The Faculty of Arts at the University of Leuven is seeking a full-time tenure-track professor in the methodology of teaching French as a foreign language.
The Faculty of Arts offers a high-quality language teacher education program at master’s level with a strong emphasis on evidence-based language teaching methodology. This program is currently organized at 4 different KU Leuven campuses (i.e., in Leuven, Brussels, Kortrijk and Antwerp).
Duties
Research
The successful candidate will be responsible for:
- developing a research program in the above-mentioned field through publications, projects, conferences, and/or in-service training;
- maintaining and strengthening existing collaborations and networks, and developing new ones.
Teaching
At the bachelor’s level:
- Course “Becoming a language teacher: introductory stage Dutch – French” (B-KUL-F0ZF2A); offered annually; 15 ECTS; language of instruction: French and Dutch (campus Leuven); content-wise, this course mainly comprises the courses “Language Teaching Methodology (French) and “The methodology of language teaching: cross-linguistic principles” that are also mentioned below at master’s level.
- Course “French: linguistics 1” (B-KUL-YL0089); offered annually; campus Antwerp; 6 ECTS.
- One course in the Linguistics & Literary Studies program at campus Leuven (6 ECTS) in the domain of applied linguistics, related to language acquisition or language policy.
At the master’s level:
- Course “Language teaching methodology: French as a foreign language” (B-KUL-F0YW3A); offered annually; 6 ECTS; language of instruction: French.
- Course “The methodology of language teaching: cross-linguistic principles” (B-KUL-F0YV8A); offered annually; 3 ECTS; language of instruction: Dutch. For this course, you will work together with two other professors affiliated with the language teacher education program. The course is organized at the Leuven, Antwerp and Kortrijk campuses of KU Leuven: you will be responsible for teaching this course at one of those campuses, and will also coordinate the course together with the two colleagues mentioned above.
Supervision of bachelor's papers, education-oriented research papers and master's theses (mostly in French).
Service
The successful candidate will be responsible for:
- developing research and educational activities on the Antwerp and Leuven campuses of the Faculty of Arts.
- supervising the academic work of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students;
- providing excellent teaching in the assigned fields;
- collaborating in a constructive way with other members of the research group and faculty staff members;
- assuming administrative duties and leadership roles;
- developing strong networks with colleagues and key stakeholders in the education field, both within the academic community and the language teacher education program, and in the broader societal field outside university;
- participating in recruitment, outreach and valorization activities;
- propagating the importance of language teaching and of the teacher training program both within KU Leuven and the outside world.
Profile
Candidates are expected to:
- have a doctorate in the field of linguistics & literary studies, linguistics or language teaching methodology;
- demonstrate teaching and research expertise in (i) the field of teaching French as a foreign language, and (ii) foreign language acquisition/education in general. Expertise should be evidenced by publications, participation in conferences and/or seminars, and involvement in international networks;
- have relevant and positively evaluated teaching experience at the university level and have a demonstrable vision on teaching at university;
- be capable of working well and collegially within a team and show leadership in their relations with the staff members in charge of supporting students during their internship;
- be able to share scholarly knowledge regarding language teaching methodology and education with broader audiences and make an active contribution to the Faculty’s outreach;
- have a proficiency of Dutch at the C1 level. Candidates who do not meet this standard commit themselves to developing that proficiency within five years of employment. The candidate will be required to teach courses in both Dutch and French, supervise papers written in Dutch and take on Dutch-medium administrative and policy-related duties.
- have a proficiency of French at the C2 level, for both oral and written skills.
Offer
We offer:
- a full-time appointment as tenure-track professor. The appointment is initially for five years (extendable by one year in case of parental leave or serious illness), followed by an evaluation. If the evaluation is positive, the candidate will receive a permanent contract at the senior lecturer level.
- KU Leuven start-up funding of €110,000 if you cannot apply for other substantial research funding upon appointment.
- practical support in the areas of immigration and administration, housing, childcare, learning Dutch, partner career guidance, etc.
Interested?
Applicants are requested to submit the following documents through the university’s application platform:
- a motivation letter;
- a biosketch, in which you outline your surplus value as a scholar for the assigned core tasks of teaching, research and outreach, both in your previous and projected future career (maximally two pages);
- an annotated document describing your five most important publications or achievements;
- a curriculum vitae, including a full publication list;
- a research plan for the next five years (maximally two pages);
- a teaching plan that includes your vision on academic teaching (maximally two pages);
- a document in which you describe your view on outreach and on extending networks in the educational field (maximally 2 pages).
All applications should be submitted in English through KU Leuven’s online application platform.
FURTHER INFORMATION
The administrative language of KU Leuven is Dutch. If you do not have adequate knowledge of Dutch at the time of your appointment, KU Leuven provides language training to enable you to take part in administrative meetings. Before teaching courses in Dutch, you will be given the opportunity to learn Dutch to the required standard.
KU Leuven attaches great importance to research integrity and ethical conduct and will therefore ask you to sign an integrity statement upon appointment.
For more information about this vacancy, please contact the dean of the Faculty, Prof. Dr. Liesbet Heyvaert (tel. +32 56 24 61 45; email: liesbet.heyvaert@kuleuven.be) or the coordinator of the language teacher education program, Prof. Dr. Kris Van den Branden (tel. +32 16 32 53 63; email: kris.vandenbranden@kuleuven.be).
KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.
