What Does a Foreign Language Teacher Do?
Foreign language teachers plan and implement grade-level appropriate instruction in the target language. Instruction generally focuses on learning to read, write, and speak the language. Foreign language teachers also instruct students in the history and culture of the countries where the target language is spoken. They encourage respect and interest in other cultures, and they promote the idea that U.S. students are ambassadors of American culture when interacting with people of other cultures.
Depending on the type of school and what grade level they teach, foreign language teachers may have their own classroom or travel from classroom to classroom – and even school to school – to teach their pupils. Many foreign language teachers also sponsor language-related extracurricular activities, such as language clubs or trips abroad. Foreign languages are taught at all grade levels, from pre-K through high school and college. In many schools, the menu of language choices has expanded from the traditional French and Spanish to include a host of other options such as Mandarin, Russian, Japanese, and Italian. However, not every school requires students to learn a foreign language. Prior to starting their degree, prospective foreign language teachers should make sure the grade level and language they want to teach are available in the area where they want to live.