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Job Introduction

BBC Learning English is the award-winning, English language teaching arm of BBC World Service. The department primarily creates digital content for English language learners on its web, app and social media platforms and via podcasts. It also syndicates content to partner networks which includes social media, web and to a lesser extent radio and TV. We are now aiming to increase reach to our young, underserved audiences by broadening our ELT offer to our China partners and Mandarin speaking audiences in general.

BBC World Service, as part of BBC News, is an international multimedia broadcaster, delivering a wide range of language and regional services to serve global audiences. It uses multiple platforms to reach its weekly audience of hundreds of millions across 42 languages.

Job Purpose

To support the delivery of BBC Learning English’s digital-first strategy to help audiences learn English. To work as part of a team of Mandarin-speaking, experienced English language teaching professionals to originate, create, present and publish English language teaching audio, video, text and image-based content for our Chinese English language learners. To collaborate with the other departmental teams to ensure all products achieve high levels of valued reach among audiences. To participate in and work across other areas of BBC Learning English’s output as required.

Shift work may be required which could include nights, weekends and public holidays.

Main Responsibilities

• To originate English language teaching content and reversion existing department content and/or BBC content for our web and app platforms. Content includes but is not limited to image, text, video, audio and interactive elements and programmes. To present, and to support others to present, video, audio and live streaming programmes as required.

• To write and teach grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and other related ELT content in a simple and engaging way for different platforms and for Chinese and global audiences with different levels of English. To be fully responsible for the educational and journalistic accuracy of all materials produced by yourself.

• To be fully involved in every stage of the production process, from scoping out initial ideas, to providing guidance and feedback to the team, completing all associated administrative paperwork and ensuring content is delivered on time and to spec.

• To find contributor, interviewees, language learners and experts as well as other sources of material and/or actuality, as appropriate. To be responsible for thinking through and around editorial and educational challenges, developing realistic alternative strategies and approaches.

• To ensure content is produced to BBC Editorial guidelines and to all relevant legal, contractual and copyright requirements - referring upwards in cases of difficulty or doubt.

• To monitor the growth of the Learning English and other associated ELT websites, analysing patterns of use and identifying areas for expansion. To identify opportunities for building audience reach and engagement.

• To direct a Journalism Coordinator in preparation of programme material for which the role is responsible.

• To clip BBC content for social media to encourage audiences to visit the website, app or podcasts.

• To be fully across current and ongoing developments in how English language teaching is taught via digital platforms, inside and outside of the classroom, and to use those ideas within the production process.

• To use various software systems to create text, image, audio, video and live streaming materials and to be able to resolve technical difficulties when they arise.

• To build links with other production teams to share content, to learn from them and to promote BBC Learning English’s content.

• To be aware of and able to use appropriate reference materials including dictionaries, ELT books, CEFR etc. to support content production.

• To ensure the availability of required production facilities to produce the materials. To build and maintain links with appropriate BBC departments, external organisations and freelancers to enable the efficient production of English language teaching content.

• To support the Learning English editorial lead to implement the BBC’s digital-first transformation strategy.

• All staff may be required to travel outside the UK on short content gathering and promotional trips and assignments, and to spend longer periods of time in ELT target areas. All staff may be required to work with or move to other teams within the department.

Are you the right candidate?

• A DELTA or equivalent ELT qualification is desirable.

• Native knowledge of Mandarin Chinese, coupled with an excellent knowledge of the English language including complete comprehension of both languages in written and spoken forms, and first-class communication and translation skills.

• Proven recent experience in creating and delivering impactful and engaging digital, multi-platform content for Chinese English language learners is essential.

• Ability to write, adapt and edit with accuracy, clarity, simplicity and in an engaging style appropriate to differing audiences, differing levels of English comprehension and suitable for various digital platforms.

• Enthusiasm and curiosity for and an in-depth understanding of digital production and content, particularly in relation to English language teaching. A passion for, and experience of, creating digital content for young, diverse audiences

• A clear understanding of the needs and profile of BBC Learning English’s audiences and the ability to translate this into imaginative and compelling multi-platform content.

• The ability to plan and organise time and resources effectively and to manage projects to conclusion according to deadlines.

• Strong editorial and production experience and the ability to work fast, accurately and under pressure.

• Ability to fully articulate the differences between classroom teaching and teaching online.

• An interest and awareness of digital technologies changing the media, broadcasting and audience trends both inside and outside the BBC.

• Good interpersonal skills, and in particular the ability to work collaboratively within a team and to motivate others.

• Wide and up to date familiarity with the Chinese ELT market and an understanding of their history, politics, media, social issues and culture, as well as the changing needs of the audience.

• A strong visual awareness with a good understanding of graphic design principles including layout, colours and visualisation and the experience and knowledge to use those principles to create engaging, educational materials for language learners would be an advantage.

• Demonstrable experience of using cameras and software packages like Photoshop and FCP to create digital assets.

Recent experience teaching English as a foreign language in a classroom setting to Chinese learners.

About the BBC

We don’t focus simply on what we do – we also care how we do it. Our values and the way we behave are important to us. Please make sure you’ve read about our values and behaviours in the document attached below.

Diversity matters at the BBC. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of the BBC – whether that’s to contribute to our programming or our wide range of non-production roles. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles, unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.

To find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at the BBC, please click here

Package Description

Band: C
Contract type: Permanent Full time
Location: London - London Broadcasting House

Application process: You will be asked to fill in a diversity questionnaire which is confidential and not seen by the hiring manager. You will then be asked to:

• upload your CV

• answer questions specific to the role

World Service Languages is undergoing a restructuring programme which this role is included within. Therefore this role is only open to those who are substantively employed in World Service Languages, and those who are at risk of redundancy in other areas. Please only apply if your substantive role is within World Service Languages. Applications from candidates not at risk of redundancy from outside of World Service Languages will not be considered. As this is being advertised on a closed basis, priority consideration to those at risk of redundancy will not apply.

We’re happy to discuss flexible working. Please indicate your choice under the flexible working question in the application. There is no obligation to raise this at the application stage but if you wish to do so, you are welcome to. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.

• Excellent career progression – the BBC offers great opportunities for employees to seek new challenges and work in different areas of the organisation.
• Unrivalled training and development opportunities – our in-house Academy hosts a wide range of internal and external courses and certification.
• Benefits- We offer a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week for work-life balance and 26 days (1 of which is a corporation day) with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care, gym and much more.