Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Career

Job Description: 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.


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Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Career

What skills are required for Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondarys?

Importance Skills
  Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
  Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
  Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
  Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
  Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
  Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
  Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
  Management of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

What knowledge is needed to be a Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary?

Importance Knowledge
  Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
  English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
  Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
  Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
  Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
  Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
  Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
  Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Work Styles

Importance Styles
  Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
  Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
  Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
  Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
  Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
  Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
  Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
  Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
  Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
  Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
  Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
  Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
  Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
  Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
  Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
  Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.