Student Language Consultant

Center for Public Partnerships & Research; Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

Center for Public Partnerships & Research in Kansas is seeking a Language Consultant for a mixed undergraduate and graduate Field Methods course in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Kansas. The consultant answers student questions under faculty guidance and supports language analysis, working up to 10 hours per week on-site in Blake Hall.

The role focuses on language data provision, accurate language information, and collaborative student learning, with participation in

Qualifications

• Must be a fluent speaker of a language not taught at the University of Kansas and not commonly taught in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Attend and actively participate in class sessions (10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.) three times per week in Blake Hall.
• Serve as the primary language consultant during class activities and discussions.
• Provide language data and examples as requested by students and the instructor.

Skills

Fluent language speaker

Job description

Position Overview

This position serves as a Language Consultant for a mixed undergraduate and graduate Field Methods course in the Department of Linguistics. The purpose of the course is for students to work with a speaker of a language that is unfamiliar to them and apply their linguistic knowledge to analyze and describe the language's sound system and syntax. The Language Consultant's primary responsibility is to answer questions posed by students about their language under the guidance of the course instructor, Professor John Gluckman. The consultant will support the students' language analysis process but will not be expected to teach the language. The student must be able to work 10 hours per week.

Job Description

34% - Class Participation and Language Consultation

• Attend and actively participate in three scheduled class sessions each week (10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.) in Blake Hall.
• Serve as the primary language consultant during class activities and discussions.
• Provide language data and examples as requested by students and the instructor.

33% - Student Meetings and Collaboration

• Be available for meetings with students outside of scheduled class time at mutually convenient times.
• Assist students with course-related language analysis activities.
• Support student learning by participating in guided consultation sessions.

33% - Language Questions and Responses

• Respond to student questions regarding language use, pronunciation, grammar, and sentence structure.
• Provide accurate and consistent language information in person.
• Work under the guidance of the course instructor to support students' analysis of the language.

Required Qualifications

• Must be a fluent speaker of a language that is not taught at the University of Kansas and is not commonly taught in the United States, as indicated in application materials.

Position Requirements

During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must: (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or (3) be enrolled in summer session or (4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).

Employment Conditions

• Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.
• This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.

Additional Candidate Instructions

• Resume/ CV
• Cover Letter addressing required/ preferred qualifications
• Contact information for three professional references

To ensure full consideration, please apply before the application deadline of December 15th, 2026. A review of candidates will remain ongoing until a qualified candidate has been identified.

Contact Information to Applicants

John Gluckman

[e-mail]

Advertised Salary Range

$18.75

Anticipated Start Date

Tuesday January 19, 2027