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Working/Functional Title

Japanese Language Program Coordinator

Position Summary

The Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures at Michigan State University is seeking a Japanese language program coordinator (fixed-term system faculty) at the level of Assistant Professor. This is a full-time, nine-month, academic year position beginning August 16, 2023, and is renewable contingent upon funding and performance. The successful candidate will contribute to the College of Arts & Letters' diversity and inclusive excellence through their teaching and service. The Coordinator oversees the daily operation of the Japanese language program in consultation with the Director of the Japanese Studies Program. The Coordinator is expected to hold a PhD in Japanese language pedagogy, applied linguistics, foreign language teaching, or related field, in addition to the minimum qualifications indicated below.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Coordinator teaching loads are reduced by one course per academic year (i.e., five courses per year instead of six). The Coordinator is initially expected to be in charge of first-year Japanese, assuming a major portion of the teaching responsibility for this novice level, while facilitating the overall coordination of the first-year language teaching team and initiating the articulation of the Japanese language program curriculum. The coordinator will have an opportunity to offer one course per academic year in their own expertise based on program needs.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

• Preparing and administering placement tests.
• Chairing the MSU Japanese Teachers Workshop, held annually in Spring.
• Communicating with individual Japanese instructors about their teaching preferences for academic years.
• Assigning language courses to teaching staff members according to their expertise and programmatic need.
• Convening a meeting on a regular basis to discuss the curriculum, develop the language portion of the Japanese Studies Program, and document all course-related materials.
• Leading revisions to the Japanese language curriculum as needed.
• Providing guidance to students regarding internships, study abroad, and other extracurricular activities.
• Promoting the Japanese Program with the Director of the Japanese Program via social media, website, and others.

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

• Doctorate degree required.
• Three to five years experience teaching college students from elementary through advanced level in a classroom setting in North America.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and experiences.
• Training in proficiency-oriented language instruction.
• Native or near-native proficiency in both Japanese and English.
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness (quantitative and sample of qualitative data from teaching evaluations).
• Experience using Japanese-language textbooks, such as Genki I & II, Quartet and Tobira, as well as authentic materials for all levels.
• Basic instructional technology skills, including navigating through course management system such as D2L, Blackboard.

Desired Qualifications

Two to three years experience coordinating a Japanese language program in a university setting in North America. 

Experience with ACTFL proficiency standards and proficiency-based approaches to teac