"2026 TESOL Assistant/ Associate Professors"

About Wenzhou-Kean University

Wenzhou-Kean University (WKU), located in Wenzhou, China, one of three Sino-American universities along with NYU Shanghai and Duke Kunshan University, is approved by the Ministry of Education of China. Launched in 2012, WKU offers a unique model of higher education in partnership with Kean University, a comprehensive, public university in the state of New Jersey that is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

WKU sits on approximately 500 beautiful acres and currently enrolls about 5,200 undergraduate and graduate students, and it is now in the midst of a rapid growth that will bring enrollment to 7,000 students within the next five years. All instruction is in English, and all curriculum is provided by Kean University.

In addition to its current 18 undergraduate programs, WKU has been approved by the Ministry of Education for offering 8 Master’s and 3 doctorate programs. WKU highly values research-powered teaching and learning, and the average number of faculty publications and the Field-weighted Citation Impact are among the best of leading Chinese academic institutions.

Wenzhou is one of the most vibrant and economically advanced cities on China’s East Coast, located one hour by plane and three hours by high-speed train from Shanghai.

About the Job:

WKU launched the graduate program in Instruction and Curriculum (TESOL Concentration) in the Fall of 2020 with an initial cohort of 12 students. We are now in the sixth cohort with 50 new students. Our student body includes both pre-service as well as experienced K-12 teachers from all over China. We anticipate a steady programmatic expansion in the future that will bring in additional students as well as faculty members.

WKU is seeking TWO candidates to teach a full range of MA TESOL graduate courses. Our faculty teaches graduate-level courses in general linguistics, TESOL methods, language assessment, seminars in action research, and engages in research with students, as well as in a variety of other program-specific projects.

This full-time faculty position will start in Fall 2026 (August16). This position will be offered at the rank of Tenure-Track Assistant or Associate Professor. All positions will have an initial 3-year contract that is renewable.

The successful candidate will have a clear record of expertise in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) and the demonstrated ability to prepare MA TESOL students to teach in both ESL and EFL contexts. Candidates with EFL teaching at the K-12 level and teacher-training experience will be prioritized for this position. Candidates must have an ongoing agenda for engaging students in research and are expected to publish research outcomes in well-recognized and impactful journals. Candidates are expected to advise graduate students to develop research projects and produce publishable research outcomes. In addition to teaching and research, candidates are expected to contribute to the growth of the program, including but not limited to, curriculum development, program assessment, student recruitment and advising, faculty hiring, program promotion, and community engagement.

The Tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor positions are 10-month appointments requiring research and publications in internationally recognized and vigorously peer-reviewed journals. Tenure-track faculty members typically carry a 24-credit-hour load per academic year. Six (6) credits course release per academic year is available in the first 3 years of appointment. After the initial 3 years, course release may be available on a competitive basis to faculty for national-level grant proposal development or other substantial research initiatives. The candidate will be expected to participate in the full range of faculty responsibilities, including high-quality teaching, research, advising, student recruiting and learning support, and service to the university and/or professional community.

New faculty are eligible to apply for the university’s start-up grant (up to 80,000 RMB). In addition, faculty have the opportunity to apply for a variety of internal research funding and external funding opportunities at the municipal, provincial, and national levels.

Teaching assignments and related responsibilities may include day, evening, and weekend courses. Interest or experience in using advanced instructional technologies to improve the teaching/learning process is highly desirable.

TESOL faculty positions at WKU offer: Annual salary commensurate with qualifications and experience with the range from $70,000-$76,000 for Assistant Professors; $75,000-$82,000 for Associate Professors. We also offer a well-rounded healthcare coverage, housing options and subsidy up to $3,000, home traveling up to $6,000 (2 international round-trip airfares), a one-time reimbursement to cover relocation expenses up to $1,000, shuttle bus to campus for work, three-year initial contract, and WKU tuition waiver up to 50% for spouse/dependent children of faculty for undergraduate programs. The university also provides financial assistance for academic travel, a collegial environment and the opportunity to teach high-quality students.

Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. or Ed.D. in TESOL, Applied Linguistics, Curriculum and Instructions, or closely related areas.
• Candidates with doctorate degrees from reputable universities (Carnegie R1 institutions or comparable research institutions with strong academic reputations in the fields) are encouraged to apply.
• The successful candidate must demonstrate excellence in research and have a strong publication record.
• Evidence of successful teaching experience at the college level, preferably graduate level (e.g. course evaluations, teaching portfolio).
• Familiarity with current trends in pedagogy and program development.
• Knowledge of and experience with assessment and accreditation is desirable.
• Experience in teaching K-12 in ESL/EFL settings is highly desirable.
• Experience in teacher training is highly desirable.

Application Instructions

Applicants are REQUIRED to apply online. To receive full consideration by the search committee, candidates need to submit the following documents via Interfolio (https://apply.interfolio.com/177715).

A cover letter, current CV, statement of teaching philosophy, a research statement describing research interest, past accomplishments in research and a research plan, unofficial transcripts, recent teaching evaluations, and contact information of three professional references, including references/names of potential referees from a current or recent direct supervisor. Please note that your immediate supervisor may be contacted for the purpose of conducting a reference check. Official transcripts for all degrees and three current letters of recommendation are required before the appointment.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until positions are filled.

Background Screening:

Wenzhou-Kean University conducts background screenings on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background screenings.