Lecturer in French

The role

The successful candidate will direct and teach a Year 4 optional unit and a Year 2 optional unit in their subject area. The candidate may also be asked to contribute to undergraduate core units (such as French Cultures in Context, Representations of Francophone Cultures, and French in the World), teach French to English translation, and supervise dissertations for the final-year Independent Study unit. They may also be asked to contribute to the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Comparative Literatures and Cultures. Preference may be given to a specialist in visual arts / literature / history from French-speaking countries beyond France.

Teaching will be delivered in person through a combination of lectures and seminars and may also include design and delivery of online asynchronous activities . The role involves maintaining and updating the online virtual learning platform. Marking duties will need to be fulfilled and the successful candidate will also be expected to act as a personal tutor to undergraduates in the School of Modern Languages.

What will you be doing?

Main responsibilities:

Teaching

• To take on a teaching load appropriate to the level of appointment
• Select and deploy appropriate content, teaching material and methods, and assessment practices for the unit, under the ultimate guidance of a more senior member of the academic staff.
• Ensure that content, methods of delivery and learning materials will meet the defined learning objectives.
• Prepare and effectively deliver lectures. Prepare and lead seminar classes.
• Contribute to the delivery of teaching and learning activities which effectively incorporate engagement and knowledge exchange.
• Contribute to the successful development of new techniques, methods and tools, where appropriate.

• Keep abreast of research and scholarly literature in the field and begin to contribute to appropriate workshops, colloquia, etc.

Student Support

• Provide effective individual academic advice/support to students, including advising on reading appropriate to the course, availability of library resources and practical techniques where appropriate.
• Set and mark coursework, examinations and other assessment tasks in a timely fashion and to an appropriate standard.
• Provide effective pastoral support to a limited number of students, referring them on for further help and/or guidance as necessary.
• Self-reflect on performance, responding to student feedback, mentoring, and peer observation and use this self-reflection to inform and enhance future activities.

Other Responsibilities

• To undertake administrative and pastoral responsibilities as directed by the Head of School.
• To carry out administrative tasks of importance to the routine functioning and further development of the School, including, for example, in relation to recruitment and admission, liaison with schools and links with foreign partners/external bodies, undergraduate placements abroad, assessment, and curriculum design and development.

• Maintain academic standards, academic freedom and work in accordance with University policies (e.g. regarding equal opportunities, ethics, health and safety).

You should apply if

Essential

• A good honours degree (or equivalent) with detailed subject knowledge in relevant areas, including Francophone Postcolonial Studies.
• A PhD in a relevant area of French/Francophone Studies or be working towards one.
• Significant experience of teaching in higher education commensurate with an individual who has progressed from level a and/or working independently at a specialist level in their own clinical/professional area.
• High-level analytical skills.
• Ability to stimulate and encourage the commitment to learn in others.
• Ability to teach appropriately in various ways at various levels and to communicate clearly material of a specialist or highly technical nature.
• Sufficient breadth of knowledge within their own subject area to work within established teaching and clinical/professional programmes with some appropriate advice and support.
• Ability to use initiative, and apply creativity, to solve problems that are encountered in the teaching and/or research context.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and students.
• Ability to organise their own time and work, to meet deadlines, and manage competing priorities.

Additional information

Contract type: Fixed term from 21/09/2026 - 20/09/2028

Work pattern: 1 FTE

Grade: J

Salary: £43,482 - £50,253 per annum

School/Unit: School of Modern Languages

Shift pattern: Monday - Friday

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on Monday 25th May

For informal queries please contact: Professor Ruth Bush ( [email protected] ) and Dr. Albertine Fox ( [email protected] )

Our strategy and mission

We recently launched our strategy to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.