Youth Group Leader – ALI
Job Description – Youth Group Leader
Mid June through late July, 2012
(These tentative dates include staff orientation & return travel from Morocco.)
Legacy International’s Summer Arabic Language Institute for U.S. high school students. This 6-wekk long program offers up to 40 US students the opportunity to increase their knowledge of Arabic language while exploring the Moroccan culture. The program will be interactive, academic, culturally diverse exposing the students to many facets of life in Morocco.
Legacy seeks four staff to mentor and lead these U.S. teens. Two will be based with half of the group in Marrakesh, while the other two will be based out of Rabat.
Group Leader Responsibilities:
- Responsible for effectively managing the group dynamic and ensuring safety throughout the program, beginning with the pre-departure orientation in Washington, D.C. until the group’s return to the U.S. (Candidates unable to be in the U.S. at the beginning and end of the program will not be considered.)
- Attend the majority of Arabic language classes along with the students, closely monitoring classroom behavior between students and teachers, and reporting to Project Director. (No language instruction is required, but staff do, at times, help with homework.)
- Closely monitor behavior in host family settings.
- Conduct weekly individual and group debriefs with students to deepen learning and evaluate program effectiveness.
- Travel with the group on all outings.
- Design and plan recreational activities and short over night excursions periodically throughout the semester.
- Mentor youths, helping with cultural adjustment and offering behavioral guidance; making sure timely communications with parents have occurred; solving any host family / roommate problems; monitoring cultural and religious needs. Anticipate the needs of the youths. Be proactive.
- Create opportunities for cultural sharing and facilitate cross-cultural communication.
- Serve as part of the Arabic Language Institute team to create a warm, harmonious learning environment for the youths, maintaining standards of health, safety, and program quality consistent with program goals, and offering consistent guidance and discipline as necessary.
- Oversee evaluation processes and assist with post program activities.
Qualifications:
- Minimum Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
- Proven ability to work with and lead high school students, preferably in a travel program setting.
- Proven ability to adapt to cultures / settings different from one’s own. Preference given to those who have traveled in Arab world, particularly in Morocco.
- Facile with creating multiple strategies for keeping the group engaged in a long term learning process.
- Conversant to fluent Arabic language ability. (Preferable if applicant also has some working knowledge of French.)
- Ability to mentor teens and facilitate creative and self-motivated learning.
- Demonstrable and practical, working knowledge of: group management, discussion leading, creative/critical thinking, and problem solving.
- Ability to establish priorities, respond to unanticipated needs, and work under pressure.
- Ability and aptitude to properly administer the group’s budget / travel funds, as established by Legacy International, maintaining an accurate record of expenditures following Legacy’s fiscal requirements.
- First aid and CPR certified (current).
- U.S. Citizen or authorized to work in the U.S.
Salary: negotiable (Legacy also covers air travel from Washington, DC, and all related program expenses.) Accommodations will include hotel or home stays, similar to that of the youths.
How to Apply:
Please send resume and cover letter to, by March 31, 2012:
Leila Baz, Staff Outreach; Email: leila@legacyintl.org; Fax: 540-297-1860