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Job outlook for languages and literature instructors in the United States
Are languages and literature instructor jobs in demand?
Languages and literature instructor job and salary trends over time
Languages and literature instructor jobs over time
Languages and literature instructor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 119 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 138 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 150 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 155 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 165 | 0.00% |
Average languages and literature instructor salary over time
Languages and literature instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $63,651 | $30.60 | --0.1% |
| 2024 | $63,715 | $30.63 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | $61,575 | $29.60 | +4.0% |
| 2022 | $59,181 | $28.45 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | $57,807 | $27.79 | +3.5% |
Languages and literature instructor jobs by state
Most common states for languages and literature instructors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 488 | 9% |
| 2 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 377 | 8% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 79 | 8% |
| 4 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 46 | 8% |
| 5 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 726 | 7% |
| 6 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 610 | 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 | 656 | 6% |
| 11 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 466 | 5% |
| 12 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 311 | 5% |
| 13 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 280 | 5% |
| 14 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 160 | 5% |
| 15 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 38 | 5% |
| 16 | Vermont | 623,657 | 30 | 5% |
| 17 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,678 | 4% |
| 18 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 418 | 4% |
| 19 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 133 | 4% |
| 20 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 59 | 4% |
Most common cities for languages and literature instructors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coral Gables | 1 | 2% | $64,844 |
| 2 | West Palm Beach | 1 | 1% | $64,834 |
Languages And Literature Instructor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of languages and literature instructor experts
College of the Marshall Islands
Union University
Macalester College
University of Iowa
North Central College
The University of Vermont
Michigan Technological University
Texas Tech University
Arizona State University
Wilson College
Georgetown University
Louisiana State University
Middlebury College
Bucknell University
East Los Angeles College
Concordia University
Southwestern College
Pennsylvania State University Altoona
San Diego Mesa College
Furman University
What general advice would you give to a Languages And Literature 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 Languages And Literature 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 soft skills should all Languages And Literature 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 Languages And Literature Instructors?
Julie Glosson: -Language proficiency
-Knowledge of content
-Pedagogical Skills in Language Acquisition
-Professional Development
What skills will help Languages And Literature 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 Languages And Literature Instructor resumes?
Nanette Scott Goldman: Language fluency and teaching experience.
What soft skills should all Languages And Literature 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 Languages And Literature 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 hard/technical skills are most important for Languages And Literature Instructors?
Dr. Irina Kostina: Certifications, computer skills, writing, language, and presentation skills.
What skills will help Languages And Literature 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 soft skills should all Languages And Literature 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 skills stand out on Languages And Literature 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.
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 Languages And Literature 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 Languages And Literature 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 will help Languages And Literature 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 will help Languages And Literature 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.
Michael Cornelius Ph.D.
Professor of English, Program Director MAHUMWilson College
English Department
What hard/technical skills are most important for Languages And Literature Instructors?
Michael Cornelius Ph.D.: While college-and college students-are increasingly digital, students are becoming less and less technical. Even compared to 10 years ago, my students' technical knowledge has significantly declined. That is why I encourage my students to become proficient in some useful software suite, such as Adobe Creative Cloud. Taking one or two classes in any software suite is tremendously beneficial and can help an applicant to really stand out from other English majors.
What skills will help Languages And Literature Instructors earn the most?
Michael Cornelius Ph.D.: Self-advocacy. I am not suggesting every English major rush to their boss and demand a big raise, but our culture continually suggests one should apologize for majoring in a liberal arts field. I don't buy it. English majors are amazing at solving problems, facilitating communication, researching ideas, developing programs-they are, in short, the total package. And they have a tremendous capacity to learn new skills and new abilities. This is why students from my college, for example, end up in a huge variety of subject fields. We need to understand the value we bring to any organization as an English major.
What soft skills should all Languages And Literature Instructors possess?
Michael Cornelius Ph.D.: Communication and care. Communication in all of its forms-written, oral, public speaking, and interpersonal, one-on-one communication abilities are all vital. A confident communicator can work wonders in many fields.
Add to that care. The study of English is not just the study of language; it is the study of those narratives that shape and dominate humanity and the means through which we make and understand them. I can't think of a better way to learn and know people. But that should come through as an ethos of care. If you want to teach, you must care for your students. No matter the field an English major may find themselves in, an ethos of care will serve them well.
Francesco Ciabattoni Ph.D.
Professor in Italian Literature in Georgetown College, Interim Director of Global Medieval StudiesGeorgetown University
Italian Department
What skills stand out on Languages And Literature Instructor resumes?
Francesco Ciabattoni Ph.D.: Many skills are important, especially the knowledge of texts and manuscripts. However, there is a growing request to apply knowledge of even remote times and works to current themes in today's America. Without modernizing excessively, I think it is important to understand the past to build a better future, so a cultural awareness of the literary, social, and historical dynamics of the middle ages can serve us well in living the present and shaping the future.
What soft skills should all Languages And Literature 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 hard/technical skills are most important for Languages And Literature Instructors?
Francesco Ciabattoni Ph.D.: Knowing a foreign language is vital to any intellectual profession. When it comes to the medieval/Renaissance period, the options are many: at Georgetown, we have not only European languages available, but also Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other languages and cultures that contribute to our program of Global Medieval Studies. One interesting feature of Georgetown is precisely the synergy between different disciplines and our intercultural and interfaith interest. For example, I am a Professor of Italian Literature, and the Italian Department offers a wide range of courses, including courses on Dante's Divine Comedy. 2021 marks the 700th anniversary of Italy's greatest poet, and I am coordinating an event on Dante, Islam, and Mediterranean cultures in the middle ages. In addition to that, my colleague Laura Benedetti recently discovered unfound manuscripts and just published a book on the relations between the Republic of Venice and Egypt in the 16th century. These are terrific opportunities to explore the usefulness of studying literature, languages, and old manuscript
What skills will help Languages And Literature 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.
Jonathan Osborne Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of RhetoricLouisiana State University
English Department
What skills stand out on Languages And Literature Instructor resumes?
Jonathan Osborne Ph.D.: Classroom management and proficiency with digital platforms hold an increasingly important role for writing instructors. Before the pandemic, many colleges and universities were gradually expanding online course offerings to accommodate the varied lives of their students. However, after COVID-19, online classrooms have become ubiquitous within academia, so writing instructors need to demonstrate skills with managing physical and virtual classrooms. Knowledge and expertise with digital platforms go together with classroom management as universities expect writing instructors to prepare incoming and current students to communicate effectively - whether in-person or online.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Languages And Literature Instructors?
Jonathan Osborne Ph.D.: Writing instructors must know how to use multiple computer programs proficiently and at times use them simultaneously. Long gone are the days where all you needed to know were the basics of Microsoft Word and Excel. In addition to the learning platform used by the university (Blackboard, Canvas, Moodle, Google Classroom, etc.), writing instructors must know how to use Zoom or other online video conference platforms to ensure smooth experiences for students who cannot come to the physical classroom.
Ryan Kaveh Sheldon Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of English and American LiteraturesMiddlebury College
Department of English & American Literatures
What skills stand out on Languages And Literature 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 soft skills should all Languages And Literature Instructors possess?
Ryan Kaveh Sheldon Ph.D.: Similarly, teaching experience is important. I began teaching during my first semester as a Ph.D. student and designed my own courses throughout my graduate career. That experience proved crucial to my job search-it allowed me to talk concretely about my approaches to different courses, and it enabled me to effectively propose courses that I hadn't yet taught. Teaching itself requires softer and more technical skills: you need to be practiced in public speaking, time management, organization, critical thinking and problem solving, and interpersonal communication; you also need to be proficient in word processing, data entry, document design. The pandemic has only heightened the need for familiarity with learning management systems, video recording programs, teleconferencing, and social media.
Finally, it is increasingly important (and rightfully so) for scholars and teachers to demonstrate how their research and teaching practices line up with broader initiatives to create more just institutions. We have witnessed an efflorescence of youth- and student-led organizing around racial justice (and policing in particular), ongoing settler colonialism, economic inequality, and climate catastrophe. My view is that faculty-thus job candidates-across disciplines need to be able to match student energy on these frontiers whenever possible.
What skills will help Languages And Literature 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.
Hiram Smith Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Spanish and LinguisticsBucknell University
Department of Spanish
What skills stand out on Languages And Literature Instructor resumes?
Hiram Smith Ph.D.: Languages that are seldomly taught or minoritized (or endangered languages) are attention-grabbing. However, you should point out anything unique about what you do, such as a particular period or genre that you specialize in. Further, you should always highlight any other skills you have besides being bi- or multilingual or having teaching experience. For example, what specific subdiscipline you specialize in, such as sociolinguistics or applied linguistics. Suppose you are familiar with computer software programs such as PRAAT, Elan, Goldfarb, R. In that case, it is always a good idea to list this as part of your skillset. This goes for any related skills you may have, such as working as a translator or receiving court interpreter certification.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Languages And Literature Instructors?
Hiram Smith Ph.D.: Any experience you have working with mono- or bilingual children and adults in any capacity or doing community outreach gives evidence of soft skills that you may have, such as being a personable, affable, outgoing, or empathetic person. It's not enough to say "I am an outgoing person"--show it on paper (or during the interview) by the things you have already done both in your personal (such as volunteering) and professional life. It's good to highlight what you have already done, even if this is your first full-time job. For example, if you have published a paper, worked with a scholar on their research, or presented at a conference, mention that.
What skills will help Languages And Literature 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 soft skills should all Languages And Literature 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 Languages And Literature Instructors?
Diane Renée Mannone: Technical literacy and the ability to teach in myriad environments with diverse students.
What skills will help Languages And Literature Instructors earn the most?
Diane Renée Mannone: All of the above.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Languages And Literature Instructor job market given the pandemic?
John Norton Ph.D.: A need to communicate clearly and creatively through different medium
What technical skills for a Languages And Literature Instructor stand out to employers?
John Rieder: In English, we look for applicants with a demonstrated commitment to the populations we serve in the community college (not just lip service, but proven commitment). Former community-college students and those with peer tutoring experience are always wonderful. We also look for an interest in ongoing professional development, particularly professional development related to "high challenge, high support" classroom instruction, to anti-racist and culturally responsive pedagogy/andragogy, and to overall advancing a culture of care, guidance, equity, and community.
What Languages And Literature 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. Pegah Motaleb
Associate Professor- English and PATH CoordinatorSan Diego Mesa College
School of Humanities- English Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Languages And Literature Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Pegah Motaleb: It's hard for me to answer this question because I am not an expert on job markets and I am not really studying and watching it closely. I am an English professor with a doctorate in Educational Leadership, so the general job market has not been the focus of my research or studies. However, with that said, I do read and keep up with studies and literature that overwhelmingly support that the job market values and needs graduates with some kind of Humanities degree or background. Specifically, you can find more details of what I mean by reading this 2019 report called Amacad. Specifically, if you look under the Workforce portion of the report, you will see several trends. Keep in mind that the trends are pre COVID-Pandemic, but what stood out for me among the many statistics is this one:
Over 84% of all workers with a terminal bachelor's degree in the humanities reported they were satisfied with their jobs in 2015, while 90% of humanities majors with an advanced degree expressed satisfaction.
So to go back to your question about what I think we'll see in the job market given the pandemic is that we'll see a lot of graduates who are yearning for some kind of joy, happiness, and healing in their lives...some kind of satisfaction...some kind of fulfillment... while at the same time getting their basic needs met (housing, food, health care, etc.).
In addition to this report, I would like for you to also highlight the information shared in these articles. All point to the need for Humanities in STEM related disciplines, especially healthcare. I want to emphasis healthcare here because as the nation watched, our healthcare system was not prepared for the tragedies of this pandemic. Thus, as these articles point, a healthcare professional with a Humanities background can contribute to this industry and improve its shortcomings to better serve the country.
One year, in my English literature class, I had a veteran student who was an English major. I asked him why he chose English as a major, and he said my passion is playing video games and I want to have a career to which I develop video games. He then said developing video games requires an English background because he has to develop a plot, characters, setting, dialogue, etc.
What Languages And Literature Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Pegah Motaleb: I grew up in a low-income household where any shot at upward mobility was through getting an education, so unfortunately, I did not have the luxury of taking a "gap year." With that said, if a student is taking a gap year, I would recommend that they read...read...read...all the books they want to read (that they couldn't read while in high school.) I have three incredible nieces who are all in high school and college. I often recommend books to them and they say to me 'Auntie, I don't have time to read...I am too busy doing my homework for my classes.'
So for someone taking a "gap year," I would tell them read all the books that will ground you...read everything and anything by Toni Morrison. Read everything and anything by James Baldwin. Read everything and anything by Angela Y. Davis. If they have the opportunity to travel, I would tell them to travel to the South. Learn about the history of slavery. In fact, participate in one of the activities offered through Slavedwellingproject. I would tell them to become a life long learner of American history and to seek narratives that were not taught to them in high school, especially the narratives of people of color, women, LGBTQ, and those who grew up marginalized and in poverty. I would tell them to volunteer with an organization that supports a cause they are passionate about. Lastly, I would encourage them to participate in their local politics. Not only should they learn how legislation works, but also they should immediately register to vote as soon as they turn 18. I feel like a gap year would be a perfect opportunity to do these things because one can learn about who they really are and what their purpose and vision will be for their higher education.
What general advice would you give to a Languages And Literature Instructor?
Dr. Pegah Motaleb: To do something that will make them happy. Pursue a career that allows you to do what you are passionate about on a daily basis. Your passion is what is going to get you out of bed each day. Choose happiness over money. What's the point of making a six figure or millions of dollars in your salary in a job that makes you unhappy? I often think to myself, when I am on my death bed, I am not going to be thinking about how much money I made in my lifetime. I will think about my family, memories of joy, and all the ways in which I contributed to making my community a better place.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Languages And Literature Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Christopher Blackwell: It has always been the case that no one can study in college for their future job. When I was in college, the sentence, "I write games for phones," would have been gibberish. As we look forward, we need to make sure that our students are as broadly flexible as possible. We cannot send students of literature out into the world without technological skills. We cannot send computer scientists out into the world with no understanding of humans in society.
What Languages And Literature Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Christopher Blackwell: A super-productive gap-year would include some customer-facing retail or service experience (waiting tables, bartending, barista, checkout clerk), a course in statistics if the student didn't pick that up in college, and a course on some programming language.
What general advice would you give to a Languages And Literature Instructor?
Christopher Blackwell: The pandemic has also highlighted the importance of the social sciences. Although a vaccine didn't emerge from the social sciences, insights from such disciplines are critical in constructing vaccine rollouts and other socially-acceptable policies that account for human behavior. The social sciences, including economics, will also help rebuild our communities in more sustainable and inclusive ways in the post-pandemic world. Young graduates entering the workforce that understand human nature and can critically evaluate policies and procedures from a social scientific perspective will be invaluable to employers for their ability to think technically and creatively and account for social norms and human behavior. More generally, creative and innovative thinking and the ability to be flexible are imperative. These things are a core part of any liberal arts curriculum. Graduates should emphasize these liberal arts skills in addition to technical career training.