English Teacher

• Location: Athens
• Status: Part-time position
• Working Hours: 6 hours per day (Monday to Friday, 2 pm – 8 pm)
• Starting Date*: 13/01/2025
• Duration: 3-month probationary period with possibility of extension

*Please note that due to the Christmas holiday season, applications will be reviewed until the 20th of December and between 8-10 of January and only successful candidates will be contacted for an interview.

About Better Days

Founded on the Greek island of Lesvos in 2016, Better Days works for the well-being of children and youth affected by displacement or conflict.

We design and implement protection and education programs aiming to offer each individual the assistance and opportunities they need to thrive. By connecting with local initiatives and institutional efforts, we foster inclusive responses in complex and volatile environments.

Children are the caretakers and leaders of our future and only alongside them can we build a more resilient society.

Chronology of projects:

• The Olive Grove, 2015-2016: Moria Camp emergency response, sheltering, food & NFI distribution, medical aid.
• Community Support Program, 2015-Ongoing: Financial support for students.
• Elpida Home, 2016-2017: Recreational programming for adults and minors, info point, food and NFI distribution.
• Medical & Legal Intervention Project, Moria Camp, Lesvos, 2016-2017: Medical aid and legal info for vulnerable asylum-seeking adults.
• Gekko Kids, Lesvos 2017-2022: Non-formal educational programs.
• EcoHub, Lesvos, 2017-2020: Sustainable ecological garden with vocational training and ecological literacy for children and adults.
• TAPUAT, Lesvos 2017-2019: Non-formal educational programming, activities for minors, child protection, trauma support.
• Gekko X, Lesvos 2019-2020: STEAM curriculum, exhibitions, blended learning, e-learning.
• Central Triage Pharmacy, Moria Camp, Lesvos 2020: Medicine provision, Covid19 response.
• Socrates, Lesvos 2019-2020: Sports and development, SEL pedagogy, football sessions, trauma support.
• Gekko, Athens 2023-Ongoing: Non-formal educational programs.

About Gekko

Gekko in Athens is a non-formal education centre offering personalized education for children and young people (ages 15-24) affected by displacement.

Gekko’s context-aware services are designed to address the specific needs of displaced learners and dismantle barriers that impede learning. Supported by strong referral pathways with like-minded organizations, Gekko acts as an essential bridge service to meet student needs beyond the classroom and promote integration into the Athens community.

Gekko not only follows best practices in the field of displacement and education, but serves as a lab for their further development. Over 555 children and young people have benefitted from Gekko’s services in our first year of operations.

Working with Better Days

Better Days is a small and dynamic organisation looking to hire people who are passionate about humanitarian work, understand its risks and complexities, and are interested in investing in their role long-term. We are a quality-driven organisation determined to provide grassroots, holistic and effective solutions to support the integration and de-victimization of displaced communities in Europe, focusing on refugee education and empowerment of youth. Our colleagues come from all over the world, and our official business language is English. The ideal candidate will be inducted for two weeks and trained during the probation period. At the end of a third month’s contract, the candidate is expected to participate in Better Days’ Employee Survey and Self-Assessment, which is part of their employee evaluation.

Role Description

The English Teacher at Gekko plays a vital role in supporting students’ academic journeys while contributing to their overall well-being. This position is ideal for a passionate educator dedicated to fostering safe, inclusive, and effective learning spaces for all students.

The English Teacher will contribute to high-quality English language teaching to displaced students of varying ages and proficiency levels, curriculum and engaging lesson plan design, and will supervise tasks relevant to their role. As an English Teacher, they will also be responsible for carrying out various administrative tasks to ensure the smooth operation of the program, and support the implementation of extracurricular activities, such as language workshops or cultural events. They will be assessing students’ progress and providing constructive feedback to help them achieve their learning goals

This field-based position requires strong experience in teaching English as a foreign/second language, as well as skills in curriculum development, classroom management, and student assessment. The ideal candidate will be well-versed in English language teaching methodologies and possess the flexibility to adapt lessons to the diverse needs of students in Athens. They must be committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment that promotes student well-being and academic success.

We seek an organized, self-motivated professional with excellent communication skills, capable of adapting to evolving needs and working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to provide holistic student support and ensure consistency and effectiveness in teaching approaches.

Main Responsibilities

• Develop and design the English course curriculum, adapting and evolving it based on the needs of the population. This includes creating level-specific courses, preparation for accreditation, and theme-specific classes, such as Business English or other.
• Prepare comprehensive syllabi, lesson plans, assignments, and teaching materials to support effective learning outcomes.
• Maintain accurate records and diligently gather and submit required data, including daily attendance and student feedback.
• Provide support for school administration tasks as needed, ensuring smooth program operations.
• Deliver engaging lessons to various group sizes, including one-on-one tutoring sessions.
• Teach in both in-person and online formats, adapting methods to suit the learning environment and students’ needs.
• Monitor and assess students’ progress in line with their individual learning plans, providing regular updates and reports to the Head of Academics.
• Mentor and provide guidance to English language teacher volunteers, ensuring consistency and quality in teaching approaches.
• Support and oversee projects that fall under their role, such as the English accreditation program, to ensure their successful implementation and alignment with program objectives.

Requirements

Candidates who do not meet the below criteria will not be considered.

• Excellent level of English. Knowledge of Greek is considered an advantage but is not required.
• A degree in higher or advanced education. Qualifications in Multicultural/Inclusive Education, Special Education, Social Pedagogy, or related fields are preferred.
• Advanced IT skills, including proficiency in tools such as G Suite (Docs, Sheets, Drive), Canva, and Slack.
• A minimum of 3 years of professional teaching experience. Experience working with youth is highly desirable.
• Prior experience delivering educational activities to vulnerable populations, displaced individuals, and/or people with exceptionalities is strongly preferred.
• Eligibility to work in Greece

Priority will be given to candidates with:

• Previous volunteer / humanitarian experience
• Key characteristics: versatile, resourceful, positive, self-driven, creative and confident
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multicultural environments and adapt to dynamic and challenging settings.