What You Need to Know About Foreign Language and Literature Professor

Job Description: 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.

Life As a Foreign Language & Literature Professor

• Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
• 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.
• Keep abreast of developments in their field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional organizations and activities.
• Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
• Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks.
• Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.

Skills Needed to be a Foreign Language & Literature Professor

Foreign Language and Literature Professors state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.

Types of Foreign Language and Literature Professor

• Instructor
• Russian Teacher
• Chinese Language Professor
• French Professor
• Faculty Member

Job Outlook for Foreign Language and Literature Professors

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 35,000 jobs in the United States for Foreign Language and Literature Professor. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 11.7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,100 new jobs for Foreign Language and Literature Professor by 2026. There will be an estimated 3,200 positions for Foreign Language & Literature Professor per year.

The states with the most job growth for Foreign Language & Literature Professor are Utah, Colorado, and Oregon. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Vermont, or Nebraska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What is the Average Salary of a Foreign Language & Literature Professor

The average yearly salary of a Foreign Language & Literature Professor ranges between $38,910 and $137,860.

Foreign Language and Literature Professors who work in California, Rhode Island, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Foreign Language and Literature Professors in different U.S. states.

State	Annual Mean Salary
Alabama	$58,720
Arizona	$69,820
Arkansas	$66,410
California	$114,690
Colorado	$65,040
Connecticut	$73,360
District of Columbia	$72,050
Florida	$86,580
Georgia	$61,650
Illinois	$70,480
Indiana	$72,500
Iowa	$76,110
Kansas	$72,070
Kentucky	$67,020
Louisiana	$62,190
Maine	$70,040
Maryland	$78,960
Massachusetts	$84,890
Michigan	$75,020
Minnesota	$70,130
Mississippi	$59,690
Missouri	$80,020
Montana	$54,310
Nebraska	$64,840
Nevada	$57,030
New Jersey	$92,110
New Mexico	$26,760
New York	$87,670
North Carolina	$65,540
North Dakota	$60,860
Ohio	$70,140
Oklahoma	$54,560
Oregon	$72,020
Pennsylvania	$78,240
Rhode Island	$85,670
South Carolina	$68,850
South Dakota	$65,280
Tennessee	$67,560
Texas	$71,920
Utah	$85,810
Virginia	$68,850
Washington	$67,950
West Virginia	$41,930
Wisconsin	$73,400

What Tools do Foreign Language and Literature Professors Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Foreign Language and Literature Professors may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Outlook
• Web browser software
• Data entry software
• Email software
• Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
• Google Docs
• Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
• Blackboard
• Calendar and scheduling software
• Learning management system LMS
• Blackboard Learn
• Collaborative editing software
• Sakai CLE
• iParadigms Turnitin
• Course management system software
• Desire2Learn

Becoming a Foreign Language & Literature Professor

Individuals working as a Foreign Language and Literature Professor have obtained the following education levels:

What work experience do I need to become a Foreign Language & Literature Professor?

Where Foreign Language and Literature Professors Work

Foreign Language and Literature Professors work in the following industries:

Similar Careers

Those thinking about becoming a Foreign Language and Literature Professor might also be interested in the following careers:

• History Professors

Career changers with experience as a Foreign Language and Literature Professor sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

• Geography Professors

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: Susana Freixeiro via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

More about our data sources and methodologies.