HELLENIC AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION TEACHING FELLOW PROGRAM

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION

The Hellenic American Educational Foundation is comprised of two highly prestigious co-educational elementary and secondary schools, Athens College and Psychico College. It has two campuses located in Psychico and Kantza, Athens, Greece. The elementary schools of Athens College and Psychico College are in Kantza and their respective secondary schools are in Psychico. The foundation offers education of the highest quality and is considered to rank among the best private schools locally and internationally.

Founded in 1925 by a joint commission of Greeks and Americans, the schools are governed by a Board of Directors in Greece and a Board of Trustees in New York. Dr. Dennis Skiotis, the schools' President, is devoted to upholding a rigorous curriculum, maintaining high academic standards and fostering a cross-cultural learning environment.

Students follow a demanding curriculum in Greek and a program in English from 1st grade through 12th grade. The majority of graduates go on to university studies and many are accepted at top universities in the United States and in the United Kingdom.

THE TEACHING FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Every year fellowships are awarded to recent graduates from top universities in the United States. The teaching fellows are chosen to act as young ambassadors to the schools, strengthening the ties between the foundation and the English-speaking world and providing a cross-cultural educational experience. The role of the teaching fellows includes infusing their culture, enthusiasm, ideas, language and knowledge into our school community. In a very real sense they serve as role models for our students.

Teaching fellows are given the opportunity to teach in supervised classes, help in preparation of materials and become involved in such areas as school publications, the Forensics Club, theater productions, computer labs, the College Counseling Office, library research, sports, remedial education, etc.

After school hours, there is ample time for teaching fellows to take advantage of the rich diversity of social and cultural life in Athens while weekends and holidays offer excellent opportunities to explore Greece.

QUALIFICATIONS

We are looking for outgoing individuals with a wide spectrum of personal strengths and interests. Applicants should be open-minded and independent to make the most of their experience of living abroad. They should be highly motivated, flexible, willing to work on a number of different projects at the same time and open to the challenges of adapting to a different culture. While prior teaching experience is not required, past endeavors should reflect a desire to work with children and teenagers, teaching the range of levels beginning with six-year-olds learning nursery rhymes and songs to eighteen-year-olds studying Shakespeare. Knowledge of Modern Greek is also helpful but not required. This year, as two of the fellowships have been earmarked for the HAEF elementary schools, we are particularly interested in attracting applications from candidates with courses in elementary school education.

Past Teaching Fellows have said that the hardest part of the program is the amount of time spent alone. Therefore, initiative in reaching out and self-sufficiency are essential qualifications.

Applicants also need to be clear about what strengths they offer the institution and what they expect to gain from their experience in Greece.

WORK SCHEDULE AND BENEFITS

The fellowships begin on September 1 and end on June 30 of the following calendar year. Fellows spend 30 hours per week working with students in program activities (teaching, coaching forensics, helping with the magazines, college counseling, Thanksgiving celebration, etc). There are two, two-week vacation periods at Christmas and the Greek Orthodox Easter.

Fellows remain on a tourist visa during their participation in the program and are required to exit the country every ninety days; no work visa is issued. In order to enable them to comply with the tourist regulations, a generous travel allowance is offered three times per year. The school provides Health Insurance for the fellows.

The program pays a stipend of €650 per month for 10 months. It also provides housing in a building on the 45-acre Psychico Campus, located in a pleasant suburban setting which overlooks Athens. Each fellow has a separate bedroom, but all share the bathrooms, kitchen and living room. The house has a computer with printer and internet connection as well as a washer and dryer. Lunches are provided by the school canteen during schooldays. Fellows may also enroll in a large selection of adult evening classes free of charge and exercise in the newly-built gym and swimming pool.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested applicants are asked to send a letter of interest, a copy of their curriculum vitae, a college transcript and two letters of recommendation. Click here for an application package in Adobe Acrobat Format.

Application and questions about the program should be addressed to:

Ms Melina Waldron, Coordinator
H.A.E.F. Teaching Fellow Program
Athens College
P.O. Box 65005
15410 Psychico
GREECE
E-mail: waldron_ac@hotmail.com