Job Description

Primary instructors are responsible for teaching in an established language course, in collaboration with the home department and Summer Session. Courses are offered based on departmental and student needs.

Introductory and intermediate language courses are taught in an intensive, condensed format; these 300-unit courses meet 4 or 5 days each week for 6, 7, or 8 weeks, beginning June 15, 2026. Responsibility for teaching the courses is often divided into two or three separate 3- or 4-week positions (equivalent to teaching 100 or 150 units and compensated accordingly). Since SLI courses have multiple instructors and/or teaching assistants, all instructors must be prepared to coordinate daily with their co-instructors and/or language assistants. Instructors of intensive (300-unit) modern language courses will also be required to administer a four-skills proficiency assessment at the end of the course, in cooperation with the Office of Language Assessment. Instructors are also responsible for grading all of the exam components, and may need to participate in training in order to do so. All SLI courses will be taught remotely.

Our instructional employment webpage contains the list of course offerings in which we have openings, as well as more information about our policies and processes: https://college.uchicago.edu/summer-session/summer-session-instructional-employment

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s or Doctoral degree in language teaching, language area, or related field strongly preferred
• Prior language-instruction experience in the target language at the university or four-year college level, and knowledge of different approaches to language pedagogy, including communicative and content-based instruction, required
• Native or near-native ability in the target language required for modern languages; for classical languages, superior reading proficiency in the target language is required, and intermediate or higher proficiency in speaking, listening, and writing in the target language is preferred
• Previous experience in intensive summer language program and/or remotely taught language pedagogy preferred
• Knowledge of four skills proficiency assessments and previous experience with proficiency-oriented language instruction preferred (for modern languages only)
• Candidates whose University of Chicago affiliation will end before the start of summer quarter (such as graduate students planning to graduate in the spring) will need to apply as external applicants; contact summersession@uchicago.edu for more information.

All hires must be approved by the Offices of the College Dean and Provost, are conditional on having authorization to work in the United States, and are also contingent on successful completion of a background check.

Instructors of remotely taught courses must be in the United States when teaching for the program, specifically in California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, or Wisconsin for tax purposes. Remote instructors must be able to perform their responsibilities from a remote location, and their remote work arrangements are their responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, an adequate internet connection and an adequate working space.

External candidates hired for this position will hold an appropriate title based on their status and affiliation at the time of appointment. For candidates hired as lecturers, t he terms and conditions of employment for this position are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the University and Service Employees International Union. The per-course salary for academic year 2026–27 will be at least $9,193. This position is not benefits-eligible.

Application Instructions

1. Visit our SLI webpage to learn more about the program and its individual courses.
2. Submit your application for the SLI primary instructor position through the University of Chicago’s Interfolio jobs board You will be required to upload your cover letter, CV, recent teaching evaluations, and reference contact information for current or previous teaching supervisor and/or department chair.

Review of applications will begin March 26, 2026 and continue until all positions are filled.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-834-3988 or email equalopportunity@uchicago.edu with their request.