How to Become a Linguistics Teacher

The field of education needs teachers with an understanding of linguistics.

Earning your degree in linguistics can open doors to a lot of different jobs and careers, including the field of education. If you find the scientific study of languages fascinating and wish to share that knowledge with students, becoming a linguistics teacher might be the ideal career path for you. Depending on your exact degree and certification, you will find a variety of different teaching opportunities that will allow you to put your linguistic skills to use.

Instructions

1. Research the different types of teaching jobs available that require or prefer teachers with linguistics degrees to see which job might suit you best. Linguistics itself is only taught at the college level, and requires having a master's degree in the subject to teach. On the secondary and primary education level, schools looking for English or foreign language teachers also appreciate those with a degree in linguistics. Another option is to teach English as a second language, either in your home country or overseas.

2. Make a list of the qualifications necessary for the job you have chosen. For example, an ESL teacher should have a bachelors in English or linguistics and may need a master's in education, a TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) certificate and/or state-level certification, depending on the job. A graduate degree in linguistics is necessary to teach at the college level, while teaching a foreign language, such as French, at most schools will likely require certification or training in that language as well as linguistics.

3. Set your degree and certification plan, including any of those degrees and certificates that apply to the type of linguistics teaching job you want. The Linguistic Society of America recommends that you consider choosing a double major, making linguistics a part of your interdisciplinary program, to increase your chances of finding work after graduation. For example, if you are interested in teaching high school English, a double major in linguistics and English or education may help you stand out among the competition.

References

• Linguistics Society of America: Why Major in Linguistics?

Resources

• The Linguist List