As the University’s largest and most varied academic unit, the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) is comprised of artists, learners, performers, scholars, scientists, and teachers across 21+ departments, programs, schools, and centers and acts as a central hub where many of the University's disciplines intersect. Nearly all 6,000 undergraduates at the University take liberal arts courses with us, and about one-third of these students declare a first major in a CAHSS program. Most of our departments, programs and schools offer master's or doctoral programs. CAHSS scholars, artists, instructors, staff, and students collaborate in a shared quest for knowledge about the human condition and the development of skills to improve our local and global communities. The diverse scope of CAHSS allows our students to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed at nearly any career in today’s global society. 

The Center for World Languages and Cultures (CWLC) promotes engaged learning, teaching, and practice of the world’s languages and cultures; integrates languages and cultures into all disciplines and fields of study; and builds and supports interculturally competent communities through the exploration and experience of languages and cultures at the University of Denver with its local and global communities and partners. Housed in the CWLC, the first-year language program (FYLP) offers study in nine languages and aids students in experiencing the world through the lens of an acquired language, and in understanding cultures –their own and others – from a position different from their primary language and cultural identification. The linguistic contribution to intercultural competency – that is to say, understanding another culture in the language of that culture and not just through the translations and perspectives of a mother-tongue and culture – is integral to achieving personal, social, and professional successes in a multi-cultural and global future.

The first-year Japanese program provides students with an introduction to the Japanese language and culture and prepares students to study further through the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (LL&C). The program offers both a major and a minor and supports dual-degree seekers who want to pair their knowledge of Japanese with majors like international studies, international business and intercultural communications.

The CWLC is strongly committed to building a diverse and inclusive educational environment, which is in full accord with the value that DU places on its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to integrate content and issues relating to and to work effectively with ethnically and racially diverse populations.

Position Summary

The CWLC at the University of Denver will hire a full-time, appointed Japanese visiting teaching assistant professor, non-tenure track, with full benefits to teach primarily the first-year Japanese language sequence toward the undergraduate common curriculum for the academic year 2025-2026. This is a one-year sabbatical replacement.

The appointment will start on September 1^st, 2025. Course load is eight (8) courses per year (JAPN 1001, JAPN 1002, and JAPN 1003) spread across a three-quarter calendar. Other responsibilities include maintaining a rigorous first-year curriculum, preparing assessments, leading Japanese section meetings, working with other first-year language faculty, advising students on placement, participating in retention and recruitment efforts, implementing program assessment in the spring quarter, working closely with other CWLC faculty to support CWLC endeavors, and coordinating with the Japanese faculty in the LL&C toward maintaining a cohesive Japanese program.

Candidates who demonstrate potential for teaching excellence and ability to implement innovative teaching and learning approaches are strongly preferred. We are especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute to diversity, equity and inclusion through their teaching.

Essential Functions

Job requirements include teaching 10-week undergraduate courses on campus in 4 sessions of 50 minutes each per week, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, creating lesson plans, holding weekly office hours (either on campus or potentially virtually via Zoom depending on circumstances), developing, conducting, and grading assessments, providing feedback to support student learning  and participating in CWLC  meetings and Japanese section meetings. During the spring quarter, the visiting faculty is also expected to contribute to program assessment activities.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree or ABD in Japanese Linguistics, in Second Language Acquisition, or in Education. Closely related fields will be given consideration as well.
• Native or near-native proficiency in Japanese and English.
• 2 years of previous experience teaching a university-level course in Japanese in the United States (e.g., Teaching Assistant as an “instructor of record” with grading responsibilities).
• Evidence of a commitment to incorporate teaching methods to engage diverse student populations effectively.
• Evidence of teaching using task-based, communicative methodologies which prioritize student-student interactions.
• Experience or willingness to learn course management systems such as Canvas.
• Availability to teach classes “face-to-face” in physical classrooms at the University of Denver.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Japanese Linguistics, in Second Language Acquisition with a focus on Japanese, or in Education. Closely related fields will be given consideration as well.
• 3 + years' experience teaching a Japanese university-level course as the primary instructor, especially with courses from the first-year language sequence.
• Experience leading a team or coordinating multiple sections within a program.
• Extended residence and/or extensive travel in Japan.
• Experience interacting with and effectively teaching diverse communities of students.
• Experience managing a course via Canvas.

Working Environment

• Standard office environment.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate

Work Schedule

10-week sessions with classes held on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) April 15, 2025.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is UC.

Salary Rate:
The salary rate for this position is $50,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

For full consideration, please include the following documents with your application:

1. C.V.
2. Cover letter
3. Lesson plan for an elementary Japanese language course.
4. A 1–2-page teaching philosophy that also addresses teaching ethnically, racially, and other diverse populations.  
5. A copy of student teaching evaluations (5 pages maximum)
6. Names and contact information of three references so they can provide letters of reference upon request.

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; Equal Pay Act; Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers' Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non-Discrimination-Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.