Primary School German Teacher

General Description

The German teacher is responsible for cultivating a passion for inquiry among students and for working collaboratively with Primary School colleagues to develop engaging and inspirational learning experiences. The successful candidate will have German as their first language and be expected to use the Primary Years Program (PYP) curriculum framework to work with students with a diverse range of talents and abilities. In addition, all teachers participate in our after-school activities and sports programme. This is a full-time position and will begin in August of 2027.
 

At ISZL, all members of staff are expected to meet our professional standards.  Teachers at ISZL design, facilitate, assess, and empower learning based on the ISZL learning principles according to the following teaching standards and programme-specific documentation.

 

Professional Responsibilities

• Commit to ongoing growth and improvement 
• Commit to collaboration with colleagues, students, and parents
• Provide regular and appropriate communication to parents on academic progress and student well-being
• Contribute to opportunities for the development of the school through mission-aligned projects and sharing with a variety of audiences (eg. colleagues, parents, board members)
• Commit to expanding options for students through offering an after-school activity or coaching
• Provide regular and appropriate contact with school administration to share information on progress, curriculum, the results of assessment, and overall learning environment

 

Learning Design   

• Design for learning based on agreed student learning outcomes in the context of a coherent school-wide, division-appropriate and subject-specific programme
• Focus learning design on conceptual understanding and “big ideas” of the discipline
• Involve students in planning for their own learning 
• Design for learning that builds on students’ previous knowledge and experience, working towards school learning objectives
• Integrate technology into planning to create, adapt and personalise learning experiences
• Integrate the diversity of student profiles (eg. cultural heritage, linguistic profiles, learning strengths) into learning plans

 

Learning Facilitation  

• Cultivate a relational environment where students feel safe and motivated to stretch themselves
• Amplify positive learning behaviours, holding students accountable to excellent and ethical behaviour and work
• Use a variety of different teaching strategies and resources to cater to a variety of learning situations and styles
• Where appropriate, empower students to feel responsible and to take action
• Involve students actively in their learning
• Pursue, where appropriate, open-ended inquiry and real-life investigations
• Utilise media and technology to support access, engagement, and demonstration of learning 

 

Assessment

• Take into account that planning, teaching, and assessing are interconnected processes
• Design assessment to benefit student learning in a timely, specific way
• Offer regular, written, formative feedback on student progress
• Use a range and balance of assessment strategies
• Be transparent about reasons, criteria, and methods for assessment
• Utilise formative assessment to improve learning  
• Actively involve students in the assessment process
• Assess the level of students’ current experience and understanding before embarking on new learning

Required and Preferred Qualifications

• The candidate should hold a recognised teaching qualification or certification
• Fluent or native German speaker, minimum C1 level proficiency
• Candidates with knowledge of the PYP curriculum framework and experience teaching within a pedagogy of inquiry-based learning, are preferred
• Candidates must have a Swiss or EU passport/valid Swiss work permit (or be approved for a Swiss work visa)

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What we offer

• Paid insurance benefits (accident insurance + long-term sickness)
• Generous pension fund contributions 
• Professional development opportunities
• Tuition discount
• Social events
• A modern, dynamic and collaborative work environment
• Open communication

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Key ISZL Reference Documents

• Guiding Statements
• Professional Standards
• Teaching Standards
• Learning Principles
• Inclusion Policy
• Visit the Employment section of ISZL’s website for more information

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ISZL is an equal-opportunity employer

As such, ISZL agrees to support, respect, and seek inclusion with regard to the safety and care of all community members, including potential members looking to join our school. This includes but is not limited to: age; disabilities; ethnicity; gender; gender expression; gender identity; health needs; languages spoken; marital status; mental health; national origin; political affiliation; race; religion; sex; sexual orientation, and any additional characteristic protected under Swiss law.

ISZL endeavours to understand and protect the civil and human rights of all individuals, striving to maintain a high level of multicultural awareness and knowledge about all applicable laws and statutes related to non-discrimination and inclusion.

Child Protection

ISZL is committed to using the International Task Force on Child Protection screening and assessment practices for schools in all hiring processes. ISZL takes seriously its responsibility for safeguarding our students against abuse and neglect. All staff and other adults associated with ISZL are expected to share this commitment and to immediately report any concerns regarding a student’s safety or well-being.