How does one become a professor of foreign languages?

Question

I am fluent in Italian and I think it would be awesome to teach Italian..it would probably be at the college level becuase I usually never hear of high schools or junior high schools offering Italian..maybe private high schools do, but I'm not sure. What kind of degrees would I need? A Master's and PhD in Italian? Also, would I need to be fluent in another language? It seems most of my professors in undergrad who taught a foreign language knew at least 2 languages.

Answer 1

Study linguistics to learn the structure of different languages, relationships and differences between language systems, language theories and so forth.

Answer 2

To teach at the college level, you need at least a master's degree, and more and more colleges are asking for a completed or nearly-completed doctorate in the subject to be taught. With just a master's, one will probably be stuck at the instructor or adjunct (part-time) level.

Yes, most foreign language faculty speak more than one language (other then their own). For Italian, fluency in French or Spanish as well would be a good idea. (Or Latin, but that's usually taught in another department.)

Now here's the hitch: you'd better do a search and find how many colleges and universities even offer Italian regularly and in any depth. The one you find for your graduate work may be one of a very few. In other words, teaching positions in Italian may be few and far between. But if you're also qualified to teach another Romance language, you may be able to get a job in that language and have the opportunity to teach an occasional Italian course or even introduce and build up an Italian program at your institution.

Answer 3

Well at the college I attend I was outraged to figure out the italian instructor I had for 101, 102 and 103's only qualification was born in Italy. I figured this out only after the 201 instructor actually had to reteach the class the basics. You may want to talk to a university language department chair and ask what qualifications they look for in a canidate for italian language. You may be able to take the classes at the university and offer yourself as a tutor until you are able to become a professor.

Answer 4

If you just want to teach Italian you can do it with a Masters degree - you wouldn't ever be a tenured professor, but you can be an assistant professor. Or you can get your doctorate and be an actual professor which takes a lot of time and you have to get published A LOT. The Masters idea is good though because you can teach and if you ever decide you want your doctorate you can earn continuing education credits.

Answer 5

My wife just finished her PHD in German from UT, and now is teaching at UNC in the modern language department. She does have skills in other languages, but that didn't have anything to do with her getting hired. You can teach at the university with a masters, but it will not be tenured and you will probably not teach above the 200 level unless you are the only one in your program. Talk to your foreign language professors and have them help you get started.