French Language Assistant at Whitman College

Whitman College; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 21,000 - 29,000; Part time

Job summary

Whitman College is seeking a French Language Assistant to support student conversation practice. The role involves weekly meetings with language learners, modeling oral production, and coordinating group sessions under the supervision of the French and Francophone Studies faculty.

The position requires strong French language skills, excellent interpersonal abilities, and the ability to work both independently and with others.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated interest in topics pertaining to French / Francophone cultures.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and strong French verbal/written abilities.
• Ability to work independently and with others.
• Continuing Whitman student in good standing.

Responsibilities

• Meet weekly with students to practice conversation in small groups or one-on-one.
• Encourage, model, and coach oral production, including phonetics.
• Maintain attendance records and coordinate sessions with instructors.
• Arrive on time, assist with scheduling groups, and notify in case of illness.
• Maintain confidentiality and report concerns to the instructor.

Skills

French language

Interpersonal skills

Verbal and written French

French / Francophone cultures

Independent and collaborative work

Education

Whitman College student

Job description

JOB TITLE: French Language Assistant
HIRING RANGE: $17.50/hour
START DATE: Fall 2026

JOB PURPOSE
French Language Assistants meet weekly with students enrolled in language classes to practice conversation skills in small group or one‑on‑one contexts. A language assistant is an “animateur/animatrice." The primary goal of the language assistant is to encourage, model, and coach students in oral production, including phonetics. With rare exceptions, the primary goal of the language assistant is not to provide grammar instruction.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Grade students on attendance, but do not assign or evaluate homework. Maintain current and accurate attendance records for student participation in conversation groups via Canvas.
• Attend any scheduled training or information sessions at the beginning of the academic year or semester of employment (usually 2-3 hours). Training sessions and meetings with the instructor count towards the student's hours and should be submitted to the time sheet.
• Maintain weekly contact with the instructor via email or in person to coordinate lessons.
• Arrive on time or before any scheduled conversation sessions with students or meetings with instructors.
• Assist with the organization and scheduling of conversation groups.
• In case of illness, notify impacted students and the instructor and reschedule conversation groups, either by adding a session, or distributing the students across other sessions.
• Be attentive and have flexible approaches to student learning needs and concerns
• Be prepared for each meeting with students
• Maintain strict confidentiality about students and student work.
• Promptly bring concerns and issues to the attention of the instructor as they arise.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Individuals must be able to explain and demonstrate that they possess the knowledge, skills and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Demonstrated interest in topics pertaining to French / Francophone cultures
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written skills in French
• Experience working with intersectional identities
• Ability to work both independently and with others

EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS TO BE DERIVED
As a result of being in this position, students will improve their ability to mentor their peers, gain experience into the field of education, and continue practicing their French skills.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Be a continuing Whitman student in their second year or higher
• Be in good standing with the College
• Advanced French language skills (Minimum level: high B2; students who have attended school in French or who speak French in their home are especially encouraged to apply)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The format of these sessions will vary according to the instructor and the level of the course. Typically, conversation groups consist of 30‑min weekly sessions with groups of 3-5 students, in addition to 30 mins of paid preparation time per week per course.

Time commitment

• 12 hours per semester paid training, course preparation, and meeting time.
• 3-8 hours per week for 12 weeks of student contact. The amount of work per week will vary according to the number of courses or students the Language Assistant will work with, but will be stable after the training period.

Of interest to : This position will be of particular interest and utility to persons interested in education. Many Whitman students work as language assistants (usually teaching English) for a year after graduation.

SUPERVISOR: Sarah Hurlburt, Professor of French and Francophone Studies
SUPERVISOR CONTACT: [e-mail]
POSTING DATE: Aug 26, 2026