THE RIMBACH TEACHER AWARD
Description
The Rimbach Teacher Award is open to all graduating seniors interested in teaching English at the Martin Luther Schule located in Rimbach, Germany. During the years of reconstruction in Germany from 1948-68, the institution drew support from this tradition with an English teacher selected each year from the senior class at St. Olaf College. Today the school is supported by state funds, although it continues to frame its studies in the educational tradition of the Lutheran church. In 2002, it renewed its relationship with St. Olaf, offering a position for an English teacher from the graduating class of 2002.
Panel Discussion on "Communicating across Political Spheres"
November 12, 2009
4:00-5:00 p.m.
Buntrock Commons 143
Laura Schaefer, (Rimbach Teacher 2008-09) will be a panelist.
The 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall brings together Almut Furchert, John Rodden, and Laura Schaefer '08 to share experiences with East and West Germany. Almut, who grew up in East Germany, has recently arrived in Northfield; John, UT-Austin professor, writes of human rights abuses in the East; Laura has just returned from teaching in the Rimbach Program in Germany.
Information Conversation
November 12, 2009
5:30-7:00 p.m.
Buntrock 222
Laura Schaefer, (Rimbach Teacher 2008-09) will be at an information table so feel free to bring your dinner tray and sit in on a conversation with her.
Learn more about the Martin Luther Schule
The Position
Position is to teach English in a Gymnasium with students ranging from ages 10-19.
The position is open to graduating seniors who have excelled in their major with demonstrated communication skills. The primary requirement is a thorough knowledge of the English language with basic proficiency in German equivalent to fourth semester college German. Generally English is taught by engaging issues of culture in various situations. Teaching assignments include one class with the primary responsibilities and several classes at all levels of English in extracurricular settings. The appointment also expects a commitment to school and community activities beyond classroom instruction.
• One course with mentor supervision;
• Teaching assistant at all levels;
• Chaperone assistance on field trips; and
• Commitment to school and community extracurricular activities.
Eligibility Requirements
• Thorough knowledge of the English language (verbal and written) with expressed interest in language learning by immersion and formal rules of grammar
• GPA of 3.75 in the candidate's major, 3.50 overall GPA
• Intellectual strengths demonstrated in written and oral projects done for coursework at St. Olaf
• Basic German language proficiency at the fourth semester level (may be completed during the candidate's senior year)
• Fluency in the full range of liberal arts topics that comprise the education of Gymnasium students in Germany
The Award
The Rimbach Teacher Award seeks to advance shared traditions between Germany and the United States generally and between the Martin Luther Schule and St. Olaf College specifically. The Award offers transportation and a monthly stipend to teach English at the Martin Luther Schule in Rimbach, Germany. The Awad is a competition open to all graduating seniors across all disciplines at St. Olaf College.
• Transporation from the USA to Germany up to $1,000;
• Tuition from August language course in Heidelberg up to $700;
• Stipend for 11 months from September - July at 800 euros per month set by the Martin Luther Schule;
• Apartment arranged by Friends of the St. Olaf-Martin Luther Schule Award.
Application
The application procedure begins with an information session scheduled for the second week of November. Applications are due Monday, November 30th. Applicants are interviewed by a selection committee of St. Olaf professors the week of December 7-11. The selection is made by December 15, and the committee recommendation is forwarded to the Director of the Martin Luther Schule by December 31. The Director of the Gymnasium makes the final decision for the appointment by January 31. A reception is organized in April to honor the new candidate and to greet friends and families of the St. Olaf College-Martin Luther Schule connection. The application includes:
• A letter of intent with a resume of pertinent courses and experiences due by November 30;
• A four-page form with questions on teaching English in a German Gymnasium due by November 30;
• A half-hour interview with the Rimbach Teacher Selection Committee will be the week of Dec. 7-11.
All candidates are interviewed by a committee of professors, and announcement of award is made by February 1 of the following year. The final decision for the appointment is made by the Director of Martin Luther Schule. A reception is held by April 15 to honor past and present recipients of the Rimbach Teacher Award. The application includes:
- A letter of intent;
- A resume of pertinent courses and experiences;
- An unofficial transcript, (saving file as a pdf views & uploads best; official transcript required if selected);
- A completed application form with questions on teaching English in a German Gymnasium; and
- A half-hour interview with the Rimbach Teacher Selection Committee will be the week of December 7-11.
To Apply
* Apply through OleRecruiting by Monday, November 30
1) Save a resume, cover letter, unofficial transcript and application to a common location. To save the transcript, log into the SIS system, choose grades, and then transcript; save the file as an .html document.
2) Log into OleRecruiting. Click on the Documents tab across the top of the screen. Upload each of your documents (upload application under 'Writing Sample').
3) Click on Employers (tab across top), enter St. Olaf College as a keyword, click on St. Olaf College, choose Available Positions, and click on Rimbach Teaching Award.
4) Use the drop down buttons on the right side of the description to select your resume, cover letter, unofficial transcript & application. Click on Submit. If you have successfully applied, you will see “You have submitted an application for this position” written just under Application Status on the top right.
Assistance uploading documents available at the Center for Experiential Learning.
After reviewing all applications, the Rimbach Teacher Award Committee will invite selected candidates for interviews. Applications for 2010-11 are due Monday, November 30th, and interviews for the selection process will follow the week of December 7-11.
Members of the committee include Professors Bruce Dalgaard, Karl J. Fink (Chair), Jonathan Hill, Kent McWilliams, Dolores Peters, Charles Taliaferro, Gregory Walter, and Karen Peterson Wilson. The final decision for the award rests with the Director of the Martin Luther Schule, Rimbach.
Recipients
View former St. Olaf College graduates sent to the Martin-Luther-Schule.
Pictures of past recipients
2009-10 - Devin Horne, German & English
2008-09 - Laura Schaefer, German & Biology
2007-08 - Molly Sell, Music & Management Studies
2006-07 - Kate Olson, German
2005-06 - Erik Grell, History & German
2004-05 - Sarah Steingas, Philosophy & Math
2003-04 - Linda Johnke, Theatre & Art
2002-03 - Erin Birch, Political Science
