Lecturer at SEASSI

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Job Summary:

The Southeast Asian Studies Summer Institute (SEASSI) is a national eight-week intensive language institute that uses communicative and proficiency-based methodology as well as the team-teaching approach for instruction in up to nine Southeast Asian languages annually from mid-June through mid-August. The 2026 SEASSI program will be held from June 15 through August 7 and will be preceded by a staff orientation week from June 8-12 2026.

Language instructors will be responsible for participating in the SEASSI staff orientation week activities as well as instructor meetings throughout the eight-week program. Under the supervision of designated Administrative and Pedagogical staff of the Language Program Office (LPO) instructors will perform the following duties:

- Prepare appropriate materials and deliver instruction in assigned class for Burmese Filipino Hmong Javanese Khmer or Lao at the elementary intermediate or advanced level in an eight-week intensive format. These SEASSI 2026 classes will be taught in an online synchronous format. Prospective instructors should be aware that a combined IntermediateAdvanced course may be offered with students placed within a similar proficiency range (typically Intermediate-Mid to Advanced-Mid).

- Or prepare appropriate materials and deliver instruction in assigned class for Indonesian Thai or Vietnamese at the elementary intermediate or advanced level in an eight-week intensive format. These SEASSI 2026 classes will be taught in person in Madison WI. Instructors of these courses are expected to live in Madison for the duration of the position. Prospective instructors should be aware that a combined IntermediateAdvanced course may be offered with students placed within a similar proficiency range (typically Intermediate-Mid to Advanced-Mid).

- Following ACTFL recommendations for modern spoken languages commit to communicating at least 90% in the target language in interaction with students for the duration of the program.

- Prepare syllabus determine appropriate course goals and objectives create lesson plans and teaching materials for assigned language and course level and potentially for future use by the institute.

- Prepare weekly lesson plans and provide to assigned pedagogy coordinator(s).

- Develop administer and grade classroom and home assignments and exams; maintain student learning management system (LMS) on Canvas.

- Hold scheduled office hours a minimum of 2 hours per week with additional time available to students upon request.

- Supervise the Faculty Assistant or Teaching Assistant assigned to the section if applicable.

- Work closely with the Language Program Office (LPO) and program pedagogy staff to prepare for course observations and performance evaluations that ensure program guidelines and expectations are met.

- Demonstrate ability to collaborate with other instructors and program staff.

- Contribute to fostering a supportive and collegial working environment.

- Advise on cultural programming and help prepare and implement institute co-curricular activities no more than one a week.

- Participate in all pedagogy workshops and instructor meetings organized by WISLI and individual programs including all required pre-service workshops during the first week of employment.

- Instructors may be required to submit supplemental evaluations for students who have received a FLAS fellowship or other funding.

- Instructors may be required to administer placement tests to incoming program participants.

- Follow WISLI best practices and work toward level-appropriate standards of ACTFL proficiency-based instruction.

Instructors are responsible for managing their classrooms which includes:

• Ensuring target language use in the classroom.

• Maintaining an engaging and orderly learning environment.

• Acting as the first point of contact for student academic and non-academic issues with support from the pedagogy coordinator and academic director.

• Organizing all course materials and updating student grades in Canvas.

• Sharing course-related communications with students.

• Managing classroom administrative tasks including taking attendance reporting grades and providing timely feedback.

During the eight-week summer period there will be at least one scheduled teaching observation. Additional observations may be arranged for professional development purposes to address classroom-related issues or for funding agency oversight. All observations will be scheduled with prior notice.

SEASSI Burmese Filipino Hmong Javanese Khmer or Lao courses will be offered in a synchronous remote format for summer 2026. Instructors for remote courses are not expected to live in Madison and are expected to have sufficient internet access and technology to effectively teach without interruption and to meet all requirements of instructional staff at SEASSI including attendance at all meetings during pre-service orientation week attendance at all mandatory pedagogy training meetings holding of office hours etc. Meetings and classes will be held during the business day based on the US Central time zone.

SEASSI Indonesian Thai and Vietnamese courses will be offered at the elementary intermediate and advanced levels in person in Madison WI in summer 2026. Instructors of these courses are expected to live in Madison for the duration of the position. Indonesian Thai and Vietnamese instructors will be a part of the SEAFLI (Southeast Asian Flagship Languages Initiative) teaching team and will participate in both the SEASSI and SEAFLI programs. These instructors will collaborate with other SEAFLI instructors and work with SEAFLI Coordinator and LPO Administrative staff to ensure grant deliverables such as language portfolios are being met.

NEW to WISLI 2026 courses:

• Rising high school juniors and seniors may be admitted to WISLI online courses. Support for instructors with these students will be provided during pre-service week.
• Classes will run between 8:30am-1:30pm Central Time with 4 hours of class time and breaks included as agreed upon by instructors and students.
• The weekly class schedule will be different from previous summers integrating cultural programming into class time. Along with this change instructors are expected to develop and follow a general workflow during pre-service week that keeps pace with the intensive schedule and supports student expectations. A sample course schedule will be provided to finalists later in the hiring process.

For more information please visit appointment is for summer 2026 only. There is no presumption of reappointment.

Key Job Responsibilities:

5% Attend language team meetings and lead/participate in extra-curricular activities.

5% Attend all SEASSI pedagogy sessions staff meetings and activities as assigned

• Facilitates classroom online and/or laboratory instruction for one or more courses including assessment of student performance

• Develops instructional design and curriculum relevant to a course of instruction

• Serves as an initial point of contact for students as it relates to specific course or series content and expectations

Department:

Language Programs Office (LPO) International Division

Compensation:

$12000-$13500 for 9-week appointment based on the Academic Year minimum rate of $52000 minimum Annual Rate $69330

Required Qualifications:

• Fluency or near-native fluency in the language being taught and in English required.
• Two years of college/university experience preferred in teaching Burmese Filipino Hmong Indonesian Javanese Khmer Lao Thai and/or Vietnamese languages as a second language at the elementary intermediate or advanced level in the U.S. or abroad.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of current issues in language pedagogy and training in language proficiency preferred.
• Prior experience in intensive summer language teaching preferred.
• Experience with remote teaching and technology in foreign language is strongly preferred.

Education:

Minimum of Bachelors degree required in Southeast Asian or Area Studies Linguistics Second Language Acquisition or a related field

How to Apply:

Please submit the following through the jobs portal:

- Cover letter addressing teaching philosophy language(s) and level(s) applying to teach and number of semesters taught in higher education language courses or equivalent experience. Instructors new to WISLI may wish to describe their ability to teach language in an intensive online format.

- CV

- List of the names of three professional references including current supervisor

- Student evaluations strongly encouraged.

Finalists may be required to provide additional materials such as a sample syllabus lesson plan and/or a teaching demonstration as a part of the hiring process.

Contact Information:

Please submit any questions to the following:

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