How to Apply

The Department of Asian Languages & Cultures seeks one Graduate Student Instructors (GSI) for the Winter 2026 semester. This position is a 50% FTE and as posted, is subject to a collective bargaining agreement between the Regents of the University of Michigan and the Graduate Employees? Organization, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO 3550. 

In addition to applying via the University of Michigan Careers website, applicants should complete the following steps:

1. Applicants MUST identify courses they are interested in applying for by completing the departmental application: http://webapps.lsa.umich.edu/Apply/2310
2. Submit a cover letter included as the first page of your CV/resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position(s), courses interested in, and outline skills and experiences that directly relate to this position. 
3. Submit a resume/CV  
4. Submit an unofficial transcript

If you have held a GSI position at U-M please attached the summary sheets of the E&E evaluations for all courses previously taught. This information should be uploaded to a single document combined with your cover letter and resume/CV.    

Graduate Student Instructor positions are only open to current or matriculating University of Michigan graduate students. 

Course Description

The Department of Asian Languages & Cultures is currently accepting applications

One 50% GSI position in ASIANLAN 202: Second Year Chinese II

Course descriptions and additional course information for each course can be found on the LSA Course
Guide: www.lsa.umich.edu/cg.

ASIANLAN 202

This course continues ASIANLAN 201, and is conducted primarily in Chinese. It develops students' aural-
oral proficiency and elevates their reading and writing ability. Lectures on grammar, classroom
exercises/discussion, oral presentations, and regular quizzes/tests cover all four areas of proficiency
(listening, speaking, reading and writing).

By the completing of ASIANLAN 202, students should be able to read and write approximately 600 new
characters, they can use the language to speculate at length about some abstract topics such as how
changes in history or the course of human events would have affected his or her life or civilization.
Students can better integrate appropriate cultural and historical references in his or her speech.

The goals of ASIANLAN 202 are to help students
a. improve their listening and speaking proficiency;
b. achieve a solid reading level with the roughly 500 new vocabulary entries introduced over the
ten lessons; and
c. learn to express themselves clearly in writing on a variety of covered topics using learned
grammar patterns and vocabulary.

These goals are approached through grammar lectures, in-class drills and listening/speaking activities,
oral presentations, and regular quizzes/tests, collectively covering all four proficiency areas (listening,
speaking, reading, writing). An underlying theme of the course is that, insofar as language is a systematic
reflection of culture, understanding the link between language and culture can make the language
easier?and more fascinating?to learn. The text for the course is Integrated Chinese (Level Two)?
Textbook and Workbook.

ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION MAY BE FOUND ON THE LSA COURSE GUIDE (lsa.umich.edu/cg).

Responsibilities*

ASIANLAN 202

Lead up to three hours of recitation sections a week; grade homework, quizzes, and tests; attend lecture twice each week; create and implement teaching plans made in consultation with the lead instructor of the course; attend regular Chinese Language Program meetings; hold at least two office hours a week in the South Thayer Building.

Students who have not previously been a GSI for the College of LSA will be required to attend CRLT GSI Teaching Orientation before the start of winter.

Students who have not previously been a GSI for the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures will also be required to attend an orientation. Date TBA.

GSIs are expected to be on campus and available to work no later than Wednesday, January 8, 2026, the first day of classes. 

Required Qualifications*

All applicants must be graduate students enrolled at the University of Michigan in good academic standing. Students whose undergraduate degree is from an institution where the language of instruction is not English must have already taken or be currently enrolled in the English Language Institute?s ELI 994. The student must have a passing score of 4 on the Oral English Test (OET).  

High level of proficiency in Chinese language.  A serious career interest in teaching language. 

Desired Qualifications*

Undergraduate degree in Chinese Studies, Chinese language, Education, or Linguistics. Native or near-native competence in both Chinese and English. Good pronunciation of Standard Mandarin. Previous experience in language instruction. Students who have taken ASIANLAN 445: Chinese Pedagogy are preferred. 

LSA Student enrolled in a graduate program.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Contact Information

Contact Student Services Team at [email protected] with any questions related to your application. 

Decision Making Process

All applications will be forwarded to the Director of the Chinese Language Program and the primary instructor of the course. The Director will make hiring recommendations to the department and a department administrator will then authorize the appointment paperwork. 

Unsuccessful applications will be retained for consideration if there are last minute openings for available positions.  

Selection Process

All applications will be forwarded to the primary instructor of the courses selected. The instructor will make a hiring recommendation to the department and a department administrator will then authorize the appointment paperwork. 

Unsuccessful applications will be retained for consideration in the event that there are last minute openings for available positions. 

GEO Contract Information

The University will not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, familial status, parental status or pregnancy status, sex, gender identity or expression (whether actual or perceived), sexual orientation, age, height, weight, disability, citizenship status, veteran status, HIV antibody status, political belief, membership in any social or political organization, participation in a grievance or complaint whether formal or informal, medical conditions including those related to pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, arrest record, or any other factor where the item in question will not interfere with job performance and where the employee is otherwise qualified. The University of Michigan agrees to abide by the protections afforded employees with disabilities as outlined in the rules and regulations which implement Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Information for the Office for Institutional Equity may be found at https://oie.umich.edu/ and for the University Ombuds at https://ombuds.umich.edu/

Unsuccessful applications will be retained for consideration in the event that there are last minute openings for available positions. In the event that an employee does not receive their preferred assignment, they can request a written explanation or an in-person interview with the hiring agents(s) to be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time.

This position, as posted, is subject to a collective bargaining agreement between the Regents of the University of Michigan and the Graduate Employees' Organization, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO 3550.

Standard Practice Guide 601.38, Required Disclosure of Felony Charges and/or Felony Convictions applies to all Graduate Student Assistants (GSAs). SPG 601.38 may be accessed online at https://spg.umich.edu/policy/601.38 , and its relation to your employment can be found in MOU 10 of your employment contract.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.