Resident Language Fellow (RLF) Selection

2026-2027 Resident Language Fellow (RLF) Selection Process Overview

Information about the 2026-2027 Resident Language Fellow position can be found on the Housing and Residential Life (HRL) Resident Language Fellow Position Description page. You must review the Housing and Residential Life Pillars, the Language House Mission, and the eligibility requirements found within the position description prior to submitting an application.   

Application:

You must submit a 2026-2027 Resident Language Fellow (RLF) application if you are interested in a 2026 Fall – 2027 Spring RLF position. 

The target languages for the 2026-2027 academic year include: Spanish, French, Mandarin, Korean, and American Sign Language (ASL). While these are the languages that are included in Language House, we may not have a position open for each language due to a current RLF returning to the role next academic year, but we are still accepting applications for all languages. 

Applications are submitted through Qualtrics. The Qualtrics form can be found here.

The application will include the following questions: applicant information, eligibility questions, preferences, and short essay questions. Each short essay question should be completed in 500 words or less. Below you can preview the short essay questions:

• Question 1:

  As a Resident Language Fellow, you must be fluent in the language you are applying for to support other language learners.
  Briefly explain how you acquired your native/heritage speaking skills for the language for which you are applying (e.g. Did you grow up in a country where the language is the dominant/official language? Was this a dominant language within your household? Etc.) How would you apply your experience to the Resident Language Fellow position in order to support the development of others?

• Question 2:

  As a Resident Language Fellow, you are expected to enhance the linguistic, cultural, academic, and social development of your language section through programming/activities with residents.
  Tell us about a time you built connections with others to enhance their social development through programming.  What skills did you utilize? What did you learn from this experience that you would apply to the Resident Language Fellow position?

• Question 3:

  As a Resident Language Fellow, you are in a unique position where you live in a community where you are engaging with people who may have a different understanding and/or proficiency around language and culture. 
  Tell us about a time when you had to adapt your teaching or communication style to meet the development needs of another. What were the need(s) and how did you assess the need(s)? What did you learn from this experience that you would apply to the Resident Language Fellow position?

Note: Submission of application does not guarantee an interview or position.  

Once your application is submitted, you will be presented with a PDF copy to download as proof of submission.  Please download this PDF for your own records.  All application submissions are final and cannot be edited once submitted.  If you believe there was an error in the information you provided for the applicant information or eligibility questions, please email hrl-sl-selection@cornell.edu 

Timeline for Resident Language Fellow (RLF) Position 

* All applications will be considered if submitted by the priority deadline.
* Application consideration or submission does not guarantee an interview invite or position. 
** Applications sent after the priority deadline and by the application closure date will be considered based on departmental need. This means that an application review is not guaranteed.

Interview and Status Updates 

Interview invites will be sent on a rolling basis starting March 9, 2026, and may continue into April. If an applicant is extended an interview invite, applicants will have 2 business days to sign up for a 45-minute virtual interview time slot. Interviews will occur Monday through Friday between 9 AM and 5 PM ET. Please monitor your Cornell email account regarding status updates. 

Part of the interview will be held in the target language to verify language speaking skills while the rest of the interview will be conducted in English. 

Final position status updates will be sent out on a rolling basis starting in mid-April. Candidates will have 4 business days to accept or decline an offer. If we do not hear back from the candidate after an offer has been made, they will be removed from the selection process.

Note: An interview invite does not guarantee a position. We ask that you wait for a status update regarding interview invitations and final decisions post interviews as inquiries can further delay the process. 
 

Additional Information and Resources 

It is highly recommended that you speak to a representative from the Office of Financial Aid prior to applying and interviewing for the position. The remuneration for the position is a single room and a stipend, and this may affect your personal financial aid. Information can be found on the Office of Financial Aid website.  

If you are an international student, it is recommended that you connect with the Office of Global Learning to learn about eligibility requirements. Information can be found on the Office of Global Learning website.  

If you are interested in resources available to you regarding interview preparation, we encourage you to visit the Career Services website.  

Questions

If you have questions after reviewing materials for the RLF position, please email hrl-sl-selection@cornell.edu. 

Please allow at least 3 business days for a response as we may be experiencing a high number of emails during the selection process.