POSITION OVERVIEW:
ELL summer interns will produce materials for use on large-scale, high-stakes standardized tests of English language proficiency. Each intern will work on one of the following:
--TOEFL iBT® Test. The TOEFL iBT test is taken by nonnative speakers of English who are planning to apply to a college or university in an English-speaking country.
--TOEIC® Tests. The TOEIC tests are taken principally by people who need to communicate with both native and nonnative speakers of English in the context of the global workplace.
The test development work is intellectually challenging and rewarding. The work may include:
--writing items that test knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension
--identifying academic texts which are suitable for testing reading comprehension
--creating conversations and talks that test listening comprehension
--developing scenarios and prompts that allow candidates to demonstrate their speaking or writing skills
PROGRAM DETAILS:
The program runs from July 9 through August 17 (6 weeks) for all test sections except TOEFL Reading. For TOEFL Reading, the program runs from June 25 through August 17 (8 weeks)*. Interns are expected to work 8:30–5:00, Monday through Friday, for the whole program, and will receive attractive compensation. All work is conducted at the ETS Rosedale campus in Princeton, New Jersey. Interns must provide or arrange their own housing and transportation.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
The TOEFL iBT test and the TOEIC tests are global measures, so ETS actively seeks candidates who can bring diverse experiences and perspectives to the work. The ELL summer internship workforce includes people from a variety of backgrounds, such as undergraduate students, graduate students, teachers, professors, and professional writers. Applicants must have completed at least some undergraduate work in order to be considered.
All interns must have appropriate authorization to work in the United States. If you do not currently have U.S. work authorization, please note: Some candidates who receive an internship offer may be able to apply for a CPT or an OPT work authorization visa if enrolled at a U.S. university. Check with your university’s international student services office or program coordinator for eligibility before applying to the ELL Summer Institute. CPT visas can usually be acquired quickly, while OPT visas typically take longer. Candidates who receive an internship offer and who need a CPT or an OPT visa should apply for one of these visas immediately upon accepting our offer.
Interns must have a very high degree of fluency in English but do not need to be native speakers. Additionally, interns must have excellent writing skills. The work requires verbal precision and sensitivity to nuance, analytic skill, attention to detail, and receptiveness to instruction. Interns must be able to work well individually and collaboratively, carefully consider constructive feedback, and manage their time effectively to meet targets.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Each of the test sections hiring for the summer is associated with a specific work sample. You will need to complete and submit a separate work sample for each test section for which you would like to be considered. Directions for completing and submitting your work sample(s), along with a cover letter and résumé, will be posted on the ELL Summer Institute Web site beginning Friday, December 1, 2017.
Applications are due Wednesday, January 31, 2018. Applicants are selected mainly on the basis of their performance on the work samples. Work samples will be evaluated in February and March, and you will be notified of your status by Friday, March 16. For questions, please contact Recruiting Consultant Monica Hopkins at mhopkins@ets.org.
SCHEDULE OVERVIEW:
December 1, 2017: Application process opens
January 31, 2018: Application deadline
March 16, 2018: Applicants notified of decisions
June 25, 2018: First day of the ELL Summer Institute for TOEFL Reading
July 9, 2018: First day of the ELL Summer Institute for all other test sections
August 17, 2018: Last day of the ELL Summer Institute
* Day off on July 4 for the holiday
