Becoming a Cambridge ESOL Oral Examiner - Thüringer ...

Becoming a Cambridge ESOL Oral Examiner
The Thüringer Volkshochschulverband e.V. is one of the approved Cambridge ESOL centres
in Germany and is authorised to administer Cambridge ESOL examinations in Thuringia
since 2001. As a result of our marketing efforts in the previous years we are counting
growing numbers of supplier schools and external candidates. Currently we spread our
activities out to the secondary school sector and expect growing numbers of candidates for
the future. Therefore we would like to increase our existing team of Oral Examiners.
A Cambridge ESOL Oral Examiner has a key role in the whole process of assessing a
candidate´s English language ability. The mark for speaking skills constitutes at least 20% of
the overall score of a Cambridge candidate and can clearly make a significant difference to
whether a candidate is awarded a certificate or not. Furthermore, the Oral Examiner is
perceived by many candidates as the “face” of Cambridge ESOL. Cambridge ESOL
therefore places a very high store on the professionalism of Oral Examiners and has
developed a major programme to standardise the procedures used in the recruitment,
induction, training, co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation of Oral Examiners.
The nominee must meet the minimum professional requirements for examining work
which are as follows:
• Education to first degree level or equivalent*
• A recognised TESOL qualification*
• At least three years´ full time, relevant teaching experience
• Age over 25 and under the national retirement age on appointment
• Overall language proficiency relevant to the examination level, including clear diction
in the case of oral examining.
*An applicant may be exempt either from the formal teaching qualifications or from the first
degree/equivalence requirement (but not both) if she/he can demonstrate considerable
relevant teaching experience supported by positive references.
If you are interested in becoming a Cambridge ESOL Oral Examiner in addition to your
present employment please send a short application letter attached by a short Curriculum
Vitae summarising your
• personal details,
• details about Higher Education (subjects for which degrees/certificates have been
awarded, including TESOL qualifications)
• if your first language is not English please include details of English Language
proficiency
• details of present employment or if working in a freelance capacity, please give
details of activities (e.g. type of private teaching, publishing work, etc)
• examining experience of non-EFL/ESOL as well as EFL/ESOL Experience
The second step in the nomination process is: you will be contacted for an interview by
Jenny Kracklauer, our Team Leader of Oral Examiners in Thuringia. After you was
successful in the interview we will invite you for the induction and training seminars (about
planned for 2 Saturdays in Winter 2010/spring 2011, which is free of costs for you.

Last but not least I would like to give you some information about the conditions of working
as an Oral Examiner for our centre.
1. It is not to be expected how many candidates/entries we will really have per
examination session. Sometimes it might happen that not all Oral Examiners are
needed and in the other way around not all Oral Examiners will be always available
for the dates.
2. Nevertheless we will ask you to be ready for duty within the speaking test windows.
The timetables you will always receive about 1 year in advance.
3. Our Supplier Schools come from whole Thuringia. Sometimes you might asked to
come to a smaller town. Of course we will refund the travel costs to you.
4. For your work as Oral Examiner we will pay 6,00 € per candidate. After one year
experience 9,00 €/candidate. The average number of candidates per hour is 6.
5. To keep your licence as Oral Examiner you must join the training and coordination
meetings (1 day face-to-face seminars) at least once a year and the Professional
Support Network in the Internet.
6. All Oral Examiners must be monitored by a Team Leader at least once every 2 years.
We would be grateful if you would send your applications as soon as possible to the following
address:
Thüringer Volkshochschulverband e.V.
z.Hd. Steffi Dietrich-Mehnert
Konrad-Zuse-Str. 3
07745 Jena
If you have any questions please don´t hesitate to contact us, preferably by email to
steffi.mehnert@vhs-th.de.
We are looking forward to your applications.
Yours sincerely
Steffi Dietrich-Mehnert
Centre Exams Manager
Cambridge Sprachenprüfungszentrum in Thüringen, DE 133
Thüringer Volkshochschulverband e.V.
Konrad-Zuse-Str. 3, 07745 Jena
www.vhs-th.de
Tel.: 03641/53423 -13
Fax: 03641/53423 -23