The National Institute of Education invites suitable applications for the position of Research Assistant on a 4-month contract at the
English Language and Literature (ELL) Academic Group.

Project Title: Teacher Language and Talk in the Primary English Language Classrooms

Project Introduction: This study aims to investigate teacher language and talk of a group of primary school teachers and ascertain their perceptions of it as they engage in English language related literacy practices. We aim to examine the talk teachers engage in for teaching and learning purposes, explore the effectiveness of this talk alongside teachers\xe2\x80\x99 perceptions of the language that they use. By investigating this, we will be better informed of how language unfolds within our classroom context and environment. This is significant because teacher talk creates input for teaching and learning, as part of the lesson enactment process of a teacher. Findings drawn will enhance current knowledge of the role of language and talk in lesson delivery. This study will also have implications on teacher training and development in terms of refining current teacher education and professional development courses and programmes especially in the area of lesson enactment processes and practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Arts/Science (Education), Postgraduate Diploma in Education, or a relevant field
• Preferably to have taught in MOE (Singapore) schools for at least 3 years
• Preferably to have relevant research experience
• Ability to interact well with people, particularly school teachers
• Ability to put school teachers at ease during interviews
• Familiar with ethnographic research methods
• Able to liaise with the teachers and collect data independently, with minimal supervision, via the following modes of data collection:

1. lesson observations;
2. field notes;
3. interviews;

Responsibilities
The full-time experienced Research Assistant (Grade 1) will undertake the following:

• Manage the research project
• Email the teachers to fix lesson observation and interview sessions
• Observe and video-record lessons of EL teachers (primary) enacting the

EL curriculum;

• Use video and audio equipment provided for adequately to record good sound and quality from teacher and pupil language and talk.
• Take extensive field notes of the lesson observations;
• Conduct interviews with these teachers;
• Transcribe one-to-one interviews and classroom observations and in particular detailed language and talk.
• Organise the data collected
• Engage in data coding and analysis
• Conduct a literature review
• Other duties as assigned by PI

Application
Applicants (external and internal) will apply via Workday. We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Closing Date
Closing date for advertisements will be set to 28 calendar days from date of posting.

Other Information
NIE staff can take chartered buses at their own expense from or near their homes to the NIE campus. This is subject to availability of seats.
Hiring Institution: NIE