World Language Instructor

Working Schedule

World Language Instructors may work full or part-time depending on their employment situation. Hours may include nights or weekends. When they aren’t teaching, they need to spend time preparing for upcoming lessons or grading assignments.

Typical Duties

• Select or design a curriculum suitable to the level of the student or classroom. Pick appropriate textbooks and workbooks.
• Make a lesson plan for the month, term, or year. Disseminate syllabi, as needed.
• Prepare lessons including handouts, materials, assignments, or quizzes. Choose a variety of materials to keep students’ attention.
• Teach lessons and engage students to participate. Provide ways for students to practice receptive skills (such as reading and listening) and productive skills such as speaking and writing.
  Issue homework assignments with due dates. Grade and comment on assignments.
• Give tests and quizzes. Review and grade these exams.
• Maintain attendance records and grade logs. Input information into databases or learning management systems.
• Track student progress and support students struggling with a topic or area.
• Adjust teaching methods if necessary to accommodate student learning needs.
• Establish consistent office hours to meet and advise students one-on-one. Serve on school committees to share opinions about policies, problems, and departmental matters.
• Act as an adviser to language-related student groups.
• Work with schools, students, and parents to facilitate immersion or study abroad programs.

Additional Responsibilities

• Keep up with developments in technologies and pedagogy for instructing language learners.
• Collaborate with colleagues on curriculum development.
• Write content for webpages related to the courses being taught.
• Help students prepare for language proficiency exams like the TOEFL or IELTS. 

Soft Skills

• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Creativity
• Cultural sensitivity
• Desire and aptitude to help others succeed
• Empathy
• Enthusiasm
• Interpersonal skills
• Keen organizational skills
• Patience
• Resilience and composure
• Sound judgment and decision-making
• Strong communication skills
• Time management

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in the target language suitable to the level being taught
• Ability to assess and guide student behavior
• Classroom management and student engagement strategies
• Cultural awareness and integration into language instruction
  Curriculum development
• Familiarity with language proficiency exams like IELTS and TOEFL
  Language learning apps and software
• Pronunciation training and phonetics expertise
• Skills for coordinating and instructing activities
• Understanding of language teaching pedagogy
• Use of educational technology such as learning management systems

• K-12 schools
• Charter schools
• Community colleges
• Four-year colleges and universities
• Language schools
• Government and military agencies
• Self-employment 

World Language Instructors are expected to maintain a high level of language proficiency and stay updated on educational best practices. Not all instructors hold traditional teaching licenses or credentials, which may limit their employment options. For example, to teach in the public K-12 system, workers need to meet certain training and licensure requirements. To teach at a college, one may need a master’s degree. However, to teach at a language school or as a private tutor, there may be no hard requirements to meet.

For those who work in K-12 schools or colleges, there may be additional responsibilities such as serving on committees or helping with school-related activities. Summer breaks often result in a few weeks away from teaching, which can impact salaries for some instructors. 

Language-learning methods and courses like Berlitz, Pimsleur, and Rosetta Stone helped pave the way for the abundance of new programs and apps on the market today. Now students can learn on the go via mobile apps like Duolingo, Babbel, Memrise, Busuu, and dozens more.

To some extent, the prevalence of these easy-to-use, relatively affordable options has impacted employment opportunities for World Language Instructors. In addition, the rise and increasing sophistication of instant translation programs is making it far easier to communicate in other languages without even having to learn them.

Instead of ignoring these tools, tech-savvy World Language Instructors are incorporating them into their classrooms and learning environments, using them to supplement their own work. Students can benefit from a mix of live instruction and practice with online programs, making learning more engaging and accessible.

Communicative language teaching methods are also shaping modern instruction, emphasizing real-life interaction over memorization. This practical approach encourages students to actively use the target language in meaningful ways while helping them get past the “awkwardness” they may feel from making mistakes along the way. 

World Language Instructors sometimes grew up in bilingual households – or they simply enjoyed learning about other cultures and new languages. As teachers, they tend to be outgoing and eager to help others learn. These are often inherent traits they may have developed at home or in school.