Limited Term Appointment in French Oral Communication Skills Development

Job title: Limited Term Appointment in French Oral Communication Skills Development
Position code: 25-LTA-FRAN-M
Date posted: February 20, 2025
Application deadline: March 30, 2025
Advertised until: the position is filled

Position description:

The Département d'études françaises in the Faculty of Arts and Science invites applications for a 12-month Limited Term Appointment (LTA) in French Oral Communication Skills Development. The responsibilities of this position include: teaching, collaborating on program development and coordination, supporting recruitment efforts and working with student services across Concordia University.

The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting students' learning of French as a Second Language (FSL), particularly in developing their oral communication skills to facilitate their integration into Quebec or other French-speaking regions. They will be responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of FSL courses at all proficiency levels, with a strong emphasis on elementary and intermediate levels, as well as on oral comprehension, expression, interaction, and phonetics.

Additionally, the successful candidate will work closely with colleagues in the Département d'études françaises, contributing to the continuous enhancement of the student experience through initiatives that foster enriching and inclusive learning environments. A collaborative mindset, strong team spirit, and active engagement in departmental projects will be essential for success in this role.

Limited-term Faculty members at Concordia are full-time faculty members whose primary duties include teaching and service, with no research obligations.

Qualifications and assets

The successful candidate will hold a master’s degree in Teaching and Learning of French as a Second Language (FSL), Applied Linguistics, or a closely related field. A PhD in these fields is considered an asset. The primary selection criterion is teaching experience in FSL at all proficiency levels in a post-secondary setting or with adult learners, with a strong emphasis on teaching oral skills.

Additionally, the candidate must demonstrate excellent knowledge of French language proficiency scales (Échelle québécoise, CECRL), proficiency in online teaching tools (e.g., Moodle), strong potential for pedagogical innovation, and ability to adapt to the diverse learning needs of university students.

Experience in FSL curriculum development and student recruitment, as well as in administering recognized French tests (e.g., DELF, DALF, TCF), will be considered strong assets. Furthermore, in-depth knowledge of the structures, particularities, and prosodic features of Laurentian French will be considered a major asset.

Candidates are encouraged to share any career interruptions or personal circumstances that may have had an impact on their career goals in their letter of application. These will be carefully considered in the assessment process. The Department values diversity among its faculty and strongly encourages applications from those who will contribute to that profile. Concordia University is an English-language institution of higher learning at which the primary language of instruction and research is English. Since this position supports academic functions of the university, proficiency in English is required.

How to Apply 

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and Permanent Residents will be given priority. To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, the University is obliged to gather information about applicants’ status as either Permanent Residents of Canada or Canadian citizens. While applicants need not identify their country of origin or current citizenship, all applicants must include one of the following statements:

Yes, I am a citizen or permanent resident of Canada

or

No, I am not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada

Applications should be submitted electronically in French to Dr. Denis Liakin, Chair of the Département d'études françaises, at denis.liakin@concordia.ca. Each application must include:

• A cover letter specifying the position title and code, 25-LTA-FRAN-M (in French);
• A comprehensive curriculum vitae (in French);
• A statement of teaching philosophy (in French);
• Convincing evidence of teaching expertise and ability;
• Teaching evaluations (if unavailable, their absence must be justified in the dossier); and
• Three letters of recommendation (preferably in French) corresponding to the position described in the call and addressed directly to Denis Liakin, Chair of the Département d'études françaises.

Applications must be received by March 30, 2025; however, they will be reviewed until the position is filled. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The successful candidate is expected to begin on July 1, 2025.

Concordia University is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community, and recognizes the importance of inclusion in achieving excellence in teaching and research. As part of this commitment to providing our students with the dynamic, innovative, and inclusive educational environment of a Next‐Generation University, we require all applicants to articulate in their cover letter how their background, as well as lived and professional experiences and expertise have prepared them to teach in ways that are relevant for a diverse, multicultural contemporary Canadian society. Possible examples to demonstrate a diverse experience may include, but are not limited to:

• teaching about underrepresented populations;
• mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds;
• committee work;
• offering or organizing educational programming;
• participation in training and workshops.

All applicants will receive an email invitation to complete a short equity survey. Participation in the survey is voluntary and no identifying information about candidates will be shared with hiring committees. Candidates who wish to self-identify as a member of an underrepresented group to the hiring committee may do so in their cover letter or by writing directly to the contact person indicated in this posting.