AT/Drill Instructor Tryout Dates

Students who have never drilled before must attend the Orientation and all practice sessions; students who HAVE drilled before must attend the first workshop as listed below in order to establish their schedule.

We will figure out the case-by-case attendance schedule the first day of the workshops.

What else do I need to apply? 

Fill out the job application on JobX. This is required for students every term in order to be added to the payroll:https://dartmouth.studentemployment.ngwebsolutions.com/jobxJobdetailPrint.aspx?JobId=5587&win=True

Please take a moment to fill out this form to help us plan ahead how many students to expect: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KoSDILc-gNFoUu8aWT4Hrs8wf-fK3uxYBrfxgTaASmk/edit?usp=sharing

• Students in courses numbered 9 or above (e.g. Spanish 9, Portuguese 20)
• Returning LSA/LSA+/FSP students
• Majors and minors in Hispanic, Romance and Lusophone Studies
• Dartmouth students with demonstrable proficiency in Spanish and/or Portuguese (e.g. students who placed out of the language requirement, native and heritage speakers)

Dates for Winter 2026 Orientation and Training

Welcome back! Read below for the dates and times for the AT (AT stands for Apprentice Teacher, aka Drill Instructor) Workshops. For new instructors, training involves an orientation session with the Rassias Center, and a commitment of two evenings for Spanish and Portuguese language training. Make sure to read below.

Schedule

Rassias Orientation

For new instructors only. Mandatory for all new drill instructors. This session will teach you the basics of the Rassias techniques. Please note that more dates will be offered towards the end of the term if you are interested in becoming a drill instructor in the future.Plan to attend one of the following sessions:

Monday 1/5 7-8:45pm Location TBA

Language Specific Training

Spanish and Portuguese Drill Training. For students who have drilled before and students who have already attended the Rassias Orientation. At the end of these sessions, students will be ready for the tryouts. Students who have drilled three times or more only need to attend one evening. Everyone else should plan on attending both evening. 

Please take a moment to fill out this form to help us plan ahead how many students to expect for our Spanish and Portuguese training: https://forms.gle/LTqeeJ8Zr8GpDA56A

Links to an external site.

Wednesday 1/7 6:00-8:00pm Location TBA

Thursday 1/8 6:30-8:30  Location TBA

Tryouts

Friday 1/9 3:30-4:30 Location TBA 

Requirements to become a Drill Instructor

• Language proficiency: A placement of Spanish 9 or higher, having completed Spanish 3, being a Spanish speaker.
• Filling out a job application on JobX (note: if you have worked as drill instructor in 2025/26, you are no longer required to apply again):https://dartmouth.studentemployment.ngwebsolutions.com/jobxJobdetailPrint.aspx?JobId=5587&win=True
• Links to an external site.
• Attending evening workshops. Participation in training workshops is an essential component of the hiring process. If you have a legitimate conflict, let us know at the first possible opportunity.

Responsibilities as Drill Instructor

• Availability on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at either 7:45am, 2:10pm or 5:35pm.
• Availability during regular school hours to meet once a week with your faculty supervisor.
• Teaching a full drill session (50 minutes) in the target language following the scripts you will have access to.

Conditions

• Drill instructor are compensated at a 16.25/hour rate.
• Drill instructors are paid for one hour of preparation and one hour of teaching for each session (ie six hours total per week).

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Depending on your assignment, you will teach 3 or 4 hours per week and assist in correcting homework.

Payment starts at $16.25 per hour. (Preparation time is also paid at the rate of one hour per period taught, i.e. if you teach 3 hours a week, you will be paid for 3 hours of teaching and 3 hours of prep time).

Detailed scripts for drills.

Close collaboration with the language faculty.

Please contact Professor Roberto Rey Agudo with any questions or if you need to be added to the Canvas site.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACTIVITIES OF THE AT/DRILL INSTRUCTOR

• To carefully review the syllabus in order to know where the students are, and then to carefully review the drill print-outs before each drill session. If you are not sure of the answers, check the book for the proper conjugation and write the answer on your print-out.
• To begin and end all drill sessions on time and to find a substitute if you are ill. In the event of illness, contact your Master Teacher BEFORE the drill session in question.
• To conduct drill only in the room assigned to you by the Registrar's Office.
• To competently drill each exercise so that all students are engaged and active during the 50 minutes.
• To encourage free responses whenever possible after the mechanical phase of drilling has been completed.
• To collect workbooks on the assigned date. The AT/Drill Instructor will correct workbook exercises and discuss the results with their respective Master Teachers.
• To not spend time explaining grammar. Refer the students to the Master Teacher for grammatical problems. Do not be pressured into giving grammar explanations. Leave this up to the Master Teacher.
• To meet on a weekly basis with your Master Teacher in order to review student progress.
• To attend the required AT/Drill Instructor seminars as scheduled.