How to Apply
The Department of Asian Languages & Cultures seeks Graduate Student Instructors (GSI) for the Winter 2024 semester. These positions may range from .25 to .50 appointments (with the majority being .35 appointments), and as posted, are subject to a collective bargaining agreement between the Regents of the University of Michigan and the Graduate Employees? Organization, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO 3550.
Applicants must complete the following steps to be considered:
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached and uploaded as the first page of your CV/resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position(s) [Courses interested in] and outline skills and experiences that directly relate to this position.
If you have held a GSI position at U-M please attached the summary sheets of the E&E evaluations for all courses previously taught. This information should be uploaded to a single document combined with your cover letter and resume/CV. If you have trouble including evaluations, you may email the evaluations only to our Student Services Team at alc-gradservices@umich.edu.
Graduate Student Instructor positions are only open to current or matriculating University of Michigan graduate students.
Applicants must also complete our External GSI form: https://forms.gle/hkoAbuUZdJi2Ci7y5
Questions may be directed to alc-gradservices@umich.edu
Course Description
The Department of Asian Languages & Cultures is currently accepting applications for Winter 2024 semester GSI available positions:
One 35% GSI position in ASIANLAN 126: First Year Japanese II.
One 30% Grader GSI position in ASIANLAN 126: First Year Japanese II.
Up to two 35% GSI positions in ASIANLAN 226: Second Year Japanese II.
One 30% Grader position in ASIANLAN 226: Second Year Japanese II.
One 25% Grader position in ASIANLAN 326: Third year Japanese II.
More information on these courses can be found on the LSA Course Guide (lsa.umich.edu/cg).
ASIANLAN 126 First year Japanese II
Credits: 5
This course is the second half of the first-year Japanese course, and is designed for students with little or no understanding of Japanese. The course focuses on the developing students? proficiency in all four language skills (speaking, listening, writing, and reading) while simultaneously familiarizing them with aspects of both traditional and modern Japanese culture that are necessary to build language competency. Recitation sessions are conducted in Japanese emphasizing speaking/reading in Japanese contexts. Analyses, explanation, and discussions utilizing English are specifically reserved for lecture sessions.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand and appropriately use the most basic grammar patterns and vocabulary terms (e.g. noun sentence structure, verb conjugation, adjective conjugation, location words, etc.).
- Understand and participate in basic conversations (e.g. self-introductions, shopping, making invitations, describing locations of items, talking about one?s favorite trips, etc.).
- Read and write the Japanese hiragana and katakana characters, and produce approximately 60 kanji in context.
- Speak at a novice-mid, or higher, level of proficiency as defined by the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview.
Required Texts:
TOBIRA I: An Integrated Course In Elementary Japanese, UM JLP original textbook. It will be published on July 1st in 2021 from Kuroshio publishers in Japan.
ASIANLAN 226 Second year Japanese II
Credits: 5
ASIANLAN225 is the second half of the second-year Japanese course, and is designed for students who have the equivalent of one-year?s study of Japanese at the University of Michigan. The goal of the course is the simultaneous progression of students? proficiency in all four language skills (speaking, listening, writing, and reading) along with an increase in familiarity with aspects of both traditional and modern Japanese culture that are necessary for language competency. Students will learn to successfully handle a variety of uncomplicated, basic, and communicative tasks and social situations.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand and appropriately use basic grammar patterns and vocabulary terms (e.g. transitive and intransitive verbs, potential forms, volitional forms, honorific verbs, hearsay, etc.).
- Understand and participate in daily conversations and to be able to express opinions/ thoughts and to make presentations, using appropriate vocabulary, expressions and basic grammar in context (e.g. everyday life, school, particular interests, etc.).
- Read and write novice-mid/high-level materials with a solid understanding of main ideas and supporting details on familiar topics from a variety of texts.
- Produce approximately 150 kanji in context.
- Speak at an novice-high/intermediate-low, or higher, level of proficiency as defined by the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview.
Enforced Prerequisite: ASIANLAN126 /ASIANLAN127/ASIANLAN129 or obtain a qualifying score on the placement exam.
Required Texts:
TOBIRA II: An Integrated Course In Elementary Japanese, UM JLP original textbook. It will be published in 2022 from KURODHIO publisher in Japan.
ASIANLAN 326 Third year Japanese II
Credits: 4
ASIANLAN 325 is designed for students who have completed second-year Japanese or have the equivalent of a two-year study of Japanese at the University of Michigan. The course focuses on cultivating an intermediate level of linguistic, pragmatic, and socio-cultural language competence. Course readings, conversation exercises, and class discussion will introduce new grammar structures, vocabulary, expressions and various aspects of Japanese culture. In order to improve all four language skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing), various projects will also be assigned throughout the term.
By the end of the course, students in the regular section will be able to:
- Read intermediate-level materials with a solid understanding of sentence structure.
- Write intermediate-level essays, using appropriate grammatical forms and sentence structures regarding familiar topics, such as issues in Japanese culture and society.
- Speak at an intermediate-mid level of proficiency as defined by the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview.
- Use appropriate speech styles and communication strategies for various settings.
- Produce/recognize approximately 600 kanji in context.
The STEM section is a class designed for students who major in science, technology, engineering, and math, with the goal to connect your language learning with your field of interest. The course introduces STEM-related content and vocabulary, and you will perform fun and meaningful task-based activities in order to acquire practical Japanese language skills.
Enforced Prerequisite: ASIANLAN226/ASIANLAN227/ASIANLAN229/RCLANG229 or obtain a qualifying score on the placement exam.
Required Texts:
TOBIRA: Gateway to advanced Japanese learning through content and multimedia. Kurosio Publishers.
Responsibilities*
ASIANLAN 126: First year Japanese (35% GSI)
- Lead up to three hours of recitation sections a week
- Attend lecture twice each week
- Implement teaching plans made in consultation with the primary instructor of the course
- Grading students assignment, quizzes, lesson tests, etc.
- Proctor exams and quizzes
- Attend weekly meeting with a supervising faculty member
- Hold at least one office hour in the South Thayer Building
- Proctoring final examinations and grading the exams with lecturers
- Class preparation: typing learning materials in Canvas, supporting course projects, helping to make audio files, etc.
ASIANLAN 126: First year Japanese (30% Grader)
- Observing one (of the three) lecture classes on Tuesday and Thursday
- Grading of students? assignment, quizzes, lesson tests, etc. for lecture sections
- Maintaining Canvas site of ASIANLAN 126
- Proctoring final examinations and grading the exams with lecturers
- Class preparation: typing learning materials in Canvas, supporting course projects, helping to make audio files, making study aids, etc.
- Tutoring students who want to practice conversation
ASIANLAN 226: Second year Japanese (35% GSI)
- Lead up to three hours of recitation sections a week
- Attend lecture twice each week
- Implement teaching plans made in consultation with the primary instructor of the course
- Grading students assignment, quizzes, lesson tests, etc.
- Proctor exams and quizzes
- Attend weekly meeting with a supervising faculty member
- Hold at least one office hour in the South Thayer Building
- Proctoring final examinations and grading the exams with lecturers
- Class preparation: typing learning materials in Canvas, supporting course projects, helping to make audio files, making study aids, etc.
ASIANLAN 226: Second year Japanese (30% Grader)
- Observing one (of the two) lecture classes on Tuesday and Thursday
- Grading of students? assignment, quizzes, lesson tests, etc.
- Maintaining Canvas site of ASIANLAN 226
- Proctoring final examinations and grading the exams with lecturers
- Class preparation: typing learning materials in Canvas, supporting course projects, helping to make audio files, making study aids, etc.
- Tutoring students who want to practice conversation
ASIANLAN 326: Second year Japanese (25% Grader)
- Grading of students? assignment, quizzes, lesson tests, etc.
- Maintaining Canvas site of ASIANLAN 326
- Proctoring final examinations and grading the exams with lecturers
- Class preparation: typing learning materials in Canvas, supporting course projects, helping to make audio files, making study aids, etc.
- Tutoring students who want to practice conversation
Students who have not previously been a GSI for the College of LSA will be required to attend the online CRLT GSI Teaching Orientation as an online program.
Students who have not previously been a GSI for the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures will also be required to attend an orientation.
GSIs are expected to be on campus and available to work no later than Wednesday, January 10, 2024, the first day of classes.
Required Qualifications*
- All applicants must be graduate students enrolled at the University of Michigan in good academic standing. Students whose undergraduate degree is from an institution where the language of instruction is not English must have already taken or be currently enrolled in the English Language Institute?s ELI 994. The student must have a passing score of 4 on the Oral English Test (OET).
- Japanese Native speaker, or if a GSI is a non-native speaker, s/he should be Japanese Proficiency Test N1 level holder with Advanced-high speaking proficiency (at least) based on the ACTFL standard
- Serious career interest in language teaching
- Good at Computer operations including excel and word files
- Good penmanship to correct student?s writing performance
Desired Qualifications*
- Can speak standard Japanese with good pronunciation and intonation
- Organized and reliable personality
- Should be punctual and keep the deadline
- Prioritize GSI work as well as own study
- Cooperative and flexible
- LSA Student enrolled in graduate program
Contact Information
Contact Student Services Team at alc-gradservices@umich.edu with any questions related to your application.
Decision Making Process
Decision Making Process
All applications will be forwarded to the Director of the Japanese Language Program and the primary instructor of ASIAN 126/ASIANLAN 226. The Director will make hiring recommendations to the department. Once the recommendation is reviewed, an offer letter will be authorized.
Unsuccessful applications will be retained for consideration in the event that there are last minute openings for available positions.
Selection Process
All applications will be forwarded to the Director of the Japanese Language Program and the primary instructor of ASIAN 126/ASIANLAN 226. The Director will make hiring recommendations to the department. Once the recommendation is reviewed, an offer letter will be authorized.
Unsuccessful applications will be retained for consideration in the event that there are last minute openings for available positions.
GEO Contract Information
The University will not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, familial status, parental status or pregnancy status, sex, gender identity or expression (whether actual or perceived), sexual orientation, age, height, weight, disability, citizenship status, veteran status, HIV antibody status, political belief, membership in any social or political organization, participation in a grievance or complaint whether formal or informal, medical conditions including those related to pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, arrest record, or any other factor where the item in question will not interfere with job performance and where the employee is otherwise qualified. The University of Michigan agrees to abide by the protections afforded employees with disabilities as outlined in the rules and regulations which implement Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Information for the Office for Institutional Equity may be found at https://oie.umich.edu/ and for the University Ombuds at https://ombuds.umich.edu/
Unsuccessful applications will be retained for consideration in the event that there are last minute openings for available positions. In the event that an employee does not receive their preferred assignment, they can request a written explanation or an in-person interview with the hiring agents(s) to be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time.
This position, as posted, is subject to a collective bargaining agreement between the Regents of the University of Michigan and the Graduate Employees' Organization, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO 3550.
Standard Practice Guide 601.38, Required Disclosure of Felony Charges and/or Felony Convictions applies to all Graduate Student Assistants (GSAs). SPG 601.38 may be accessed online at https://spg.umich.edu/policy/601.38 , and its relation to your employment can be found in MOU 10 of your employment contract.
U-M EEO/AA Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.