Teaching Position, Literacy and Language, Elementary and Special Education Program

Job Description
SUMMARYThe faculty member for Fall 2027 will teach for Fairfield University at our Florence, Italy Center in the jointly developed Providence College Elementary and Special Education Program. The instructor will teach up to two sections of the language and literacy course in English for American university undergraduates from Providence College; will cooperate with the Florence Program Director and other faculty and staff involved in the administration of the Program; and will conduct practicum observations of the pre-service teachers in the Florence public schools. The class sections are limited to approximately 10 students per section. The person in this position will also be responsible for conducting Site Visits to Practicum placements for site observation of preservice teachers in the local schools. As the local school system begins classes at the end of September, the site visits take place mid-October and again in mid-November.
This position is based in Florence, Italy and requires a minimum commitment of mid-August through mid-December 2026. A stipend, housing, international health insurance and round trip travel to Italy are included.
REQUIREMENTSMinimum Master’s degree in Education; Three years teaching literacy in upper elementary school grades; knowledge of current evidence based practices in reading and writing instruction, English as a Second language Pedagogy; experience providing professional development and/or college level teaching in Education. Fluency in oral and written English. Collaborative, intercultural communication skills.
PREFERREDExperience teaching undergraduate teacher education students. Experience living, teaching or working abroad. Experience with culturally and linguistically diverse people.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIESTeach the literacy course(s). Course will be in compliance with Providence College programmatic requirements for teaching education accreditation as per recommended syllabus.
Observe each student teaching English as a Foreign Language twice during the course of the semester and provide formal written feedback. Observation one: end of October and Observation two: end of November. Schools are reached by train or bus.
Collect and review weekly practicum lesson plans from students and observation forms from cooperating teachers.
Maintain regular office hours.
Work with coordinator and practicum cooperating teachers and Providence College Elementary and Special Ed faculty to understand and develop common expectations for observation and mentorship of preservice teacher in alignment with Providence College’s Elementary Special Education program.
Maintain regular communication with Florence Site Director and instructor of Education in Italy course; maintain communication as needed with Chair of Providence College Elementary Special Education department and with the Associate Vice Provost of Global Strategy at Fairfield University.
Organize, in coordination with the Florence Site Director, round table discussion at end of semester with cooperating teachers to collect feedback on program development and advance research related to the program.
Collaborate with University of Florence School of Education faculty.
HOUSINGHousing is provided for the instructor in the city center of Florence.
VISA PROCESSoccurs in Spring 2026 and is managed by Fairfield University. Documents to be provided by visiting faculty include:Copy of PassportLegalized (Apostille) transcriptsLegalized (Apostille) degreeLegalized (Apostille) contract of employment.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS FOR INTERESTED FACULTYCOURSE DESCRIPTIONLanguage and Literacy, 3 creditsThis course is designed to provide knowledge and skills needed to teach literacy (reading and writing) and social studies with a primary focus on grades 3-6. There is also a practicum experience aligned to this course. Since the practicum experience will be taking place in English as a foreign language classes in Italian elementary schools this course has an emphasis on second language acquisition and its role in literacy development. This course builds on the knowledge gained in teaching literacy in K-2 classrooms (EDU 231) and knowledge of language development (EDU 125). This course is comparable to Providence College’s course Methods and Materials in Teaching Language Arts and Social Studies (EDU 331: Literacy 2).
EFL and Literacy Teaching Practicum, 1 creditThis practicum offers field experience aligned with both the Language and Literacy and the Culture, Language, and Education courses. Students spend four hours a week in elementary schools in the greater Florence area and teach EFL lessons. Students must spend a minimum of 40 hours in the classroom during the semester, and must be lead teacher at least one hour per week. Through this field experience, students have an opportunity to apply the knowledge, skills, and strategies taught in their education coursework, and reflect on their practice. This course is equivalent to the PC Education Department