Career Overview
Teach languages and literature courses in languages other than English. Includes teachers of American Sign Language (ASL). Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also Known As
- French Professor
- Professor
- Spanish Instructor
- Spanish Professor
Alternate Job Titles
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adjunct Spanish Instructor
- Arabic Instructor
- Arabic Language Instructor
- Arabic Professor
- Arabic Teacher
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Biblical Languages Professor
- Bilingual Instructor
- Bilingual Teacher
- Chinese Instructor
- Chinese Language Professor
- Chinese Teacher
- College Faculty Member
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as how to speak and write a foreign language and the cultural aspects of areas where a particular language is used.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in scholarly journals, books, or electronic media.
- Keep abreast of developments in their field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional organizations and activities.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Foreign Language
- English Language
- Education and Training
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
- Instructing
- Active Learning
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Speech Clarity
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Recognition
- Inductive Reasoning
- Deductive Reasoning
- Near Vision
- Problem Sensitivity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Dependability
- Social Orientation
- Cooperation
- Achievement Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Independence
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Doctoral Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
- Google Docs
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Zoom
Tools & Equipment
- Carousel slide projectors
- Compact digital cameras
- Compact disk CD players
- Computer data input scanners
- Computer laser printers
- Computer projectors
- Conference telephones
- Desktop computers
- Digital calculators
- Digital video cameras
- Digital video disk DVD players
- Handheld microphones
- Interactive whiteboard controllers
- Interactive whiteboards
- Laptop computers
Work Environment
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Public Speaking
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $47,090 |
| Median | $77,010 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $134,960 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 21,170
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $78,270
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $84,290
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $64,580
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $59,950
History Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $81,500
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.