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Job outlook for world language teachers in the United States
Are world language teacher jobs in demand?
World language teacher job and salary trends over time
World language teacher jobs over time
World language teacher job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 797 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 925 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,009 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,039 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,105 | 0.00% |
Average world language teacher salary over time
World language teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $53,288 | $25.62 | --0.1% |
| 2024 | $53,341 | $25.64 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | $51,550 | $24.78 | +4.0% |
| 2022 | $49,546 | $23.82 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | $48,395 | $23.27 | +3.5% |
World language teacher jobs by state
Most common states for world language teachers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 528 | 39% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 211 | 34% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 234 | 24% |
| 4 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 170 | 24% |
| 5 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 223 | 21% |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,353 | 20% |
| 7 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,235 | 20% |
| 8 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 408 | 20% |
| 9 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 674 | 19% |
| 10 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 579 | 19% |
| 11 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,004 | 18% |
| 12 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,134 | 17% |
| 13 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 319 | 17% |
| 14 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 99 | 17% |
| 15 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,326 | 16% |
| 16 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 884 | 16% |
| 17 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 475 | 16% |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,383 | 15% |
| 19 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 472 | 15% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 155 | 15% |
Most common cities for world language teachers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duluth | 2 | 7% | $44,744 |
| 2 | New York | 1 | 0% | $73,059 |
World Language Teacher job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of world language teacher experts
SUNY Stony Brook
Mercy College
University of Kentucky
Ohio State University
Ohio State University
La Sierra University
Union University
Macalester College
North Central College
SUNY Buffalo State
The University of Vermont
Texas Tech University
Arizona State University
East Los Angeles College
Concordia University
Arizona State University
Pennsylvania State University Altoona
Jackson State University
Arkansas State University
Dr. Sarah Jourdain
Chair, Department of Languages & Cultural Studies, Director, World Language Teacher PreparationSUNY Stony Brook
Area Studies
What general advice would you give to a World Language Teacher?
Dr. Sarah Jourdain: For those starting a career in the field of languages and cultural studies, maximizing salary potential can be achieved by becoming certified in a minimum of two fields (e.g., French and Spanish, or a World Language and TESOL). This certification provides greater job flexibility and can lead to increased earning potential.
What World Language Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Sarah Jourdain: The ability to speak another language, understand other cultures, and possess intercultural competence will become increasingly important and prevalent in various fields including International Business, Government work, NGOs, and translation/interpretation. There is a growing demand for World Language teachers, Bilingual teachers, and Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) in the K-12 school system.
What will help World Language Teachers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Sarah Jourdain: The ability to speak another language, and understand other cultures, is of great benefit in many fields including International Business, work for Governments as well as NGOs, and translation and interpretation to name just a few. Intercultural competence, paired with language ability, makes most people more marketable in their chosen fields. I'm best able to speak specifically about those preparing to become K-12 language teachers since that is the population of students I work most closely with. There is a growing demand for World Language teachers, as well as Bilingual teachers, and Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) in the K-12 school system. It is an excellent time to enter the teaching profession. For those wishing to become teachers, it is advisable to become certified in a minimum of two fields (French and Spanish, for example, or a World Language and TESOL). This provides a greater range of job flexibility.
What general advice would you give to a World Language Teacher?
Dr. Alan Hartman: Again, there are many fields that students enter after completing their major in Spanish. I feel a major key to success is to get a graduate degree immediately after finishing one's undergraduate degree, which beginning next semester will be possible at Mercy University through our five-year programs in Spanish & TESOL and Spanish & MBA Programs.
What World Language Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Alan Hartman: Being fluent in two or more languages is essential in today's work. We are becoming increasingly globalized and tethered together as a world community. The more languages one speaks, reads, understands, and writes fluently the more opportunities one will find. Many people speak a second language, especially in New York, however very few can command a professional level of cultural or linguistic fluency in more than one language. Understanding another culture and language is power, and the more languages one speaks fluently while also holding an elevated level of cultural understanding, the more opportunities of all kinds will become apparent.
I think it is also important to note that there is a record lack of languages teachers in general at the moment and this is one field into which many of our graduates enter. Italian, French, Spanish, and TESOL teachers are all in tremendous need and now is an excellent moment for new teachers to find immediate, meaningful, and well-paying positions with excellent benefits.
Similarly, many government agencies, among them the FBI, Foreign Service, and others, are actively seeking to attract recent graduates into their field and a background in languages well positions future candidates who wish to do so.
What will help World Language Teachers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Alan Hartman: There are many fields that students enter from the Spanish Major. Studying abroad is one of the most important first steps for undergraduates if possible. After that, being active culturally in the Hispanic world is key; attending museum exhibits, conference talks, and generally finding reasons to mix with people who are active in the field while also informing oneself of key topics and happenings. Once the student begins to do these things, the field opens before them and those inside are eager to welcome enthusiastic and active newcomers that have a proven record of activity.
Nels Rogers Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Director Max Kade German House and Cultural CenterUniversity of Kentucky
Germanic Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What general advice would you give to a World Language Teacher?
Nels Rogers Ph.D.: Look for opportunities with international companies and government. Global corporations and governments need highly skilled workers and tend to reward those that are flexible thinkers and can contribute to their missions.
What World Language Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nels Rogers Ph.D.: Using language at a high level to work between cultures. Being sensitive to different groups and their interests. Increased cultural awareness and professionalism. Skills that can't be replicated by AI.
Janice Aski
Professor of Italian and Director of the Center for Languages Literatures and CulturesOhio State University
Romance Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What general advice would you give to a World Language Teacher?
Janice Aski: As working environments diversity, graduates will need to have the skills associated with intercultural competence. Interculturally competent people are able to shift their cultural perspective so that their own culture is not the center of their reality; they are able to understand, respect and take into consideration other cultures and cultural perspectives; they are flexible, adaptable, and tolerate ambiguity as they work to understand interactions. They use these skills to communicate appropriately and effectively. Those who have learned another language have worked toward mastering these skills by having to navigate complex contexts in another language, in which they are not as confident and cannot express themselves as they can in their native language. World language learners overcome obstacles in communication and cultural misunderstanding that people who have not studied a language have not, and therefore enter their professional life with a unique set of skills.
What World Language Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Janice Aski: By knowing how to talk about the skills you have developed through your work at university. There are skills that do not translate directly from the name of a major/minor or certificate. Learn to communicate these skills.
Zhiguo Xie
Associate Professor of Chinese LinguisticsOhio State University
Linguistic, Comparative, And Related Language Studies And Services
What general advice would you give to a World Language Teacher?
Zhiguo Xie: Language majors need to explore ways to translate their linguistic skills into more actionable skills.
What World Language Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Zhiguo Xie: 1. Show your prospective employers how a language major background can boost your overall cultural awareness and adaptability.
2. Combine language skills with subject knowledge and make the combination your unique selling point.
What will help World Language Teachers increase their earning potential?
Zhiguo Xie: a. Inter-cultural competency
b. practical problem solving
c. effective communication
Carlos Parra
Chair, Department of World Languages Director, ESL Program Coordinator, ACA Study Abroad Member, ACA Board of DirectorsLa Sierra University
Romance Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What general advice would you give to a World Language Teacher?
Carlos Parra: In the next 3-5 years, the field of Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics is poised to undergo significant transformations, influenced by technological advancements and the increasing importance of global communication. Digital literacy will become indispensable, as the demand for online content and digital media in multiple languages rises. Graduates will need to be proficient in using digital tools for translation, content creation, and language teaching. Additionally, skills in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and SEM (Search Engine Marketing) will be highly valuable for those aiming to increase the visibility of multilingual content on the web. Another area of growing importance is computational linguistics, which combines language studies with computer science; understanding the basics of this field can open up opportunities in tech companies developing language processing tools and applications. Equally important will be the emphasis on intercultural communications skills. As businesses and organizations become more global, the ability to not only communicate but also effectively negotiate and collaborate across cultural boundaries will be extremely important. This includes a deep understanding of cultural sensitivities, practices, and non-verbal communication style to diverse audiences will be key in fostering successful international relationships. Sustainability and social responsibility are also becoming central to global discourse, requiring professionals to integrate these values into their work. Graduates should be prepared to contribute to projects and initiatives that address global challenges, leveraging their language skills and cultural insights to make a meaningful impact.
What will help World Language Teachers increase their earning potential?
Carlos Parra:
Maximizing your salary potential at the start of your career, especially within the field of Romance Languages, Literatures and Linguistics, involves strategic positioning and continuous skill development. Initially, it's essential to research and target sectors that highly value multilingual and cultural competencies and are known for offering competitive salaries. Fields such as international law, global finance, tech, and consulting are increasingly seeking professionals who can navigate multicultural environments effectively. Tailoring your job applications to highlight how your language skills can solve specific problems or meet the needs of potential employers in these industries can set you apart. Additionally, acquiring certifications in your language of expertise, such as the DELE for Spanish or the DALF for French, can provide tangible proof of your proficiency levels and make you a more attractive candidate.
Beyond just the job search strategy, negotiating your starting salary and benefits package is crucial. Arm yourself with the information on industry salary standards using resources like Glassdoor, LinkedIn, Salary insights, or professional associations related to your field. This knowledge will empower you to negotiate more confidently. Don't shy away from discussing salary early in the interview process to ensure alignment between your expectations and potential employer's budget. Consider the entire compensation package, including bonuses, benefits, and opportunities for professional development. Investing in further education, such as obtaining a master's degree in a specialized area or certification in project management, digital marketing, or another complementary skill, can also significantly enhance your salary potential over time. Continuous learning and adapting to market needs will not only increase your value but also provide leverage for salary increases and promotions as you progress in your career.
What skills stand out on World Language Teacher resumes?
Julie Glosson: -Area of specialization
-Language proficiency
-Work History
-Study abroad/Immersion type of experiences
Nanette Scott Goldman
Senior Lecturer in the Classical Mediterranean and Middle EastMacalester College
Department of the Classical Mediterranean and Middle East
What soft skills should all World Language Teachers 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
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 World Language Teachers 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 World Language Teachers?
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 World Language Teachers 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. Mark Fulk Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorSUNY Buffalo State
Department of English
What hard/technical skills are most important for World Language 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 World Language Teacher 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 World Language Teachers 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 skills will help World Language Teachers 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.
What skills stand out on World Language Teacher 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 World Language Teachers 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 World Language Teachers?
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!
Lorena Cuya Gavilano Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Spanish and Latin American CulturesArizona State University
Languages and Cultures
What skills stand out on World Language Teacher 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 hard/technical skills are most important for World Language Teachers?
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 World Language Teachers 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.
Diane Renée Mannone
Associate Professor of EnglishEast Los Angeles College
English Department
What soft skills should all World Language Teachers possess?
Diane Renée Mannone: Working well with colleagues: collaborating, being a team player, involved in the department and campus, etc.
What skills will help World Language Teachers earn the most?
Diane Renée Mannone: All of the above.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the World Language 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 World Language 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 World Language 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 experience really stands out on World Language 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 World Language 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 technical skills for a World Language 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.
Dr. Vicent Moreno Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Coordinator of World Languages and CulturesArkansas State University
Department of English, Philosophy, and World Languages
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for World Language Teachers?
Dr. Vicent Moreno Ph.D.: I wouldn't say that there is one course or certification that has a bigger impact. In general, bilingualism or the ability to communicate in a language other than English with clients is definitely what most employers will be looking for. In addition to this, skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, intercultural competence, and public speaking are always sought after by employers across all markets and industries. Any degree in Romance Languages should provide you with the skills I just mentioned through the classes offered, regardless of its focus in literature and culture or language.
However, depending on which field you want to work in, you may want to pursue a level of specialization through specific credentials. For example, certificates such as Spanish for the Professions have become increasingly popular for graduates who want to have an edge when applying for jobs in law enforcement, health professions, or business, among others. Those who wish to teach K-12 will usually need a specific state license and a BSE degree in the target language. In some other cases, like for those wanting to teach in Higher Education or become a certified translator or interpreter, a Masters or a PhD in the language will typically be required.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on World Language Teachers?
Dr. Vicent Moreno Ph.D.: I don't think there will be an enduring impact, at least not in a negative sense. I can see how, for certain professions, the old models of working 9-5 in an office space might have been disrupted and perhaps changed forever as a result of the pandemic. Thus, flexibility and ability to work from home might be key assets for graduates entering the job market. A similar situation applies to graduates wishing to work in the education field, which is the career of choice for a lot of graduates in Romance Languages. The ability and willingness to work both remotely and in person are very important elements that the pandemic has brought about and will probably stay on even after the crisis is over. Related to this, online education has gained even more momentum, exacerbated by the need to work from home. In this sense, the skills to develop engaging pedagogical materials for use in online or hybrid classes will definitely be a must in the years to come for those entering the field now.
How have salaries changed over time for World Language Teachers?
Dr. Vicent Moreno Ph.D.: This is hard to answer as it depends mostly on what job you do and the geographical location. It also depends on the level of education attained: those with Masters and PhDs tend to fare better in terms of salaries. In general, though, I would say that salaries for those in the field of languages have been stable throughout the years.