Language Instructor Responsibilities

Language is the most important form used for communicating and interacting with each other. Having mastery in one or more languages is definitely an asset and there is a growing trend to learn more languages than one's own mother tongue. The individual who is taking up a career as a language instructor should have a passion for learning and teaching languages to students and should also enjoy their company. In this case, it would definitely prove to be the right career decision. The language instructor responsibilities play a crucial role in explaining the students the beauty of that language and making them aware of its culture. If the language is unknown to the students, it is definitely an additional responsibility on his/her shoulder to make the learning process more easier for them by adhering to the standards of the course curriculum and ensuring that the students respect and follow the disciplinary standards, rules and regulations.

Key Responsibilities of a Language Instructor

The language instructor primarily focuses on teaching language in such a way that whether it's already known to the students or not, they must be able to read, write, and communicate it an effective manner. Every student in the course should be able to grasp the essence and culture of the language he/she is learning. This professional should be able to explain the complexities involved in the language in a simple manner that can be easily understood by the students. The descriptions of the key responsibilities that need to be carried out by a language instructor are mentioned below for your reference and will help you in giving you a better insight:

1. To teach courses in English or any other foreign language in a manner that can be easily understood by the student and to develop and plan lessons to suit their requirement
2. To work in collaboration with other colleagues to research and develop new learning methods
3. To be actively involved in the registration of students and their placement activities as well as make an active contribution in administrative functions and to develop policies, procedures and to address and sort out if there are any academic issues
4. To prepare and develop learning material as well as organize and schedule classes to meet the curriculum objectives and the learning needs of the students
5. To conduct private and group classes that cater to the individual students' capability and to conduct tests, written and oral, and to evaluate the performance of the students
6. To advise students on any career related issues and create an atmosphere that is vibrant and conducive for the development of the students while ensuring that they adhere by discipline in the classroom

The language instructor in addition to the above responsibilities needs to perform some administrative duties as well. He/she is responsible for maintaining accurate records of the students in terms of their attendance, performance, and any other relevant records. He/she is responsible for preparing the homework assignments and making recommendations to make any changes that would help in enhancing and developing the course curriculum. He/she teaches aural comprehension, reading, writing, speaking and particularly concentrate on the study of vocabulary and syntax with more focus on reading of literature. He/she ensures that the instructional material developed is compatible with the basic instructional philosophy. He/she makes requisitions for books and any other educational material and supplies and maintains all the related records. He/she helps in integrating the curricular and extra-curricular programming by making effective use of authentic learning aids and makes sure that it has cultural relevance.

Essential Skills and Abilities

To ensure success in this field, a person should have excellent teaching combined with equally strong interpersonal communication skills. He/she should be dedicated, committed to deliver excellence in teaching and should be willing to take extra efforts to adhere by discipline and to develop and help in the student's growth and progress. He/she should be able to guide and counsel them in case they have academic or personal problems. Good listening skills, patience, and ability to plan and organize in an effective manner are some of the other required skills.

Educational Requirements

The language instructor should either be a native speaker of that language or should hold a bachelor's degree in the relevant field. Those with previous teaching experience or those who have completed a master's degree or a doctoral degree would definitely get more preference.

Work Schedule

This professional normally works during the standard hours lasting up to forty to forty five hours per week with occasional overtime to address the needs of the students or to attend some meetings or any other training workshops.

Salary Details

The average remuneration earned by this professional normally ranges in between $25,000 to $71,000. It may differ depending upon the location and also varies with the relevant skills and experience in that particular field.

Career Prospects

The career as a language instructor can be very rewarding. More number of students are keen to learn more than one language and hence the job prospects look bright and promising for the individuals aspiring to make a career in this field.

Thus, to be a successful professional in this field, it is essential that you carry out the language instructor responsibilities efficiently and take the relevant education and develop skills to give a great start to your career.