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Position Details

Proposed Start Date 06/16/2026

Working Title Summer Adjunct Instructor of Russian

Department 221000 - FLL Foreign Languages

Position Number D97674-00

Representation AP - AFT, Local 3571

Position Summary

Brief Description of PSU/School/Dept

The Department of World Languages and Literatures plays a central role in preparing the students of Portland State University to function in the global community. Because we believe that language is central to that ability, we offer instruction in American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Modern Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Norwegian, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Vietnamese. The Department is committed to teaching for proficiency. All of our language classes are designed to develop functional skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking for eventual use in a broad variety of real-world settings.

Position Summary

The Russian program in the Department of World Languages and Literatures at Portland State University serves undergraduate students at all levels, both lower division (1st & 2nd year) and upper division (3rd & 4th year). We invite applicants to teach third-year Russian language courses during Summer 2026. Students typically enter 3rd Year Russian with a minimum of ACTFL Intermediate Low proficiency in all skills, and the course target proficiency is Intermediate Mid-High.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Teach third-year Russian (Rus 301-302-303), over a nine-week summer session, with 2.5 hours of direct instruction per day from Monday through Friday.
• Work from an established curriculum and textbook for third-year Russian.
• Prepare daily lesson plans independently, using sound pedagogy to teach language, grammar, and culture.
• Teach and conduct class in the target language.
• Create contexts and activities for communicating in Russian within the classroom.
• Correct and grade homework assignments, quizzes, written and oral exams in a timely fashion, and provide feedback to students on their work and progress.
• Post and keep office hours to be available to students outside of class. Teaching faculty members are required to schedule a minimum of 4 hours of office hours per week during the term(s) that they teach, and be available to their students by appointment.
• Maintain a Canvas course site for the class.
• Consult with the course supervisor to address and resolve individual student difficulties or administrative problems.
• Be available for staff meetings immediately before and during the term, as necessary.

Minimum Qualifications

- Master’s Degree or equivalent in a related field, or a BA Degree if applicant is currently enrolled in an MA/PhD program in a Russian language and literature or a closely related field
- Two years teaching Russian at the college level
- Native or near-native fluency in Russian and in English

Preferred Qualifications

- MA or PhD in teaching Russian as a Foreign Language or closely related field
- Demonstrated effectiveness teaching Russian at post-secondary level.
- Familiarity with the Canvas Learning Management system and current pedagogies for communicative language instruction.

Key Cultural Competencies

- Creates an environment that acknowledges, encourages and celebrates differences.
- Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities and cultural backgrounds.
- Seeks opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.
- Adheres to all PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.

Environmental Stewardship

Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long-term sustainability goals.

Required Professional Standards of Conduct

At Portland State University, all employees are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner which maintains a safe, respectful, and productive environment for faculty, students, administrators, and staff. It is the responsibility of every member of the Portland State University community to conduct themselves in accordance with our PSU Professional Standards of Conduct which are available at www.pdx.edu/hr/professional-standards-conduct.

Compensation

Summer part time faculty members are paid per credit hour similarly to the AFT Collective Bargaining Agreement which can be found at https://www.pdx.edu/academic-affairs/academic-unions#psufa.

Application Instructions

Additional Information

Does this position require the employee to drive a motor vehicle? No

Background Check Required Yes