree and certification in TESOL or Masters in TESOL, linguistics, bilingual education, or a relevant discipline, and/or at least 3 years of experience teaching English at the college level

   

• Experience teaching and/or advising multilingual students as an instructor or in a writing center or advising office in higher education

   

• Fluency in college-level academic writing and rhetoric expectations

   

• Familiarity with intercultural competence and language justice in higher education

   

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

   

• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow-through

   

• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills

   

• Ability to work, collaborate, and communicate effectively within a diverse multicultural and inclusive setting

   

• Fluency in at least one language other than English; preferably Mandarin Chinese or another language highly represented in RISD’s international student population. 

   

 

 

Valued but not required skills and experience:

 

• Experience living and working internationally

   

• Knowledge of art and design practice, education, history, theory, and vocabulary

   

• Familiarity with multiple Liberal Arts disciplines

   

• Experience collecting and analyzing data in an educational setting

   

• Formal language assessment training and/or certification 

   

 

 

Union

 

No

 

 

 

Employment Status

 

Full-Time; Regular; Exempt

 

 

 

Grade

 

525EX

 

 

 

Documents Needed to Apply

 

Resume (required)

 

Cover Letter (required)

 

 

 

Additional Information

 

RISD is unable to offer Visa Sponsorship for this position.