Lecturer of Japanese Language

Metropolitan State University of Denver•Denver, CO

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of World Languages at Metropolitan State University of Denver seeks a full-time, renewable, non-tenure-track Lecturer in Japanese to begin in August 2027. The position is a nine-month faculty appointment and also serves as Language Coordinator. The successful candidate must be present in Colorado, teach both on campus and online, and maintain regular on-campus office hours at the Auraria campus. The Japanese program offers a minor and is affiliated with the University’s Asian Studies minor. Its 1000-level courses, JPS 1010 and JPS 1020, are part of the General Studies program. The lecturer will contribute to the continued development and delivery of the Japanese curricula and programs, collaborate with faculty across the department, and participate in departmental coordination and other activities supporting the language programs. The position also includes serving as faculty advisor for the Japanese Club and supporting its activities and student engagement. The annual academic-year teaching load is 30 semester credit hours or the equivalent. Candidates may negotiate a reduced teaching load to undertake foundational advising for Japanese minor students and assist with developing, recruiting for, and administering departmental study abroad programs. The department seeks a candidate with experience working with and sensitivity to the needs of a diverse urban student population. Applicants must have a master’s degree in Japanese, Japanese Studies, Japanese language pedagogy, or a related or equivalent field, though candidates with an equivalent graduate degree and significant experience teaching and/or coordinating Japanese language programs in higher education may also be considered. Native or near-native fluency in Japanese and English is required. A doctoral degree and experience in undergraduate teaching, proficiency-based instruction, college-level Japanese teaching, program coordination, curriculum development, advising, and instructional technologies are preferred. The salary range is $53,000–$58,000. The University offers medical, dental, vision, and retirement benefits, tuition benefits or reimbursement, a free RTD pass, life and supplemental insurance, and access to a long-term disability plan. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain authorization throughout employment; the University does not provide work-authorization visa sponsorship.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Japanese, Japanese Studies, Japanese language pedagogy, or a related/equivalent field; candidates with an equivalent graduate degree and significant higher-education experience teaching and/or coordinating Japanese language programs may also be considered.
Native or near-native fluency in Japanese and English.
Ability and willingness to teach on-campus and online courses and maintain a regular on-campus presence in Colorado.
Ability to collaborate with faculty across the Department of World Languages and participate actively in program development and redevelopment.
Experience working with and sensitivity to the needs of a diverse urban student population, including students of color, LGBTQIA students, low-income and first-generation students, students with disabilities, undocumented students, non-traditional students, student veterans, and English-language learners.
Legal authorization to work in the United States at the time of hire and throughout the employment term.

Nice To Haves

Doctoral degree in Japanese, Japanese Studies, Japanese language pedagogy, or a closely related field.
Evidence of excellence in undergraduate teaching, including delivery of general education courses and ability to teach about ethnic minorities.
Experience in proficiency-based language instruction.
Experience teaching Japanese at the college or university level.
Experience with language-program coordination, curriculum development, student advising, or related administrative responsibilities in higher education.
Interest and capability in integrating new and emerging learning and instructional technologies into teaching and service-learning opportunities.

Responsibilities

Teach undergraduate Japanese courses, with an annual academic-year load of 30 semester credit hours or equivalent, in both on-campus and online formats.
Maintain regular on-campus office hours at the Auraria campus and maintain an on-campus presence in Colorado.
Contribute to the continued development and delivery of Japanese curricula and programs, including JPS 1010 and JPS 1020.
Serve as Language Coordinator and participate actively in departmental coordination and curricular and program development or redevelopment.
Work collaboratively with faculty teaching other languages in the Department of World Languages.
Serve as faculty advisor for the Japanese Club and support its activities and engagement with students.
As negotiated through a possible teaching-load reduction, provide foundational advising for Japanese minor students and assist with the development, recruiting, and administration of departmental study abroad programs.
Work with and demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of a diverse urban student population.