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Job outlook for native english teachers in the United States
Native english teacher job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected native english teacher job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 159,400 new jobs for native english teachers are projected over the next decade.
Native english teacher salaries have increased 8% for native english teachers in the last 5 years.
There are over 8,291 native english teachers currently employed in the United States.
There are 53,556 active native english teacher job openings in the US.
The average native english teacher salary is $53,757.
Are native english teacher jobs in demand?
Native english teacher job and salary trends over time
Native english teacher jobs over time
Native english teacher job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,291 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 9,187 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 9,631 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 9,691 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 9,802 | 0.00% |
Average native english teacher salary over time
Native english teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $53,757 | $25.84 | +0.7% |
| 2025 | $53,360 | $25.65 | +2.9% |
| 2024 | $51,880 | $24.94 | +2.6% |
| 2023 | $50,571 | $24.31 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $49,652 | $23.87 | +2.8% |
Native english teacher jobs by state
Most common states for native english teachers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 121 | 17% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 170 | 13% |
| 3 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 654 | 11% |
| 4 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 610 | 11% |
| 5 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 912 | 10% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 97 | 10% |
| 7 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,216 | 9% |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 644 | 9% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 520 | 9% |
| 10 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 197 | 9% |
| 11 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 93 | 9% |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 643 | 8% |
| 13 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 149 | 8% |
| 14 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 256 | 7% |
| 15 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 212 | 7% |
| 16 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 198 | 7% |
| 17 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 609 | 6% |
| 18 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 414 | 6% |
| 19 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 320 | 6% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 40 | 6% |
Native English Teacher job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of native english teacher experts
SUNY Buffalo State
Wilson College
University of Houston - Downtown
Concordia University
Arizona State University
The University of Texas Permian Basin
Southwestern College
Pennsylvania State University Altoona
Jackson State University
The University of Texas at El Paso
Pepperdine University
Case Western Reserve University
Gonzaga University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
NC State University
Queens College
University of Montevallo
Dordt University
University of Findlay
University of Central Florida
Dr. Mark Fulk Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorSUNY Buffalo State
Department of English
What skills will help Native English Teachers earn the most?
Dr. Mark Fulk Ph.D.: I believe that the critical thinking skills that can only be developed through intensive, deep reading are their most valuable asset. It makes them thinkers, intellectually and emotionally strong--something we desperately need in America today. They are active and engaged citizens who really excel at being self-motivated and engaged, and that is a valuable skill set to bring to any workplace.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Native English Teachers?
Dr. Mark Fulk Ph.D.: Most of these have to do with their ability to write and think. Their critical thinking skills and self-motivation make them valuable contributors to the workplaces they join. Because they are trained to be self-motivated, they tend to need less oversight to ensure the success of the project(s) they are completing, making for less direct administrative need. They have been trained to break apart a problem and see (and solve) the problem's component parts through the process of critical thinking. Trained in a meta-discourse, they do not become outdated when one formal system in their field becomes obsolete, but they see beyond systems to larger issues.
What skills stand out on Native English Teacher resumes?
Dr. Mark Fulk Ph.D.: Their involvement in many kinds of experience through the English major, including the study of literature/culture and their experiences as writers and thinkers. Through involvement in opportunities such as writing tutoring, which is done via the department, publishing, and internships, our majors can be leaders in the work in which they are invested, helping to manage and guide others.
What soft skills should all Native English Teachers possess?
Dr. Mark Fulk Ph.D.: English majors, while many are introverted thinkers, are good workers on group projects. They are affable and adaptable, good conversationalists who are also good listeners. They allow others to find their own voice and do their work while contributing their own insights. They are great for being engaged in culture and perpetuating the kinds of self-directed learning that is expected of English majors inside and outside the classroom.
Michael Cornelius Ph.D.
Professor of English, Program Director MAHUMWilson College
English Department
What hard/technical skills are most important for Native English Teachers?
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 soft skills should all Native English Teachers 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.
What skills stand out on Native English Teacher resumes?
Michael Cornelius Ph.D.: In the academy, we often talk about English majors teaching students vital skills in critical thinking, communication, research, and analysis. An English major can be handed a project and know how to research the necessary components, compile them together in a clear and consistent format, and present that material to a client or supervisor with confidence. And I think the skill that really unites all of these aspects of the English major is independence. In our field, we ask students to articulate the rudiments of pragmatics, identify the meaning inherent to a seventeenth-century poem, and punch back at the masterpieces of the canon. No student can tackle such a diverse learning platform without a streak of independence that teaches them that, yes, scholars have been analyzing and deconstructing Shakespeare for 500 years, but no one has quite seen the text the way you have, and that's why you need to write about it. Heck, in a national conversation about higher education that strongly suggests that any major without a specific job title in its name should not even be considered, it takes someone who is a bit of a maverick to choose a major in English. But that independent streak serves our students really well in their careers and lives beyond college.
On a resume, I look for independence in that projection completion mode: acting as editor for student media; presenting a paper at a conference; writing a theatrical work; publishing; internships; etc. Anything that shows me that the applicant can tackle a project and get it done is what I am looking for.
What skills will help Native English Teachers 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.
Adam Ellwanger Ph.D.
Professor of EnglishUniversity of Houston - Downtown
College of Humanities & Social Sciences
What skills stand out on Native English Teacher resumes?
Adam Ellwanger Ph.D.: When applying to be an instructor of English, your resume itself must be clean and totally without error. If you can't produce impeccable writing, why should your prospective employers believe that you can teach others to do so? A clean, complete, well-formatted resume reflects that you are a strong writer and editor, and these are critical skills. Of course, if you want to be an English instructor, some experience as a teacher is strongly preferred -- even if that is in informal contexts (e.g., leading training sessions at a previous place of employment or serving as a teaching assistant in graduate school).
What hard/technical skills are most important for Native English Teachers?
Adam Ellwanger Ph.D.: Writing, Editing, Teaching, Reading.
What soft skills should all Native English Teachers possess?
Adam Ellwanger Ph.D.: It is also important that you speak well -- that you are a good conversationalist. People in education want to hire people who will be collegial co-workers and have a dynamic classroom presence.
What skills will help Native English Teachers earn the most?
Adam Ellwanger Ph.D.: If you can document training in technical communication, professional writing, or rhetoric (as opposed to simply literature and/or creative writing), skills related to those sub-fields are highly valued by the corporate world and employers in the private sector -- the places that tend to pay people with backgrounds in English the most.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Native English Teacher job market given the pandemic?
John Norton Ph.D.: A need to communicate clearly and creatively through different medium
How have salaries changed over time for Native English Teachers?
John Norton Ph.D.: Salaries continue to rise in education
What technical skills for a Native English Teacher stand out to employers?
John Norton Ph.D.: - clear and creative communication
- advanced problem solving
- teamwork
How have salaries changed over time for Native English Teachers?
Jessica Early Ph.D.: In many parts of the country, like Arizona, teacher salaries have not grown at a rate to support an increased cost of living, which has led to a sever teaching shortage and high turnover rates. Teachers continue to be asked to do more, to juggle more, and are paid less. One of the things I hope this past year has shown is just how integral teachers and schools are to the health, well-being, and advancement of our communities and the work they do needs to be supported.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Native English Teacher job market given the pandemic?
Jessica Early Ph.D.: In the coming years, there will be more need than ever for well-trained teachers in all levels and aspects of schools. There will also be a need to support partnerships with community organizations, family outreach, libraries, and extra-curricular kinds of support to support the academic and social emotion needs of children and their families. There will also be great need for highly skilled teachers in supporting students in digital forms of literacy, writing, and reading practices.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Native English Teachers?
Jessica Early Ph.D.: Teachers who receive their reading endorsement as well as training in the teaching of writing through local sites of the National Writing Project, like the Central Arizona Writing Project at ASU put themselves at an advantage. Also, courses that prepare teachers in culturally sustaining teaching practices and digital literacies will help them meet the needs of diverse student populations and ever-evolving communication tools.
Rebecca Babcock
William and Ordelle Watts ProfessorThe University of Texas Permian Basin
Department of Literature and Language
What's a good job out of college for Native English Teachers?
Rebecca Babcock: All people seeking to enter a career should plan on doing an internship in that business. I believe an internship is the best way to get started in any career. If an internship is not available consider an apprenticeship, volunteering, or job shadowing. Get yourself in there and show how valuable you are.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Native English Teachers?
Rebecca Babcock: Post-pandemic, people will have to be more flexible with their work plans and what they expect out of a job.
What will help Native English Teachers increase their earning potential?
Rebecca Babcock: Networking is always key. Especially for those working for themselves...the more people you know...the more contacts you have...the more jobs you will get. I am talking about real networking, not social networking. This means talk to people, get to know them, become friends or at least acquaintances with people in the industry you want to enter.
How have salaries changed over time for Native English Teachers?
John Rieder: I can't speak to this with any kind of certainty. It really does vary district by district. In the last few years prior to the pandemic, our union routinely negotiated small but notable salary increases above COLA for all fulltime and part-time faculty.
What technical skills for a Native English Teacher 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 are the biggest trends we'll see in the Native English Teacher job market given the pandemic?
John Rieder: I can only speak to the California community colleges, but we have seen a dramatic drop in enrollments this year, particularly this current spring. I believe as a system, the CCCs are down 10% compared to a year ago. My campus is a couple of points worse than that. This has impacted the English job market significantly. Ours is a field in which our fulltime faculty hires always come from the adjunct/part-time ranks in the region. Right now, with the drop in enrollment and a compression of offerings, it was very hard for any instructors with newly minted M.A.s to get a foot in the door. Several newer part-time instructors (hired in the last couple of years) who managed to secure an assignment in Fall 2019 did not get an offer for the current spring, which is lighter in terms of total sections offered. Obviously, another trend is the necessity of distance-education training. Every college district in my region is handling this a bit differently. My college is particularly strict; those who want a fully online/asynchronous teaching assignment must complete our in-house certification. Some other campuses do accept DE training completed elsewhere. As far as fulltime, tenure-track positions go, we have been fortunate to recruit four new fulltime faculty members since 2019, and we will likely be able to recruit one more in a year who would begin in Fall 2022. Since the short-term economic outlook is going to be okay, our district has committed to replacing all faculty who retire this year.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Native English Teachers in the next 3-5 years?
Roselyn Costantino Ph.D.: New Technologies:
Be on top of all sharing apps; by the time someone claims which to know, new ones will be available so you must be current. Find out what businesses or fields of interest are using. Linkedin is broadly used. Keystone Staffing Solutions CFO stresses: "No matter what you are doing--gap year or full-time job, spend 2 to 3 hours a day on-line, expanding your knowledge of apps major organizations in your field and beyond are using."
Communication Skills:
English Degree: Your degree enables development/expertise in the what are the essential skills in so many professions and businesses: the ability to write critically, be persuasive, and communicate with clarity. Write papers or articles and submit to publications. Start blogs and share ideas with people in your similar situation. Encourage professionals to participate and add advice.
If speaking in public is difficult, take courses. Afraid? Practice starting with children by volunteering or offering free classes for kids. Work up to older children then adults. Build confidence and skill. But importantly, don't underestimate the value of this ability.
What experience really stands out on Native English Teacher resumes?
Roselyn Costantino Ph.D.: All of us took language classes. Recruiters want to know how you are able to use the language; not how many years you studied or if you majored or minored, but can you sustain an intelligent conversation with a speaker in that language. Practical use, real life. Study abroad highly recommended. However, you need to differentiate between going abroad to party versus expanding your language and cultural skills.
Globalization--even among small farmers, small businesses--and population migrations make speaking a foreign language a substantial advantage in the job market, across fields, throughout the U.S. and abroad. Spanish, in particular, is highly sought after not only for companies/organizations with international business or connections, but also those operating only in the U.S. I have for years and still receive regular requests from legal, medical, corporate, non-profit organizations for written or in-person translations because they do not have enough people on site with this skill. These are well-paid.
Jobs of the future that we cannot even imagine now will benefit from and require the language and cultural skills that perspective employees can provide. Without sounding crass, and speaking specifically about Spanish, studies have shown that when 2 applicants with similar resumes apply for the same job, with the only difference being ability to speak Spanish, the applicant with Spanish-language skills will get the job the overwhelming majority of times and will be in the position to demand a higher salary, than the one who does not. Just a fact.
What Native English Teacher 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.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Native English Teacher job market given the pandemic?
Leticia Pérez Alonso Ph.D.: In the sector of English instruction positions that will probably be in demand include the following: high, middle or elementary school English teacher, ESL/TESOL teacher and a variety of tutoring or instructional opportunities ranging from composition, professional or creative writing. As a result of the pandemic, it is likely that there is an increase in online distance teaching positions. Specializations in bilingual or adult education might also play a central role in the field of English teaching, given the sociocultural needs of a population characterized by its diversity.
What technical skills for a Native English Teacher stand out to employers?
Leticia Pérez Alonso Ph.D.: In the past some employers appeared to be attracted to candidates who were familiar with online or distant education. Given the changing face of the academia, especially over the last year, I believe that skills to work remotely will be especially taken into consideration when hiring instructors of English language, education and literature. As I see it, an ability to develop online courses through platforms such as Canvas, Moodle or Blackboard stand out to employers of the educational sector. Along these lines, experience with video communications technologies such as Zoom will be a plus when deciding to hire an online or distance English teacher.
Additionally, specializations in English literature appear to have dropped, yet positions in rhetoric and composition are still in demand. Therefore, those English majors interested in literature might want to diversify their curriculum and receive training in areas such as technical and professional writing. They might also be interested in expanding their knowledge in second language acquisition or pedagogy to teach English to foreign speakers.
How have salaries changed over time for Native English Teachers?
Leticia Pérez Alonso Ph.D.: With the passage of time, my impression is that salaries have gradually increased in the academic field, but not in a manner that have adjusted to living expenses today. Salaries also vary depending on the position and the state. For instance, an English teacher of secondary education in a large metropolis is likely to receive a higher remuneration than one who performs the same activity in a less populated area.
Dr. Isabel Baca Ph.D.
Professor of English in Rhetoric and Writing StudiesThe University of Texas at El Paso
English Department
What will help Native English Teachers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Isabel Baca Ph.D.: Knowing how to use technology effectively and efficiently will help people in my field increase their earning potential. As stated above, knowing how to communicate well through different means will be very important. Composing print and digital texts, being strong in problem-solving and critical thinking, knowing how to work well with others, and using technology to convey messages effectively and efficiently will contribute to their earning potential. More knowledge on user experience will contribute as well.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Native English Teachers?
Dr. Isabel Baca Ph.D.: I believe the enduring impact of the pandemic on graduates will be on their use of technology. We have become accustomed to meeting online now. We conduct meetings, interviews, and conferences online, and this format may not go away anytime soon. The face-to-face interactions may not be the "normal" setting anymore.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Native English Teachers?
Dr. Isabel Baca Ph.D.: The courses that will have the biggest impact on job prospects are technology and communication courses. Using different hardware, software, and technological platforms effectively and efficiently to communicate will be crucial in the workplace. Knowing how to use different social media is a must. Courses that allow students to learn and practice problem-solving and critical thinking will make them stronger job candidates. I also believe that having strong writing, speaking, and interpersonal communication skills will still be important in the workplace. Writing, of course, now entails composing multimodal texts/digital texts. Teamwork, knowing how to work with others, will still be important too.
What's a good job out of college for Native English Teachers?
Lisa Smith Ph.D.: Most undergraduate English programs have several specializations to choose from. Thus, if a graduate has completed the teaching track for an English degree, a teaching position is the desired position out of college. Similarly, technical writing specializations will position one to find a job as a technical writer either in-house for a large corporation or with a technical writing company. For those who graduate with a specialization in literature, their skills can be applied to many different entry-level jobs. For example, English graduates place well in government intelligence jobs, market research companies, editing/publishing jobs, jobs in law offices, and human resources positions. Any job that utilizes communication skills and values critical thinking and research training will be a landing place for English graduates.
What will help Native English Teachers increase their earning potential?
Lisa Smith Ph.D.: Graduates holding an English degree can increase their earning potential in several ways. First, minoring in a related field that will expand job opportunities such as business, science, or creative writing will broaden the skill set new graduates bring to the table. Taking advantage of internship opportunities while in college will also strengthen a resume, especially if a student has completed internships in different fields. Once you are working in the field, an English graduate should play to their strengths in the workplace, which usually include effective communication and connecting with others. Developing these people-related skills will enable English graduates to increase their earning potential by gravitating toward management opportunities.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Native English Teachers?
Lisa Smith Ph.D.: Given the unique nature of the coronavirus pandemic, it is difficult to say with certainty exactly what the impact will be on graduates in any field of study, English included. However, the obvious trend right now toward less in-person work interactions points to opportunities for graduates with English degrees. Since undergraduate English programs emphasize critical thinking, oral and written communication skills, and the ability to empathize with and understand other perspectives, graduates with an English degree will be well-positioned to work as team members, managers, and communicators in many fields. The breadth of the skills developed by English majors means that even if one industry is impacted by the pandemic or other factors, English graduates can pivot and look for opportunities in many other fields. For those reasons, I believe those who hold English undergraduate degrees and have developed their communication and interpersonal skills specifically through these programs will have opportunities in many fields despite the pandemic.
Dr. Gabrielle Bycowski Ph.D.
Full-time LecturerCase Western Reserve University
Department of English
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Native English Teachers?
Dr. Gabrielle Bycowski Ph.D.: Beyond just honing the ability to read and write well, the most important courses that a student in an English department may take are those on diversity and equity. In a global economy, business is no longer conducted only among workers who all live in the same town, state, or country. It is highly likely that most professions will require job candidates to work closely, at one time or another, with people living in places far away. At the same time, millennials and generation Z are already demonstrating that an increasing number of job prospects will require candidates to move away from where they grew up or where they went to school.
Consequently, companies are seeing people from far away moving into towns, bringing a wider variety of cultural variety to areas that had formerly been relatively homogeneous. As a result, an education in diverse racial, national, linguistic, religious, sexual, gender identities are not only good ideas but essential foundations for ever changing and growing workplaces. While one class on African-American Literature or LGBT Art will not prepare a job candidate for every possible social situation, it will create the basis for one's future flexibility, empathy, respectfulness, and willingness to learn. Likewise, studying the interplay of power dynamics between dominant and marginalized groups in courses on justice and equity can prepare future job candidates to consider how social privilege, systemic oppression, and institutional policies unequally affect different populations.
One course on social issues will not cover all aspects of inequity but an introduction to some of the forces that diversely shape our social world will set up a graduate to better listen and adapt to ongoing civil discourses on racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, colonialism, and more.
What will help Native English Teachers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Gabrielle Bycowski Ph.D.: English Degrees are more important now than they were in previous decades. While some people may jokingly ask, "what job can you get with an English Degree?" The answer is: many. Communication skills, including the ability to read with comprehension, analyze information, and translate that knowledge into easy to consume forms, are increasing in demand. Professions that require a high level of coordination or regularly utilize communication technologies have long known the value of a job candidate with an English major or minor.
As other professions modernize, more and more business is being done online or across distances. Websites and teleconferencing are becoming increasingly normal and essential. As businesses start to communicate directly to consumers, job candidates need to be able to translate information from experts into chunks that can be put onto social media. My advice to English majors is to not think about their degree as an identity but as a collection of skills and proficiencies. If you break down the talents and training of an English major, you find the traits of a strong job candidate for the ever evolving, increasingly communication-based workplace of the coming decade.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Native English Teachers?
Dr. Gabrielle Bycowski Ph.D.: The pandemic will undoubtedly shape the future of the job market and how various professions function. Graduates will enter into a professional world different from the one that existed prior to the emergence of Covid-19. While the specifics of the future are hard to predict with certainty, the adaptations that have occurred in the wake of the outbreak can inform our expectations.
One thing that the pandemic has made evident is the importance of communication skills. With so much business being conducted during the past year from home or from isolated work stations, an employee's ability (or inability) to communicate clearly through email, texts, video messages and reports significantly impacts the productivity of individuals as well as teams. Even when workplaces return to a state where coworkers can cooperate and speak regularly in close proximity, the habits formed over the pandemic will likely not be totally abandoned. Businesses know that work can and sometimes must be done remotely in one form or another. Meetings and information can be distributed with a degree of confidence if the communication is done well. This past year has been a providing ground for our abilities to function together across distance and difficult conditions if we know how to effectively speak and listen, write and read.
What soft skills should all Native English Teachers possess?
Katey Roden Ph.D.: Written and oral communication skills are essential for workplace success. The ability to clearly articulate or clarify ideas and/or project plans is a key indicator of potential for career advancement. In a corporate world of emails or Slack channels, expressing complex ideas in clear and concise language is a great value.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Native English Teachers?
Katey Roden Ph.D.: There is a reason that English majors are some of the most marketable graduates. The critical thinking skillsets developed in literary theory or early literature courses like Shakespeare are invaluable. Being able to unpack the meaning of complex theoretical schools of thought and apply them to the world around you and your lived experience bridges academic knowledge with an understanding of the human condition and complexities of culture. Being able to make meaning out of a challenging and influential text like Hamlet's "quintessence of dust" monologue, for example, indicates more than deep thinking-this type of interpretive work is evidence of a prospective employee's ability to take on complex tasks that may require sustained interest and examination.
The resilience and grit required to read and re-read in order to question and interpret lengthy passages of difficult text fashion employees who are not only capable of independent thought but confident in their abilities to actively engage complexity. Reading broadly and also deeply presents the opportunity to encounter multiple perspectives and identity positions that might be foreign to your own worldview and experiences; employers are looking for employees who will actively improve their corporate culture and create a safe work environment for every employee. Individuals who are comfortable encountering and meaningfully engaging in negotiating difference will shape employment success.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Native English Teachers?
Katey Roden Ph.D.: While the emotional and psychological trauma of having lived through a global pandemic will certainly impact this generation of graduates in ways we cannot yet quantify, there are also potential positives. Pandemic-era graduates will have first-hand experience adapting to stressful environments and new/challenging modes of communication and learning. The flexibility and ability to modify one's typical modes of engagement will be valuable skillsets for the coming generations of graduates who will encounter shifting forms of employment that are also responsive to the lessons we've collectively learned from the pandemic. The type of self-knowledge that comes from having survived (and perhaps thrived) in challenging digital environments can be an asset and confidence booster when these graduates encounter new variables in life and in the workforce.
Patrick McGrath
Assistant Professor, Director of Undergraduate StudiesSouthern Illinois University Carbondale
Department of English
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Native English Teachers?
Patrick McGrath: I think that there will be an impact on graduates as a result of the pandemic, but I don't know how "enduring" it will be.
What's a good job out of college for Native English Teachers?
Patrick McGrath: A good job out of college is one that pays a living wage. Our English graduates often have skills that might take employers longer to recognize. An ability to communicate clearly, facility with the written word, and the host of emphatic "soft skills" English teaches are especially valued at the management level. Our graduates become managers, but they may not start there.
What will help Native English Teachers increase their earning potential?
Patrick McGrath: A minor in a foreign language always seems to me a good idea. The more cultural diversity English majors can absorb, the stronger they are in an increasingly globalized and multi-cultural world. I would also recommend some courses in the digital humanities, since those classes often play to the traditional strengths of English majors (reading and writing abilities) while also introducing them to digital concepts. An employee who can write well for digital platforms is highly marketable indeed!
Huiling Ding
Professor, Technical Communication and Rhetoric, Director, MS in Technical Communication, University Faculty ScholarNC State University
Department of English
What's a day at work look like for a Native English Teacher?
Huiling Ding: With remote work becoming increasingly popular with employers, a recent graduate may find him/herself working from home at least from time to time and rely on digital tools and teleconferences for collaborative work with colleagues and clients. He or she may have to take more responsibilities and work on multiple roles across teams via email, Zoom meetings, and sometimes face to face due to the impacts of the COVID-19 recession. Business travel will be greatly reduced and commuting time will be cut substantially.
What technical skills for a Native English Teacher stand out to employers?
Huiling Ding: Data science, cybersecurity, natural language processing, data visualization, video production/editing, social media content production, SEO, digital marketing, ability to work with domain experts/cross-functional to produce communication products, ability to provide domain expertise to work with AI experts to implement AI solutions in organizations, excellent writing/editing/communication skills.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Native English Teachers?
Huiling Ding: I work in the field of technical communication and will focus on the job outcomes of our MS students in technical communication here. The job market seems to recover quite quickly and we are starting to see multiple technical writing positions advertised by employers such as Red Hat. I do have access to labor market analytics tools such as Burning Glass and Emsi, whose data looks quite promising too. I don't have the salary information from students at this early stage since our exit survey will not be finished until late May, but past data shows that students entering the job market during or right after recessions tend to have lower starting salaries, which can result in lower salaries later.
Raymond Capra Ph.D.
Classical Studies Program CoordinatorQueens College
Department of Classical, Middle Eastern, and Asian Languages and Cultures
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Native English Teachers?
Raymond Capra Ph.D.: I assume graduates in Classical Studies will be impacted in the short term as with many other graduates as the economy recovers. A greater danger is the harm to the discipline and liberal arts in general as Colleges and Universities look for smaller programs to cancel.
What soft skills should all Native English Teachers possess?
Raymond Capra Ph.D.: A Classical Studies major is the most marketable of Liberal Arts degrees. Our students graduate with praticed skills in reading and writing of course, but they have the ability to apply analysis to texts in a number of languages and to understand how language influences meaning. Moreover Classical Studies has a cultural component which, at least in my program at Queens College, stresses the interconnectedness of the ancient, Mediterranean world.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Native English Teachers?
Raymond Capra Ph.D.: The most direct ceritification or license for Classical Studies majors is to become Latin teachers at the secondary level, thus it is necessary to follow individual state protocols. I am more familiar with New Jersey where I live.
The major is often a path to Law School or to Medical school.
What's a day at work look like for a Native English Teacher?
Alexander Beringer: This seems very unpredictable to me. I have read a great deal about the coming boom in remote work with people working from home and interacting primarily online via technologies like Zoom and Slack. These predictions intuitively seem to be on-target. If this does indeed come to pass, it means that recent graduates will need to be very disciplined about maintaining a stable routine and creating clear barriers between home and work.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Native English Teacher job market given the pandemic?
Alexander Beringer: I think that a lot of employers are in a holding pattern, waiting to see what the market will be like on the other side of the pandemic. Anecdotally speaking, I have tried placing several students in internship positions that we have previously placed each year and have found that employers have been cutting unnecessary costs in the short-term. Unfortunately for students and new graduates, this seems to mean that the creation of new positions and internships may have to wait until we achieve some clarity on where the economy will be in the next few years. It seems equally plausible that things could come roaring back very quickly once vaccines are widespread or that the recovery and hiring could be slower.
What soft skills should all Native English Teachers possess?
Alexander Beringer: I don't think that this has changed all that much as a result of the pandemic. The old standbys of communication, professionalism, intellectual adaptability, and personal flexibility will always serve students and jobseekers well. One might put a special emphasis on adaptability and flexibility in the current climate. So many people are being asked to adopt new tasks, technologies, and approaches. As a result, the ability to learn things quickly and to put challenges in perspective has never been more important. These are, by the way, the primary skills developed in a liberal arts education, where students train not in a single skill, but instead to prepare themselves for a lifetime of learning and adapting.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Native English Teacher job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Josh Matthews: The turn to digital, thus digital marketing, sales, persuasion in general - involving writing, images, and creativity in general. Every company and business needs people who can do those things well. They are skills in short supply.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Native English Teachers?
Dr. Josh Matthews: People need to acquire a wide variety of skills. Be a polymath, or at least a dilettante, which takes time. Writing, public speaking, critical analysis using logic, programming, speaking another language, game theory, drawing, graphic design, persuasion - some combo of these is helpful in any career, and in life in general. Many people, many workers, are actually proficient in NONE of them.
What's a good job out of college for Native English Teachers?
Dr. Josh Matthews: Anything where you can have great mentors and are taught to think entrepreneurially.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Native English Teachers?
Dr. Jennifer Fennema-Bloom: It depends on a student's career goal. State certified teaching license/endorsements have the biggest impact on employability within the public PK12 system. Students need to remember that only a license and endorsements (add-ons to a primary license) makes them eligible for teaching in public PK12 school systems in the United States. If teaching overseas, students must be aware of country's visa regulations and employment credentials. I see a lot of students getting certificates, especially in English as a Second Language to find out later that they aren't respected or acknowledged by the country they had hoped to teach within. University programs that offer licensure and endorsement in TESOL or Foreign Language are the safest educational investment route that students can take if wishing to become a teacher in the PK12. For most states, those that also pursue an MA in TESOL or Foreign Language can also find jobs at an instructor level at most colleges and universities.
What soft skills should all Native English Teachers possess?
Dr. Jennifer Fennema-Bloom: Students must have a greater command for technology and educational Apps than they did in the past. Pandora is out of the box, and the new norm we learned this past year, requires a savviness with technology especially those that interface with learning and communication. Even if the pandemic ends and we all return to face-to-face instruction, there will be a greater demand for educational technology in and outside the classroom.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Native English Teachers?
Dr. Jennifer Fennema-Bloom: Short-term impact:
The coronavirus pandemic may impact short-term employment especially for TESOL graduates as the virus shut down visa offices all over the world, that coupled with restrictive visa policies in the United States dissuaded and/or prevented international students from studying in the United States. This in turn affected the ability for many universities to sustain their campus' intensive English language programs (IELPs/ELPs). However, if the vaccine is distributed and is as affective as hoped for, we should see countries opening their visa offices and a return to pre-coronavirus numbers. With that and hopefully a relaxation of the prior administrations restrictive immigration/study abroad policies, we may even see growth over the next four years.
Long-term impact:
An enduring impact is that of technology, on-line classes may increase as students and teachers became, out of necessity, more familiar with technologies that support on-line learning environments. I'm seeing an uptake of on-line instructors, that no longer have relocate to the country and live abroad to teach, but rather can teach from their laptops at home. Those in the testing and assessment fields have also had to adapt to make their tests more available to those quarantined. Universities have widened their test range from just IELTS and TOEFL scores to a wider range of tests that are more student friendly in price and accessibility such as offered by Duolingo.
Long term negative impact to foreign language teaching - I'm seeing PK12 schools start to replace foreign language faculty in lieu of on-line College Credit Plus (CCP) programs that give students access to college level language curriculum and teachers. Smaller schools thus no longer have to support their own faculty member and can take advantage of on-line university courses to meet language graduation requirements they may have in place.
What's a good job out of college for Native English Teachers?
Dr. Keith Folse Ph.D.: Graduating in the middle of a pandemic might seem daunting to many young people, and it certainly is uncharted territory. However, the good news is that businesses will have had at least a full year trying to figure out how to operate in our new reality with COVID-19. I would tell students that companies will survive, and they need to grow, which means they need to hire new people -- you!
I would tell students fresh out of college to be patient and to be flexible. The same job you wanted may not be hiring right now, so be ready and willing to consider other options.
For those graduating with a degree in language or linguistics, there are several possibilities. One steady option is teaching. I teach "Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)," and my students will try to get a job teaching English conversation overseas, such as in China or Japan, or Saudi Arabia. Unlike in the US, some countries have much lower COVID rates, and students are now learning face-to-face. Another possibility for new TEFL graduates is to teach students online from the US. No, this is not as cool as going to teach in those countries, but it is a viable option for now that allows you to gain valuable experience and earn some money. They will be even more competitive in the job market because of their accumulated knowledge.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Native English Teachers in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Keith Folse Ph.D.: Well, the answer here depends mostly on the availability of and then effectiveness of the vaccines we're hearing about now. If COVID continues, then skills associated with online meetings will be very important. Also, be ready for Zoom's concept to morph into something new, something that might even replace it as the technology continues to grow. It might be hard to imagine a replacement for online meetings as we have now, but a year ago, how many of us had had a Zoom meeting?
What technical skills for a Native English Teacher stand out to employers?
Dr. Keith Folse Ph.D.: COVID has moved many online meetings, so operating a Zoom or similar meeting flawlessly is a useful skill, one that no one valued or even knew much about just a year ago. An even more valuable skill is being able to troubleshoot problems that are likely during an online meeting. Do you have good presentation skills, and could you conduct small workshops for large companies that want to train their employees to achieve good online conferences?
The answer to this question will vary as much as the many fields and employers that exist today. What are the needs of these employers? Do large employers even know their needs? They may not, but the consumers of those employers understand what they need, so I have a little different kind of tip here.
I would recommend that students identify their targeted fields, such as education or banking, or culinary, and then find 2 or 3 Facebook groups discussing that topic now. For example, thousands of teachers in hundreds of school districts across the US are teaching online now. Some use Zoom, some use Canvas, and others use something else. I am a member of Teaching Synchronously with Zoom in Korea (500+ members) and Teaching with Canvas (70,000+ members). Ask to join these groups. Lurk. Read. Study. Know what people are unhappy about and need. This is the type of information that companies need to thrive, especially in these challenging times.