Project GO Russian Instructor

The Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies is seeking a Russian Instructor to teach with the University of Pittsburgh’s Project GO study abroad program in Narva, Estonia.

The incumbent is expected to meet all the various responsibilities including:

• Participate in all pre-departure mandatory training and planning meetings for program staff.
• Design a detailed syllabus for the 3rd-year Russian course for Pitt’s Project GO program with Narva College. The syllabus should be submitted by May 17, 2024, to the Lead Instructor for the Pitt Project GO program, who will provide feedback and then forward the syllabus to Gina Peirce.
• Responsibly carry out instruction for ROTC 3rd-year Russian. Prepare detailed lesson plans for the 3rd-year Russian course, covering class activities with reference to course materials. Assign appropriate daily homework. Ensure prompt correction and return of assigned homework. Administer weekly quizzes and at least 4 graded tests, including midterm and final oral and written tests, and maintain careful records of student performance. In collaboration with the Lead Instructor, ensure that your students’ preparation for cultural lectures, excursions, and film series is integrated into the 3rd-year language curriculum and daily assignments are appropriate to increase their interactions with native speakers. It is expected that you will teach daily Monday-Friday. Participation in all program-related activities is mandatory.
• Attend weekly meetings organized by the Lead Instructor to ensure smooth communication during the program.
• Collaborate with Narva College as needed on the design and implementation of cultural programs. Coordinate your classes with the content to be covered during lectures and excursions.
• Actively seek to establish a collaborative and positive working relationship with all staff participating in the program.
• Participate in occasional classroom observations by the Lead Instructor, who will provide constructive feedback to improve the effectiveness of the program in attaining Project GO language proficiency goals.
• Prepare your students and accompany them on all program-related excursions and lectures and run regular debriefing sessions with students following excursions and lectures.
• Converse with students in the target language as often as possible (especially during coffee breaks, group meals, excursions, etc.)
• Oversee students’ work on a final project.
• Be available for student consultations at least 1-2 hours weekly outside regular class time.
• Calculate and report students’ final grades to Gina Peirce at the University of Pittsburgh by August 9, 2024.
• Maintain a course folder containing all student handouts, quizzes, examinations, and examples of student work, electronic copies.
• Collaborate as needed with Pitt Project GO program staff based in Pittsburgh and/or in Narva to arrange the administration of required language proficiency exams (OPIc tests and Online Flagship Reading and Listening exams) to all students during the initial and final weeks of the program.
• In addition to working on the academic portion of the program, collaborate with the Resident Director/Program Assistant to respond to student needs regarding health, safety and security, behavioral issues, and/or culture shock as needed.

You also will be responsible for the duties normally expected of instructors leading study abroad programs, which means you must participate in pre-departure orientation sessions (up to three held during the spring term) and assist in crisis/emergency management upon request of the Narva College Onsite Coordinator. You are also required to coordinate with the program provider and Pitt’s Global Experiences Office to ensure that out-of-class site visits correspond with the experiential component of the program, meet budgetary constraints, and follow the health, safety, and security guidelines applicable to all Pitt study abroad programs. All faculty members who participate in study abroad programs are also expected to administer course and program evaluations through the proper channels.

Successful candidates must hold a master’s degree or relevant terminal degree with experience in Russian language instruction.

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