Full-Time Lecturer in Persian Language

The Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures at the University of Pennsylvania invites applications for a full-time Lecturer and Program Coordinator in Persian Language beginning January 1 2027.

The initial appointment will be for one year with the possibility of renewal for up to 2 additional years contingent upon satisfactory performance review and Deans approval. Employee benefits are provided.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will teach Persian language courses at elementary intermediate advanced and/or heritage-speaker levels according to program needs. The normal teaching load is five courses per academic year; the Spring 2027 assignment will be adjusted to reflect the January 1 start date.

The Lecturer will work closely with standing faculty to advance Persian language and cultural study at Penn. Responsibilities include teaching and advising students holding office hours participating in program department and School initiatives and contributing to curriculum development assessment and program evaluation. The successful candidate will help strengthen the programs contribution to Penns new College curriculum through innovative teaching and by engaging students from across Penns four undergraduate schools.

Penns Persian Language Program offers instruction from elementary through advanced levels including dedicated heritage-speaker courses and attracts students from across Penns four undergraduate schools. We welcome candidates who approach Persian within its broad transregional and transnational contexts and can engage students with the linguistic and cultural diversity of Iran Afghanistan Central Asia and Persian-speaking diasporic communities. The successful candidate will demonstrate pedagogical excellence interdisciplinary collaboration collegiality and a commitment to creating an intellectually rigorous and inclusive learning environment.

Applicants should demonstrate expertise teaching experience and a strong commitment to Persian language education. A Masters degree is required and a Ph.D. preferred in Persian Language and Literature Education Linguistics Applied Linguistics Second Language Acquisition or a closely related field.

Native or near-native proficiency in Persian and fluency in English are required. Preference will be given to candidates with substantial experience teaching Persian at multiple levels in U.S. post-secondary institutions and with legal authorization to work in the United States.

Candidates should be familiar with current second- and foreign-language pedagogy particularly proficiency- and content-based instruction. Experience incorporating digital technologies and innovative instructional materials as well as familiarity with contemporary standards for language learning and assessment are highly desirable.