How to hire foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others. • Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in scholarly journals, books, or electronic media. • Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers. • Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions. • Keep abreast of developments in their field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional organizations and activities. • 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. • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Doctoral or professional degree] • Strong speaking, active listening, learning strategies, reading comprehension, writing and active learning skills • Working knowledge of foreign language, English Language and education and training • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $79,350 a year. [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in scholarly journals, books, or electronic media. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- How do you teach yourself a new process, and how would you teach it to someone else?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary do
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in scholarly journals, books, or electronic media.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Keep abreast of developments in their field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional organizations and activities.
- 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.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +0.2% over ten years, little or no change · about 1,600 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| California | $99,860 |
| Massachusetts | $98,750 |
| New York | $95,120 |
| Oregon | $91,670 |
| Michigan | $83,190 |
| Ohio | $74,310 |
| Virginia | $74,000 |
| North Carolina | $63,900 |
See foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
- Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
- History Teachers, Postsecondary
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary
- Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
- Interpreters and Translators
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.