High School English Teacher Responsibilities

If you have a passion for languages, especially English and love to be in the company of children and teach them the beauty of English language and literature, then you can definitely take up the career of a high school teacher. If you have these qualities, shouldering the high school english teacher responsibilities will definitely mean much more fun and enjoyment.

Key Responsibilities of an English Teacher in a High School

English is one of the most widely used languages worldwide. Therefore, it is necessary that the students should be able to read, understand, write, and speak it with ease for better communication. The main objective of English high school teacher will be achieved if the students are receptive and are able to communicate effectively. Here is a general list of the key responsibilities that need to be handled by them:

To first study and understand the course content assigned by the board and then teach the skills and content in English literature and motivate the students to read more
To develop materials that would enhance the learning ability of the students by preparing challenging assignments
To select appropriate instructional materials that can be best utilized keeping in mind the maturity and grasping level of the students
To design training programs, both in groups or individually, to cater to the needs of the students and ensure that each and every student participates in it, so as to reflect their individual potential. To encourage the students lagging behind by creating remedial programs and procedures for them and instill an independent thinking ability
To identify the needs of the students and resolve their queries so that they achieve and reach the optimum level of competence
To assess the performance in various assignments and grade them based on their performances. To evaluate them in each section of English skills, i.e. listening, reading, writing, and speaking, and maintain their accurate relevant records in the progress reports

In addition to these responsibilities, they are involved in a lot of other activities like participation in the meetings, conferences, seminars or developmental and training programs, participation in extra curricular activities like essay competitions, dramas, scheduling, and participating in parent teacher meetings, etc. They coordinate with the parents regarding the students' progress. They may make suggestions to improve the curriculum to facilitate better and easy understanding of the English subject. They ensure that discipline is maintained inside as well as outside the class and that the students adhere by the rules and regulations designed by the school. They try to develop, plan, and implement innovative plans and strategies that will generate an interest for the language in the minds of the students.

Essential Skills

If you are really aiming to be a high school English teacher, you need to have at least some of the following skills:

A passion for being in the company of children, teaching, and love for English language
Excellent presentation and interpersonal communication skills and ability to lead a diverse range of people
Should be able to explain complex and difficult sections in a way which can be easily grasped by the students
To develop innovative and creative learning methods
Should be able to identify the needs of the students and counsel them accordingly
Should be patient and be able to engage students while teaching, and should also have excellent time management and organizational skills

Educational Requirements

A teacher who wants to teach English at the high school level should have completed graduation in English language. A master's degree with additional certification or state license would definitely be welcomed. A relevant work experience will be a plus.

Salary Details

The salary varies depending on the experience, skills, educational qualifications, and the geographic location. Generally, it falls in the range of $35,000 to $ 75,000.

Work Hours

The work hours normally match with the school hours and normally do not extend beyond forty hours per week. They may need to extend if there are any extracurricular activities, parent teacher meetings, or if they are participating in some training or developmental seminars or conferences.

Career Prospects

There is going to be an increasing demand for the English teachers. Therefore, those with additional certifications and license surely have bright chances to take their careers to new heights.

Thus, to ensure high quality of education imparted to the high school students, the high school English teacher responsibilities need to be carried out effectively.

See Also

English Teacher Resume