AT/Drill Instructor Tryout Dates

The Department encourages students to participate in the Apprentice Teacher Workshops in order to learn the drill method and try out to be a Drill Instructor.

Session Information

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

Who is elegible?

  • 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)

When is the training taking place?

7:30 - 9:30 PM Orientation with Rassias Center. Mandatory for all new drill instructors. Sign up requested: https://tinyurl.com/2tm5dree

Links to an external site. Highly recommended for students with one term of experience, or who were on the waitlist previously. This session will teach you the basics of the Rassias techniques. Please note that more dates will be offered throughout the Fall 2024 Term if you are interested in becoming a drill instructor in the future. Location TBD

 

Training with Rassias Center (all language programs, in English)

Tuesday September 17th: 7:30-9:30pm or 

Wednesday September 18th 7:30-9:30pm 

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Drill workshop (Spanish and Portuguese)

Wednesday, September 18th  6:00-8:00pm or 

Thursday, September 19th 6:30-8:30pm

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Drill tryouts

Friday, September 20th, 3:30pm

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What's involved in working as a drill instructor?

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.