Lecturer - Japanese

Overview

The Department of World Languages & Cultures at Utah State University (USU) invites applications for a position at the rank of Lecturer in Japanese. For this teaching-centered faculty position, the department seeks to hire an individual with experience and demonstrated excellence in Japanese language teaching and a strong commitment to student success. This position is located on the Logan, Utah campus. The anticipated start date is August 1, 2027.

The Department of World Languages & Cultures welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of their current U.S. work authorization status. Visa sponsorship may be available depending on individual circumstances and applicable immigration requirements. The University supports standard sponsorship costs but cannot cover the additional $100,000 H-1B fee if applicable. Sponsorship eligibility will be determined by University Human Resources prior to an official offer of employment.

Responsibilities

• This role is 90% teaching, 10% service, with teaching as the area of excellence.
• Teaching a range of undergraduate Japanese language courses at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels (typical teaching load: 12-13 credit hours per semester);
• Teaching content-based courses conducted in Japanese, including courses in Japanese culture, business Japanese, literature or film, and related fields;
• Mentoring and advising students inside and outside regular teaching hours;
• Contributing to the continued development of the Japanese program;
• Supporting and fostering exchange and collaborative relationships with partner institutions in Japan;
• Helping to build industry connections;
• Fostering community-engaged or experiential learning opportunities for students;
• Participating in USU ETE-Center for Empowering Teaching Excellence professional development opportunities;
• Participating in and helping to facilitate the student Japanese Club, with events on-campus in the Japanese Cultural Hub and community-engaged activities;
• Participating in recruiting, retention, and alumni communication efforts for the Japanese and World Languages & Cultures programs;
• Participating in service activities that support the department, college, and university; collaborating in activities within the department or with other units across campus.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• MA in Japanese , or Japanese language pedagogy, second language teaching, or applied linguistics with a specialty in Japanese, or education, or degree in a closely related field (Masters or PhD degree must be in hand and completed by July 1, 2027);
• Native or near-native proficiency in Japanese (ACTFL OPI Distinguished level or equivalent); and effective English communication skills;
• Experience teaching undergraduate Japanese courses in the North American higher education context;
• Demonstrated excellence in Japanese language teaching;
• Commitment to proficiency-oriented language teaching.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to teach a Business Japanese course and courses in Japanese culture.
• Willingness to build industry connections and community-engaged or experiential learning opportunities for students.
• Experience developing new courses or in curriculum development.
• Experience supporting study abroad, exchange, or other international education initiatives.

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

• A current and complete CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”
• The names and contact information (email and phone) for three (3) professional references, who may be consulted or contacted for confidential letters of recommendation. The references will be typed into the candidate profile at the beginning of the application.

The follow documents will be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”

• A cover letter (limit max 3 pages single-spaced) addressing how the applicant meets the qualifications and responsibilities of the position. The letter should describe relevant education, teaching experience, and professional development, and a brief teaching philosophy, as they relate to the requirements of this position.
• Up to three (3) supporting documents that demonstrate excellence in Japanese language teaching (e.g., teaching awards, teaching evaluations, peer observations, instructional materials, professional development activities, a brief teaching video, or other relevant materials). Please combine all materials into a single PDF file (maximum 3 documents, maximum 10 pages, combined in 1 file). If applicant chooses to include a video, please just provide a URL link to the video within the single PDF file.