Materials Writers: English for Interfaith Dialogue

About the project

For over 10 years, the British Council in Egypt has worked with Al-Azhar on a project to support Al-Azhar University in setting up an English language training centre for students of the Faculty of Islamic studies. The project started in 2007 and currently has three programme strands: the university based Al-Azhar English Training Centre (AAETC) in Cairo; the secondary school based Al-Azhar Institutes project; and the Al-Azhar UK Scholarships Programme, which is managed by the British Council on behalf of the British Embassy. More information about the project can be found on our website.

We are expanding our work with Al-Azhar in two areas:

1. Supporting Al Azhar to open a new Al-Azhar English Training Centre (AAETC) at the Al-Azhar Women’s College in Tiba, Upper Egypt
2. Developing a new area of teaching and learning called English for Interfaith Dialogue (EID).

The second part will involve the development of an EID teacher training programme and a series of EID course materials for students. These will be piloted at the AAETC Tiba with the potential for roll out in other Al-Azhar centres in Egypt and on other British Council projects.

The materials writers will work with the British Council Al-Azhar Tiba project team and two Curriculum Design Consultants to write face to face teaching and learning materials to agreed standards for the English for Interfaith Dialogue aspect of the project. Over the lifetime of the project, his/her work will involve writing modules to be used on an EID teacher training programme and EID course materials for students from Elementary (A2) to Advanced (C1) levels. The materials writers work remotely with the two Curriculum Design Consultants who are leading on the development of the materials. Content will need to meet academic quality standards and guidelines agreed by the team.

About the role

We are seeking up to three materials writers who will work collaboratively with members of the British Council Egypt team and partners. They will be responsible for carrying out the following:

• contribute to discussions on the materials outline during the remote online workshops facilitated by the Curriculum Design Consultants
• produce individual modules as assigned that will form course materials for students at Intermediate (B1) level and writing individual modules for face-to-face teacher training content within the established time frame
• attend regular progress review meetings through video conference calls with the Curriculum Design Consultants and the British Council project team
• review and revise materials in line with feedback received from peers, the Curriculum Design Consultants and the British Council project team and the results of piloting in the field
• work closely with the team to ensure materials design meets learning objectives and outcomes
• ensure materials are aligned with and positively demonstrate British Council safeguarding; equality, diversity and inclusion; and environmental policies and standards

We estimate that 50 days full time work will be required from each materials writer between April and 31 August 2019. The materials will be piloted at the start of the 2019/20 academic year.

Qualifications and experience required

Essential

• Cambridge ESOL Delta (or recognised equivalent) and substantial classroom English Language Teaching (ELT) experience
• Track record in successful writing of high-quality ELT materials that facilitate effective learning and are also engaging. If not commercially published, then other evidence of success required
• Track record in delivering quality work, as commissioned, to deadline and without close supervision
• Experience of working remotely with a team of writers.
  

 Desirable

• Masters degree in a relevant field
• Experience of working in Egypt and / or in the region
• Experience and knowledge of religious discourse and interfaith dialogue programmes
• Experience of developing interfaith dialogue materials

If you are interested, please submit the following:

• a full CV in English tailored to the above requirements and including links to a sample of similar work.
  
• a covering letter clearly explaining how you meet the criteria above and how you would approach the project (max two pages), including daily consultancy fees.
  
• the names of two referees who are familiar with your materials writing and editing work.

Please email your application to Dina Hassan, Project Manager Al Azhar Tiba, with the title ‘Materials writer - Al Azhar Tiba’

Please note, we can only respond to successful applicants and only within five working days of the application deadline.