Working/Functional Title

Japanese Lang. Ast.Inst/Inst/Ast Prof Fixed Term

Position Summary

The Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures at Michigan State University seeks one full-time Fixed-Term Japanese Language Instructor or Fixed-Term Assistant Professor of Japanese Language. This is a fixed-term, nine-month, academic year position beginning August 16, 2025, and is renewable contingent upon funding and performance. Rank is determined by highest degree, with a Bachelors required for Ast. Instructor position, a Master’s degree required for an instructor position and a PhD required for an fixed-term assistant professor position. All degrees must be conferred by the time of hire.

The successful candidate will contribute to diversity and inclusive excellence through teaching 6 Japanese Language courses each academic year (3 courses per semester) at all levels from beginning to advanced. Based on qualifications and Program need, the candidate may also be asked to teach an English-language course on Japanese language and society. The successful candidate will furthermore share service and outreach responsibilities with other Japanese faculty and participate in curriculum and program development, event planning, and language program coordination.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate

Minimum Requirements

• M.A. or higher degree in Japanese Language pedagogy, linguistics, foreign language teaching, or related field.
• Two to three years’ experience teaching college students in a classroom setting in North America.
• Experience using Japanese-language textbooks, such as Genki I & II, Quartet and Tobira, as well as authentic materials for all levels.
• Training in and commitment to proficiency-oriented Japanese language instruction.
• Superior level of proficiency in both Japanese and English, as defined by ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g., teaching materials, and quantitative and qualitative data from teaching evaluations).
• Demonstrated proficiency in online teaching and/or appropriate technologies in language instruction.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience teaching Japanese at all levels from elementary through advanced, particularly at 3^rd and 4^th year levels.
• Experience proficiency-based approaches to teaching Japanese.
• Experience in team-teaching.
• Experience coordinating at the individual course level.
• Ability to teach course (in English) on Japanese language and society.
• OPI certification.
• Event planning experience.
• Active involvement in profession.

Required Application Materials

Qualified applicants should submit

1. a cover letter
2. current curriculum vitae
3. Evidence of teaching effectiveness, including course syllabi and instructional materials, and student evaluation summaries
4. A 1-page summary of your philosophy of diversity, equity, and inclusion as it pertains to intellectual leadership in the areas of teaching/curriculum development, research/creative activities, service, outreach, advising, and/or administration. The statement should also include an explanation of related past or planned activities/endeavors as well as how the candidate will advance our goals of inclusive excellence. For more about MSU’s DEI efforts, see https://inclusion.msu.edu/. For more information about writing diversity statements, see https://cal.msu.edu/documents/cal-guidelines-for-the-writing-of-diversity-statements/ 
5. the names and email addresses of 3 potential referees
6. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to submit a video link (or a DVD) of their classroom teaching to the search committee chair

Special Instructions

Review of applications will begin March 1, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled. Applications must be submitted electronically to the Michigan State University Human Resources website http://careers.msu.edu. Posting number .

For more information, contact David Humphrey, Chair of the Search Committee at dhumphre@msu.edu.

Persons with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodation.

Review of Applications Begins On

03/01/2025

Website

lilac.msu.edu

Department Statement

The College of Arts & Letters recognizes that only an academic and organizational culture, which actively seeks out and strengthens diverse voices and perspectives among its members results in true excellence. We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. The College of Arts & Letters is particularly interested in candidates of all backgrounds who are committed to the principle that intellectual leadership is achieved through open access and pro-active inclusion. We particularly welcome applications from women, people of color, LGBTQI individuals, and others who are traditionally underrepresented in the academy.

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.

About Michigan State University

Spartans work every day to advance the common good in uncommon ways.Together, we tackle some of the world?s toughest problems to find solutions that make life better?from alternative energy to better food safety to breakthrough medical and environmental applications achieved through rare isotope research.We teach. We explore and we discover. We collaborate and lead. We innovate, inspire, and empower. We achieve our potential and create circumstances that help our students and others achieve theirs.We're good at it, and we've been at it for more than 150 years.The nation?s pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. The revolutionary concept became a model for the nation.Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world?on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, we?re a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.In ways both practical and profound, we work to create a stronger, more sustainable, and more hopeful future for all.

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