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Job outlook for french instructors in the United States
French instructor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected french instructor job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 159,400 new jobs for french instructors are projected over the next decade.
French instructor salaries have increased 10% for french instructors in the last 5 years.
There are over 21,937 french instructors currently employed in the United States.
There are 24,699 active french instructor job openings in the US.
The average french instructor salary is $52,820.
Are french instructor jobs in demand?
French instructor job and salary trends over time
French instructor jobs over time
French instructor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,937 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 21,713 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 22,809 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 23,193 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 22,901 | 0.01% |
Average french instructor salary over time
French instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $52,820 | $25.39 | --0.1% |
| 2025 | $52,872 | $25.42 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $51,097 | $24.57 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | $49,110 | $23.61 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $47,970 | $23.06 | +3.5% |
French instructor jobs by state
Most common states for french instructors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 493 | 9% |
| 2 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 383 | 8% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 79 | 8% |
| 4 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 46 | 8% |
| 5 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 730 | 7% |
| 6 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 614 | 7% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 276 | 7% |
| 8 | Delaware | 961,939 | 66 | 7% |
| 9 | Alaska | 739,795 | 51 | 7% |
| 10 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 662 | 6% |
| 11 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 473 | 5% |
| 12 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 313 | 5% |
| 13 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 282 | 5% |
| 14 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 160 | 5% |
| 15 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 62 | 5% |
| 16 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 38 | 5% |
| 17 | Vermont | 623,657 | 30 | 5% |
| 18 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,689 | 4% |
| 19 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 420 | 4% |
| 20 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 134 | 4% |
French Instructor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of french instructor experts
Tiffin University
College of the Marshall Islands
Union University
Macalester College
University of Iowa
North Central College
Kent State University
The University of Vermont
Michigan Technological University
Texas Tech University
Arizona State University
Georgetown University
Middlebury College
The University of Oklahoma
University of North Carolina Asheville
Bucknell University
East Los Angeles College
Pennsylvania State University Altoona
University of La Verne
Rutgers University
Dr. Stephanie Opfer
Associate Professor of English, Assistant Dean of the School of Creative and Media ArtsTiffin University
Visual And Performing Arts
What will help French Instructors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Stephanie Opfer: Unfortunately, teaching as an adjunct does not pay well. Students should keep their full-time jobs and teach part-time until they find a full-time job at a college or university. That part-time teaching provides them valuable experience and connections that make them more competitive candidates for full-time positions because they'd also be competing with candidates who have PhDs. So adjunct work is more of a long-term investment rather than an immediate return. Also, even full-time teaching jobs don't pay particularly well, so they'll really need to love teaching if they want to do it full-time. If they don't like teaching as an adjunct, they won't like doing it full-time.
What general advice would you give to a French Instructor?
Alexander Velasquez: My general advice to any graduate beginning their career in their field is to continue to learn and be a student of your craft. Be open to learning new things because you never know how they will improve your skills and qualifications. For example, I am currently learning video editing. I never thought I would bother to learn video editing, but it makes me a more versatile instructor being able to give students the option of doing video projects, combining and editing them, and having a digital record of what students have learned in the classroom. And given the rise of online learning, it's important nowadays to be an effective instructor both in the traditional in-person format and within the digital landscape.
What French Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Alexander Velasquez: I think that in the next three to five years the most important skills to have—and I mean this—will be critical thinking and imagination. This may sound a bit outlandish, and maybe even a bit naive, but hear me out: Artificial intelligence is making strides to the point where papers are writing themselves with simple instructions, videos are generating themselves with simple instructions, and software is beginning to write itself; and all this has been happening within the last few years. We may begin to see that in the next three to five years, once coveted programming jobs could become automated. Now, what I'm *not* saying is don't go to school for computer programming; but what I *am* saying is that the nature of work and employment *is* changing. For example, if you and and AI are making a video, and both of you have the same script, same voiceover, and so on, the only thing separating your final product from the AI's is the way you *think and imagine*, the perspective that you have as someone who can think critically about the information and lay it out in a visually appealing manner. AI can't do that—at least not yet—because it simply spits out the information it's given. But critical thought, metalevel thinking about information, is what will be one of the most important assets to have in the coming three to five years.
What skills stand out on French Instructor resumes?
Julie Glosson: -Area of specialization
-Language proficiency
-Work History
-Study abroad/Immersion type of experiences
What soft skills should all French Instructors possess?
Julie Glosson: -Positive attitude
-Adaptability
-Ability to be a team player as well as work independently
-Willingness to grow and learn from mistakes
What hard/technical skills are most important for French Instructors?
Julie Glosson: -Language proficiency
-Knowledge of content
-Pedagogical Skills in Language Acquisition
-Professional Development
What skills will help French Instructors earn the most?
Julie Glosson: -Completed Terminal Degree (professors)
-Publications (professors)
-Other scholarly material (professors)
-Specialization in another area (either professor or K12 teacher)
-State certifications (K12 teachers)
-Other types of certifications or affiliations (either professor or K12 teacher)
Nanette Scott Goldman
Senior Lecturer in the Classical Mediterranean and Middle EastMacalester College
Department of the Classical Mediterranean and Middle East
What skills stand out on French Instructor resumes?
Nanette Scott Goldman: Language fluency and teaching experience.
What soft skills should all French Instructors possess?
Nanette Scott Goldman: With a Classical languages major, you learn to excel at clear writing, listening, memorizing, data analysis, critical thinking, promoting understanding across cultural boundaries, data organization, and presentation
What hard/technical skills are most important for French Instructors?
Nanette Scott Goldman: With a classical languages major, you learn to excel at writing clearly, listening, memorizing, data analysis, critical thinking, promoting understanding across cultural boundaries, data organization, and presentation
Dr. Irina Kostina
Associate Professor of Instruction, The Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Russian ProgramUniversity of Iowa
Division of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures
What skills stand out on French Instructor resumes?
Dr. Irina Kostina: Traditionally in Russia, we had this very important info in our resume: 1) education, 2) work experience, 3) publications.
Today being the Director of the Russian program at the University of Iowa, I would appreciate my colleagues who have the skills:
Critical thinking, patience, and leadership.
What soft skills should all French Instructors possess?
Dr. Irina Kostina: Some of the soft skills are listed above. I would add to the aforementioned skills organization, communication, and teamwork.
What hard/technical skills are most important for French Instructors?
Dr. Irina Kostina: Certifications, computer skills, writing, language, and presentation skills.
What skills will help French Instructors earn the most?
Dr. Irina Kostina: Unfortunately, everything changed today. Before, degrees were very important, but today the skills are.
Social media marketing, content writing, website development, and so on... will help to earn more money and educational administration.
Brian Hoffert
Associate Professor of Religious Studies and History; Coordinator of History of Ideas; Coordinator of East Asian Studies\North Central College
Religious Studies
What skills stand out on French Instructor resumes?
Brian Hoffert: Students who are looking for a career that has a focus on East Asia will generally need to demonstrate strong language skills and some kind of facility with one or more of the cultures in that region. I will discuss these two aspects in my responses to the next two questions.
What soft skills should all French Instructors possess?
Brian Hoffert: I would say that cultural competency (being familiar with one or more East Asian cultures) is the key soft skill that employers would look for. It is a soft skill because it is difficult to "prove" this kind of competency on a resume, though the essential thing that students should consider is literally how much time they've spent in the culture in question. A degree in East Asian Studies will suggest that you have a basic understanding of Chinese, Japanese, and/or Korean cultures, but study abroad experiences demonstrate that you have actually spent time in the culture in question. At North Central, we offer short-term study abroad programs to the region (mostly focusing on China and Japan, but sometimes Taiwan, Hong Kong, and potentially Korea); these are helpful, but two weeks is not enough time to gain real competency. We, therefore, offer many long-term (one or two-semester) programs throughout the region, which will allow students to practice their "hard skills" (i.e., communicating in an East Asian language on a daily basis) but will also help them develop a deeper understanding of the culture. In addition, any kind of employment where one is in contact with one of these cultures is helpful, whether that is doing an internship in an East Asian country or working in a Japanese restaurant in Naperville.
What hard/technical skills are most important for French Instructors?
Brian Hoffert: Language skills are the other major factor in securing employment in a field that involves East Asia. This can be demonstrated more easily by simply completing a certain number of language courses at North Central (or elsewhere), though learning Chinese and/or Japanese is significantly different from learning European languages because one can attain a high degree of proficiency after four years of college French, German or Spanish, but one may have difficulty reading a newspaper or watching tv after the same amount of Chinese or Japanese study. This is why it is highly recommended that students study abroad as part of their college experience, though to attain even a basic level of true fluency will inevitably require spending additional time in an East Asian country after graduation. Of course, it does depend on what you intend to do with your East Asian Studies (or Chinese/Japanese language) degree. If you want to be a translator, several additional years of serious study will be required, but you can get by with much less for other careers, like working for an East Asian company where a little knowledge of the language and culture may go a long way.
What skills will help French Instructors earn the most?
Brian Hoffert: This is a difficult question since it depends on what you want to do and perhaps what major you pair with an East Asian Studies or Chinese/Japanese language major. For example, someone who double majors in Business/Marketing and Chinese or Japanese language can make a lot of money working in international trade, etc. Translation can pay extremely well if you get into a well-known post-graduate translation program; these programs are difficult, but there is a high demand for professional translation services, so you can be pretty much guaranteed excellent money immediately after graduation. Of course, you can go to school for another decade, get your Ph.D. and make a decent living as a professor (though there is a lot of competition, so this isn't the safest option--best for those with a true passion).
Dr. Geoffrey Koby Ph.D.
Full ProfessorKent State University
Department of Modern & Classical Language Studies
What soft skills should all French Instructors possess?
Dr. Geoffrey Koby Ph.D.: For teachers, interpersonal skills are primary in working with learners (and their parents). For translators, interpersonal skills in dealing with clients. For both, organizational skills to manage classrooms or translation assignments.
What skills stand out on French Instructor resumes?
Angeline Chiu Ph.D.: There's a basket of different skills that are essential for teaching languages, and after some years of teaching (and teaching others how to teach), I am always struck by how some of these skills aren't immediately obvious to the outside observer even though they are as essential as those that are. The skills also all work together in complex ways, and you can't really pick out this or that skill in isolation from the others.
For instance, you need excellent interpersonal communication skills. This might seem obvious - you are teaching languages! - but being able to understand a language's grammar yourself and use it yourself is a world different from being able to explain it clearly to learners and help them use it. You also need to be able to instill a sense of purpose and vision: why are we doing this, in addition to how? This will be different depending on the group whom you are trying to teach (elementary? adult learners? I teach college undergrads myself), and it is incumbent on you as the instructor to lead from the front and demonstrate why language learning is important ... and fun!
You also need a good grasp of the culture and history of the language that you are trying to teach. Languages don't exist in an antiseptic bubble of grammar rules and vocab words. They are part of the human experience, and we have to remember that. At its best, language learning builds bridges among different communities and individuals; it can enrich our understanding of our own culture and those of others, and communication is absolutely key to every other human endeavor that involves other humans ... and that's just about all endeavors.
In that vein, if you will indulge a little digression: I'm very interested in translation, and I recently got together with a colleague in Japanese with similar interests. We did a little series of lectures/workshops about the issues of translating world literature from an original language into another one (say, Dante from 14th c. Italian into contemporary American English). To be an effective translator, you need to know much more than "only" the nuts and bolts of grammar and such. You need to be able to call on a personal skill set of many humanities/liberal arts and even social sciences competencies, from history to sociology to anthropology to linguistics to so many others. This is even more pressing in the world of real-time live interpretation work at, say, international conferences and such. Mistranslations or misunderstandings could have serious real-world consequences.
Having some travel experience also helps, along with a sense of always being a learner and a sharer and an explorer of the human experience, even when - especially when - you are the instructor. A little humility goes a long way, and attitude counts for a great deal.
What soft skills should all French Instructors possess?
Angeline Chiu Ph.D.: Communication, communication, communication. All kinds of communication, be it clear, lucid speaking (whether one-on-one, in small groups, or in large groups), good concise writing that isn't full of jargon and excrescences, or even the seemingly simple but absolutely crucial everyday interactions with the people around you. They can make or break a work or school environment. I don't mean mere etiquette. I mean building a real sense of community and human connection as a base for all the other things the school/company/etc. is trying to do. What can we do that robots can't do? Be human beings in communication and community with other human beings.
Another note on communication: we have all seen situations in which garbled announcements or backtracking/confusing directions have caused all kinds of problems then and later. Focus, clarity, and efficiency in communication are key. And look people in the eye.
Related to this is, of course, the ability to work with others in all kinds of different settings and configurations. Collaboration and cooperation are essential, but they too rest on a foundation of clear communication.
The ultimate soft skill, though, is a little harder to quantify. I'm talking about learning how to learn. Life comes at you fast, at work or school or home, and the ultimate human skill is adapting to situations as they arise and being able to pivot, be flexible, be resilient, be creative in responding, and be able to do all that while remembering that we are working as humans with other humans, and there is much we do not know, and much we do not know as well as we ought to or think we do. Patience, grace, empathy, humility are part of the equation.
What hard/technical skills are most important for French Instructors?
Angeline Chiu Ph.D.: What I tell you today might not be applicable tomorrow! Tech changes so fast. The best thing I can tell you is to keep current on what's going on. Also: don't be afraid of new things. At the same time, remember that something isn't automatically better just because it's new. Perhaps the real skill I'm describing is figuring what is useful for your purpose and what isn't, and don't try to apply every single shiny new tech toy that comes along. And for goodness sake, be careful about data and security and those basics that you think everyone knows but so many people don't.
What skills will help French Instructors earn the most?
Angeline Chiu Ph.D.: Learn how to learn. This will apply everywhere. And have the gumption to think for yourself. But in terms of sheer dollar signs, I can't really tell you because the job market is constantly changing, and that kind of volatility is part of life. If you want to snag a job with a good salary in any field at any time, it's not only the world of narrow technical skills that you need. Those skills will constantly need to be updated and retrained as tech changes, and it's changing so, so fast. Besides, remember what I said earlier about what we can do that robots can't. Work on the fundamental and eternally applicable human side skills and competencies that come from liberal arts and humanities, the lessons and enrichments of languages, history, archaeology, literature, theatre, music, the arts. Be a complex, resilient, constantly learning individual who can apply themselves in many ways, including ways we don't know yet will be necessary in a world of ever-changing jobs, of jobs soon to arise that don't exist yet. You are not a faceless cog in a machine. You are a human being with a heart and mind of your own.
Dr. Maria Bergstrom
Academic Advisor:Humanities and Modern Languages, Lecturer: Writing and Literature, Humanities Internship CoordinatorMichigan Technological University
Department of Humanities
What general advice would you give to a French Instructor?
Dr. Maria Bergstrom: Even in the remote work and online world, I think networking remains the most critical skill for job-seekers. You can send out hundreds of resumes online, but it's the personal connections and hard work of meeting people and sharing your story with them that will get you a job (and later, a promotion). Students now need to learn how to use online resources (like LinkedIn or alumni databases and networking opportunities offered by their college or university) to connect with people in the field or industry where they want to work.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for French Instructors in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Maria Bergstrom: I think those working in communication will be doing even more with analytics to understand how users and customers are interacting with their content. Some understanding of data--what it can and can't tell you, will become even more critical as we can gather ever more data about users.
What skills stand out on French Instructor resumes?
Dr. Ashley Voeks: If a language instructor is applying for a teaching job, work experience, not skills, are the most important part of their resume or CV. If a language instructor is looking to branch out and find an industry job, "skills" are only relevant if and when a resume gets past an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) and into human hands. In my experience, an ATS is only likely to let an applicant's resume through if it is properly formatted and tailored to the job ad. When an ATS scans a resume, it looks for the skills and years of work experience listed in the job ad and automatically tosses it if certain skills seem off, no matter how much they "stand out." In short: the skills that make a candidate stand out are the skills that the employer wants and specifies in the job ad itself.
What soft skills should all French Instructors possess?
Dr. Ashley Voeks: All of them. The trouble with soft skills is that they're not really resume showstoppers. Anyone can say that they have good communication skills, a sense of creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, etc. The time for a job seeker (language instructor or otherwise) to really wow a potential employer with their soft skills is during the interview or in an anecdote in the cover letter. The bottom line: all soft skills are important, but showing a potential employer how you developed them is key.
What hard/technical skills are most important for French Instructors?
Dr. Ashley Voeks: In terms of non-teaching jobs for former language students and instructors, of the clients with language backgrounds that I've personally worked with, hard skills/technical skills varied the most from one job seeker to the next, depending on their second major and/or minor in college, as well as the internship opportunities that they'd had during their studies since an internship often requires a student to acquire one or several hard skills that they would not have otherwise needed. That said, the hard skills that stand out in my mind are sales (toward the top of the list; very transferable), UX (User Experience, designing products that give a meaningful and relevant experience to users by considering emotions, attitudes, etc.), video production, AI, Blockchain (a transparent ledger; stores encrypted blocks of data), project management, affiliate marketing, and mobile app development. These are just some hard skills that come to mind - there are many more!
What skills will help French Instructors earn the most?
Dr. Ashley Voeks: Clients and recent graduates who have negotiated "high" salaries in entry-level positions have been able to speak to their communication, collaboration, and self-management skills but have also had some technical competencies from internships or online boot camps and workshops. High-earning skills include web design, graphic design, online course content creation, project management, UX design, IT support, coding, Blockchain, social media marketing, etc. Almost all these skills can be gained through certificate-granting online courses.
Lorena Cuya Gavilano Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Spanish and Latin American CulturesArizona State University
Languages and Cultures
What skills stand out on French Instructor resumes?
Lorena Cuya Gavilano Ph.D.: It depends. First, for K-12 instructors, native or high proficiency is a must. Candidates that stand out are those that have deep translingual and transcultural competence. Resumes and letters of intent that stand out typically demonstrate interactive and real-life experiences such as community outreach, study abroad, or virtual international experiences. It is very important to demonstrate experience and personal skills reaching out to and interacting with communities that speak and produce the target language and literature. Why? Because teaching languages and literature is not just about making sure that students understand (decode) reading and aural materials. It is necessary to immerse students in different ways of feeling and thinking. Second, for college-level instructors, resumes that stand out demonstrate organizational and communicational skills. It may seem natural that a language and literature instructor knows how to communicate well. Yet, communicating well may not be the strength of many job seekers. Leaving aside the research skills required in many of these jobs, colleges and universities are looking for candidates with some administrative/organizational experience, proving that they can be creative and make projects a reality.
Moreover, resumes that stand out tell the story of a candidate that is not only knowledgeable in the subject matter but is also a good team player. Being a good team player implies that the candidate is a good intercultural communicator and emotionally self-aware. Today, language and literature classrooms require more interdisciplinary and collaborative work. Therefore, experience in interdisciplinary projects is a plus. Furthermore, colleges and universities are trying more and more to incorporate a professional outlook into their language courses. For these reasons, experience and/or training in second languages are becoming a more prominent requirement for many jobs. At the college level, the perfect candidate demonstrates not only a good research record and agenda; the perfect candidate possesses knowledge of digital humanities, course professionalization, and community outreach experience.
What soft skills should all French Instructors possess?
Lorena Cuya Gavilano Ph.D.: I mentioned some soft skills in my previous answer, but translingual and transcultural competence is necessary for effective communication and work collaboration. Transcultural competence requires understanding racial, ethnic, gender, age, disability, and structural issues in the workplace. It not only helps to avoid and resolve conflicts. Transcultural competence also helps to promote compassion and empathy. Translingual and transcultural competence are the foundation of work ethics. Furthermore, from year to year and from semester to semester, any instructor faces new protocols, new strategies, new pedagogical technologies, new teams, etc. Thus, the ability to adapt is another must.
What hard/technical skills are most important for French Instructors?
Lorena Cuya Gavilano Ph.D.: Hard skills for languages and cultures are somehow flexible. Instructors need to know about new pedagogies, digital humanities, educational technologies, and social media literacy. But all these requirements change very fast, so instructors should evidence knowledge of all these hard skills and the ability to adapt fast to new ones. The present pandemic had demonstrated how most instructors quickly adapted to new virtual classrooms. We ought to always be ready for any change. For this and other pedagogical reasons, adaptability is one of the most needed values in language education.
What skills will help French Instructors earn the most?
Lorena Cuya Gavilano Ph.D.: It depends on the individual ranks. Tenure-track professors, for instance, will need to prove research skills in the form of publications and grant applications in addition to other forms of educational engagements. However, something common to all language and literature instructors from K-12 to higher education is creative abilities to generate projects with students and projects within and surrounding communities. These skills can guarantee salary increases by the end of each year.
Francesco Ciabattoni Ph.D.
Professor in Italian Literature in Georgetown College, Interim Director of Global Medieval StudiesGeorgetown University
Italian Department
What soft skills should all French Instructors possess?
Francesco Ciabattoni Ph.D.: Communication skills, problem-solving skills, work ethic, flexibility, and interpersonal skills. These are all the result of a well-rounded humanistic formation, on which Georgetown University places great emphasis. Our goal is "Cura Personalis": the education of the whole person.
What skills will help French Instructors earn the most?
Francesco Ciabattoni Ph.D.: The ability to understand the world we live in and the world we come from. That is the best way to live a fulfilling life and earn money, respect, and happiness.
Ryan Kaveh Sheldon Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of English and American LiteraturesMiddlebury College
Department of English & American Literatures
What skills stand out on French Instructor resumes?
Ryan Kaveh Sheldon Ph.D.: Within literary studies departments, hiring priorities vary across institutions and fields. Some universities and colleges-and thus, their language or literature departments-will prioritize research, while others will privilege teaching experience. Still others, like Middlebury, are interested in teacher-scholars who are committed to innovative and engaged pedagogy as well as active research programs. Across these contexts, committees will favor candidates who are able to explain how their own research and teaching programs align with institutional missions and departmental needs. This demands more than a careful reading of a job ad or detailed research on the department-it requires that a candidate think critically and reflexively about their own work. Equally crucial is the ability to communicate the insights of that body of work to a wide audience, including members of the discipline who work in different fields, as well as outside faculty and administrators who may not be familiar with the common vocabulary of the discipline.
The foundations of successful job candidacy are the applicant's research and teaching profile. Committees want to see that a candidate has an interesting project that is public-facing-usually in the form of published articles and conference presentations. They also want to know that the candidate has a sense of how the project will develop and change. To do that effectively in literary studies, one must be a capable researcher who is versed in the broader trends that define field-specific scholarship, as well as an excellent writer. Proficiency in digital humanities methods and/or archival research is also highly valued (and increasingly so).
What skills will help French Instructors earn the most?
Ryan Kaveh Sheldon Ph.D.: Faculty salaries vary widely and are (unfortunately) pegged to academic rank and job security. There are many brilliant researchers and teachers who are meagerly compensated for their work. This has to do not with their individual merit-without their hard work, universities and colleges would not run-but with the employment structure of (most of) higher education in the US and the pivot to adjunct work in particular. The best way to ensure that academic workers and staff are well compensated is to organize and pursue collective bargaining and governance.
Dr. Kaleigh Bangor Ph.D.
German Faculty & Language Program CoordinatorThe University of Oklahoma
Modern Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
What hard/technical skills are most important for French Instructors?
Dr. Kaleigh Bangor Ph.D.: The technical skills needed aren't necessarily 'technical but rather efficiency with simple technologies...giving quick feedback via email/D2L software is important.
Regine Criser Ph.D.
Associate Professor of German, Chair, Department of Languages and Literatures, Director of First and Second Year Academic SuccessUniversity of North Carolina Asheville
Department of Languages and Literatures
What hard/technical skills are most important for French Instructors?
Regine Criser Ph.D.: At this point, being familiar with Zoom and/or google meet is critical. Knowing how to leverage those and other online platforms for student learning is a tremendous benefit. If a candidate can indicate that they have experience teaching online or at least an awareness of the best practices of online teaching, that would definitely set them apart.
Hiram Smith Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Spanish and LinguisticsBucknell University
Department of Spanish
What skills will help French Instructors earn the most?
Hiram Smith Ph.D.: The skill that will help you earn the most is recognizing that you may be able to negotiate a slightly higher salary than the one offered. This is especially the case when you have more than one job offer. Do not be afraid to ask if your prospective employer can match or beat a competing salary offer. If you seek a university position, ask for Startup funds to conduct research, go to conferences, etc. Other things you can ask for are a free parking permit, teaching materials, ample office space, or other practical things that you may otherwise have to come out of pocket for.
Diane Renée Mannone
Associate Professor of EnglishEast Los Angeles College
English Department
What skills stand out on French Instructor resumes?
Diane Renée Mannone: The ability to teach close reading and critical thinking are vital, especially when helping students develop their unique voices, as well as the ability to construct engaging courses adaptable to all learning styles. Teaching argument is also key.
What soft skills should all French Instructors possess?
Diane Renée Mannone: Working well with colleagues: collaborating, being a team player, involved in the department and campus, etc.
What hard/technical skills are most important for French Instructors?
Diane Renée Mannone: Technical literacy and the ability to teach in myriad environments with diverse students.
What skills will help French Instructors earn the most?
Diane Renée Mannone: All of the above.
What French Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Roselyn Costantino Ph.D.: Most important advice: Take initiative and be productive.
Find practical ways to use skills even if unpaid. Volunteer work is good. Use language skills. Technology skills. Exploit technology skills around the area of interest. If you want to be a teacher find out what software they are using today; what research skills are they utilize. Make sure you log your activities during the gap year especially those that relate to the area in which you want to work. If you want to go into finance, and you're working at a lawn service, understand and learn the business model and the accounting. If you're working at Starbucks (or in any commercial environment), get a chance to do inventories, learn about the ordering process and sources and suppliers for those orders; and how people are scheduled for work. All of that is relevant experience for business.
The CFO and recruiter for Keystone Staffing Solutions emphasized having evidence in your resume of of being productive during the gap time, no matter if it's one, two or three years. Evidence of being productive is what recruiters want to see on your resume: He stresses: "What did you do to expand your knowledge and skills not only in your selected area but beyond. BEING PRODUCTIVE for yourself proves to be an indicator of how productive you will be for me."
Still on gap year. How to go about it? Use teachers, friends, family, anyone in the field or related to it to provide guidance, insight, suggestions. This can lead to projects or experience that will help in learning and growth.
Dr. Ann Hills
Associate Professor of Spanish & ChairUniversity of La Verne
Modern Languages Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the French Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Ann Hills: A general trend, regardless of profession, is adaptability: as technologies evolve to meet the demands of the so-called "new normal," so too must the workforce. Job applicants will need to demonstrate the willingness and ability to navigate a pandemic and post-pandemic landscape by adapting to changes in the way tasks are carried out. It's likely that organizations will retain work practices and modalities that have proved to be efficient, safer, reduce costs, or are otherwise beneficial, so it would behoove candidates to add the necessary skills to their skill set, such as the ability to work remotely and utilize current technologies in a productive way.
Many of our language graduates intend to pursue a job in education, which has undergone a radical transformation (as anyone who is a teacher, a student, or shares a household with a student can attest), and it seems likely that the remote/hybrid learning models will continue long after the pandemic. Beyond a working knowledge of Zoom and good bandwidth, educators will need to demonstrate pedagogical flexibility, innovation, and creativity; the ability to engage students; and empathy towards students.
Another trend is the influence of the healthcare profession-the fastest growing sector of the U.S. economy well before Covid-19-on other professions. In recent years, I've observed many alignments and collaborations between language professionals and the public health sector. Foreign language proficiency and cross-cultural knowledge and sensitivity are invaluable assets across many positions in healthcare organizations, such as translators and interpreters, hospital language & culture specialists, and public health policymakers, to name just a few.
What technical skills for a French Instructor stand out to employers?
Dr. Ann Hills: Most jobs these days require a modicum of technical skills, including those oriented around language and culture. In addition to solid research, critical thinking, written and oral skills-part and parcel of a language, literature or linguistics major's expertise-candidates are now expected to demonstrate more technical skills, such as information and multimodal literacies.
For educators at all levels of instruction, the conversion of in-person classes to distance learning has made competence in different types of "Edtech" (education technology) essential. Proficiency with videoconferencing platforms, virtual learning environments, collaboration software, and other digital technologies is extremely advantageous (if not obligatory!). Another impressive skill is website design.
It continues to be important to highlight the "soft skills," such as adaptability, creativity, time management, collaborative decision making and effective communication.
What's a good job out of college for French Instructors?
Dr. Ann Hills: The coronavirus has had a devastating effect on many industries and, by extension, job options. Pre-pandemic, I would routinely suggest that language students consider positions in countries in which their language(s) of study are spoken. Many recent graduates teach English abroad right out of college, allowing them to earn money as well as cross-cultural and professional experience; current times have made such opportunities more challenging.
Nevertheless, I believe that graduates with degrees in languages and cultures have skill sets and knowledge that can be translated (pardon the pun) into many fields that continue to be in high demand-indeed, into some fields that are in even higher demand as a result of the pandemic, such as education, healthcare and community engagement. Students of language and culture tend to have a highly developed sense of understanding of, empathy for, and often experience communicating and working with, diverse populations; organizations and private sector employers are realizing that these are critical traits in today's global society and markets, as are concerns for inclusion and equity. In addition to positions that specifically require multilingualism, those that call for critical thinking, superior verbal and written communication skills, and linguistic sophistication should be a good fit for language majors as well.
There are many variables that make a job "good," of course: a livable wage, a reasonable work-life balance, a supportive and respectful environment, a rewarding work product... If you're not fortunate enough to attain your dream job right away-few people are!-take stock of your true passions and future career goals. Consider an entry level job in your desired field or an allied field: this allows you to bank valuable knowledge and experience in that area as you give it a "test drive." If you're interested in education but don't find an available teaching position, apply as a tutor, teaching assistant or substitute teacher. If your passion is literary translation, earn some practical experience working for a commercial translation company.
It's my hope that with determination, creativity and a strong work ethic, we can face the challenges occasioned by the pandemic and find new opportunities for productive collaborations.
Marcy Schwartz Ph.D.
Professor and ChairRutgers University
Department of Spanish and Portuguese
What's a good job out of college for French Instructors?
Marcy Schwartz Ph.D.: A good first job out of college should be a training ground in all kinds of professional and life skills. A job that requires multiple skills and tasks allows the candidate to be building professional skills in a broad way, for example, a position that requires marketing, grant writing, and customer relations keeps the candidate from being pigeon-holed in one industry or job sector. Make the most of every opportunity!