How to become a foreign language and literature teacher, postsecondary

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.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect 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)..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.

What foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary do

• Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
• Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
• Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in scholarly journals, books, or electronic media.
• Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks.
• Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
• Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.

Skills that matter most

• Speaking
• Reading Comprehension
• Active Listening
• Writing
• Learning Strategies
• Active Learning
• Critical Thinking
• Monitoring

Is foreign language and literature teacher, postsecondary a good career?

On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 56% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• New Hampshire $101,750
• Delaware $101,100
• California $99,860
• Massachusetts $98,750
• Maine $96,970

Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.