South Asian Language Teachers Association
“Pedagogical Shifts in LCTLs:
Case Studies from AI-Driven Urdu Instruction”
Romeena Kureishy
University of Chicago
Saturday, October 3, 2026, 1:00 p.m. EDT
Zoom Registration Link:
https://utoronto.zoom.us/meeting/register/Hv6zJYH5TsKEjsxAJv5xJA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Position Title
Instructional Professor (open-rank) in Tamil Language
Location
Chicago, IL
Position Type
OAA – Lecturer/Senior Lecturer
Position URL
Position Description
The Department of South Asian Languages and Civilizations at the University of Chicago invites applications for a position as an Instructional Professor (open-rank) in Tamil to help grow its existing offerings in South Asian languages. The position begins in the academic year 2027-28 with an expected start date of September 1, 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter. The selected candidate will be appointed at the rank of Assistant Instructional Professor, Associate Instructional Professor, or Instructional Professor, depending on qualifications and experience. The initial appointment is for a minimum of 2 years, with longer initial terms possible depending on qualifications and initial rank. Review and progression schedule are determined by a collective bargaining agreement between the University and the Service Employees International Union.
Responsibilities include both teaching and service duties. Teaching normally consists of seven courses across three quarters, six of which are Tamil language courses at all levels of the language. One additional course per year may be a non-language course on a topic related to the culture or history of Tamil-speaking areas, proposed by the Instructional Professor, or a course in the College Core. Service duties may include advising undergraduate theses, creating and overseeing Tamil placement exams and graduate language exams, teaching independent studies, engaging in outreach to build interest in the Tamil program, or other program-specific duties. Instructional Professors of all ranks are required to engage in regular professional development.
Salary Range or Pay Grade:
Assistant Instructional Professor: $77,946 – $84,181; Associate Instructional Professor: $84,182 – $91,113; Instructional Professor: $91,114 – $100,000. This base pay range is for a nine-month academic appointment paid over twelve months. The position also includes a relocation allowance for qualifying expenses.
This position is benefits eligible. The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.
Qualifications
Applicants must have previous experience teaching at the post-secondary level. An MA degree or equivalent is required, with a PhD in a related field preferred. Preferred qualifications include experience teaching Tamil at the post-secondary level, experience teaching at a North American institution, training in second-language pedagogy, and/or familiarity with current approaches to second-language pedagogy.
Application Instructions
Applicants must have previous experience teaching at the post-secondary level. An MA degree or equivalent is required, with a PhD in a related field preferred. Preferred qualifications include experience teaching Tamil at the post-secondary level, experience teaching at a North American institution, training in second-language pedagogy, and/or familiarity with current approaches to second-language pedagogy.
Applicants must upload the following materials to the University of Chicago’s recruitment website at apply.interfolio.com/194479 by 10:59 PM Central Time/11:59 PM Eastern Time on October 28, 2026:
· CV
· Cover letter
· Teaching statement
· One sample syllabus for Introductory Tamil
· One sample syllabus for a non-language course
· Names and contact information for three references who can supply letters of recommendation upon request
Optional:
· Course evaluations, if available
Applicants may be asked to provide additional materials following the initial review of applications. Questions may be directed to salc@uchicago.edu.
The terms and conditions of employment for this position are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the University and the Service Employees International Union. This position is contingent upon budgetary approval.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-834-3988 or email equalopportunity@uchicago.edu with their request.
The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.
Duolingo is seeking a Senior Learning Designer, Indian Languages to help shape innovative language-learning experiences.
The ideal candidate will be a senior language educator and curriculum designer with:
Learn more and apply here: https://careers.duolingo.com/jobs/8722385002?gh_jid=8722385002
Please share with interested candidates and relevant networks.
AI is part of our daily life and is here to stay, quickly transitioning from being a novelty to becoming a useful tool in many contexts, including language pedagogy. Our students are already accustomed to engaging with AI through gamification. The challenge to language instructors now is to recognize the creative potential and understand AI as an entire new medium in the pedagogy. Creatively employed, AI can go a long way to ensure our students are appropriately engaged, thereby resulting in improved linguistic and interactional proficiency.
Through several concrete examples from South Asian language classrooms, Profs. Romeena Kureishy, University of Chicago, Shilpa Parnami, Boston University, and Gautami Shah, University of Texas at Austin, will highlight the constructive use of AI (generative and agentic) in language pedagogy, along with limitations and potential abuse.
This event is free and open to the UT community and the general public.
Add to
Dear SALTA members,
Please join me in thanking Vasu Renganathan for his 6 years of service as a SALTA board member, serving as treasurer.
The South Asian Language Teachers Association (SALTA) is now seeking nominations and applications for the position of Treasurer. The Treasurer plays a vital role in supporting the association’s financial health and transparency and works closely with the Executive Board to oversee SALTA’s financial operations.
Thorough understanding of financial reports and able to translate financial concepts/information to the board.
SALTA member for at least two years and has actively participated in SALTA activities, including conferences and workshops.
The Treasurer will:
• maintain the bank account,
• collect and deposit all checks,
• oversee and keep accurate books of account of SALTA’s financial transactions,
• approve fundraising initiatives, expenditures, and reimbursements,
• prepare an annual financial report to be presented at SALTA’s annual meeting,
• assist the President in annual filing and reporting requirements.
The Treasurer will hold a term of office of two years, with a possibility of two renewals for a maximum of six years.
Please fill out this form if you’re interested in serving as a SALTA board member in the capacity of treasurer. The applications will be accepted till September 30th, 2026.
This is a voluntary position, and no financial compensation is provided.
From Script to Classroom: Using Theatrical Storytelling to Teach Hindi Through Read-Aloud, Interpretation, and Discussion
Date April 18th, Saturday, 3 to 4
By Mayuri Raman Nayan
This workshop introduces Hindi teachers to a practical, lesson-based approach to theatrical storytelling. Using a short play script from Rangdarpan as the model text, the session demonstrates how dramatic reading, guided interpretation, and classroom discussion can be shaped into an engaging language lesson. Rather than treating a script only as literature to be read silently, participants will explore how voice, pauses, emotional cues, and character perspective can help students listen more closely, speak more confidently, and connect more deeply with language and culture. The workshop emphasizes low-pressure, classroom-friendly strategies that do not require stage experience, making the approach accessible for both virtual and in-person teaching. Teachers will leave with a ready-to-adapt lesson model they can use with other short plays, dialogues, and narrative texts in their own Hindi classrooms.
| Session Flow | What it includes |
| Opening and context (5 min) | A brief framing of theatrical storytelling and why dramatic reading works so well in language classrooms. |
| Model lesson with Rangdarpan script (15–20 min) | Participants experience a short play excerpt through read-aloud, voice modulation, emotional cues, character perspective, and minimal performative choices. |
| Discussion and reflection (10–15 min) | Teachers discuss meaning, interpretation, cultural context, learner response, and ways to scaffold the script for their own classes. |
| Classroom application (5 min) | Practical ideas for adapting the method across proficiency levels in online and in-person Hindi classrooms. |
In many virtual and hybrid classrooms, language learning can start to feel flat or overly text-bound. This workshop offers a more human, voice-centred approach. Theatrical storytelling invites learners to hear rhythm, feel emotion, notice intention, and respond to language as lived expression rather than as isolated vocabulary or grammar alone. Because the method relies on presence, listening, and imagination rather than staging or memorization, it is especially useful for teachers who want an interactive classroom practice that is simple, adaptable, and culturally grounded.
Mimansa is a storytelling and learning initiative that blends theatre, literature, and pedagogy to create engaging, culturally rooted educational experiences. Its work uses narrative and performance as tools for connection, reflection, and language learning across age groups and proficiency levels.
The South Asian Language Teachers Association (SALTA) is a non-profit, professional organization registered in the state of Tennessee. Its mission is to advance and improve the study and teaching of South Asian languages and cultures, promote research in linguistics and literatures, support educators, and foster professional collaboration.
Jhilmil-America and Hindi Se Pyar Hai are two non-profit organizations based in NJ that are engaged in promoting Indian Art, Culture, and Literature in the USA.
Together, we are planning to organize Hindi/Urdu Poetry Recitation and Poetry Writing Competition open to all University Students in America.
Objective – Encourage students to write & recite Hindi Poetry and develop the necessary skills
There will be two competitions
1. Original Poetry – Students recite their own poetry.
2. Poetry Recitation – Students can recite poems written by anyone.
Cash Awards and certificates will be given to the winning candidates. All participants will receive a Certificate of Participation from World Hindi Secretariat, Mauritius.
We also plan to enroll interested students in ‘Kavita Ki Pathshala’, a virtual school run by ‘Hindi se Pyar Hai’ Group, where experts in different genres of Poetry teach students the rules and grammar of Poetry. Volunteers run the school, and it is completely free.
The preliminary round will happen online on Sunday, April 26th, 2026.
The final round of the competition will be part of the SALTA 2026 Conference, being held on Friday, May 8th, 2026 online.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeWgewlUiF9wDa0pvIcDcTs8JQp5tid9oPC7frBlO4PIPGbrA/viewform
Date and Time: Sunday, April 26, 2026
Time: 12:00–1:00 PM Eastern Time (10:30–11:30 PM India Time)
Led by: Dr. Kusum Knapczyk
Language: Hindi-Urdu
The story is in Hindi and can also be read in the Roman script, so Urdu readers will be able to read it as well.
https://www.hindwi.org/story/ghalat-pate-ki-chitthiyan-yogita-yadav-story
About the author
Yogita Yadav is an important writer of contemporary Hindi literature. She was born in 1981 in Delhi, and her writings offer a sensitive and vivid portrayal of women’s psychology and social concerns. Her first short story collection, Clean Chit, was published by Bharatiya Jnanpith in 2014, and she received the Navlekhan Award for it. Her novel, Khwahishon ke Khandavvan, along with many well-known stories, has given her a distinct literary identity. Along with literature, she continues to work on social and women-centered issues and has been honored with many awards.
The Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina invites applications for an Instructor in Hindi language beginning August 1, 2026. This position is for one academic year (2026 to 2027) with the possibility of renewal based on departmental needs. The teaching load includes four courses per year.Applicants must hold a PhD in fields such as Second Language Acquisition, Indian Studies, or a related area. Candidates should have native or near native proficiency in both Hindi and English. Preference will be given to applicants with experience teaching undergraduate students in North America and the ability to teach Hindi at both elementary and intermediate levels. Experience with instructional technologies, comfort with team teaching, and active engagement in the professional field are also desirable. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.To receive full consideration, please submit your application by April 1, 2026. Applications should include the following: 1. A letter of application with a statement of teaching philosophy 2. Curriculum vitae 3. A teaching portfolio that includes syllabi, sample teaching materials, and student evaluations 4. Names and contact information for three referees (The search committee will request recommendation letters during a later stage of the process)Applicants must apply here:https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/31871Duke University and The Department of Asian & Middle Eastern Studies are strongly committed to advancing inclusive excellence throughout our research, teachings, and service activities. We seek to hire faculty who are passionate about working to increase the participation and success of individuals from different backgrounds and communities. Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual’s age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual’s age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
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