English Majors Enjoy Several Types of Teaching Opportunities
One obvious option for many English majors is teaching English. Even with teaching, though, you should consider your options. Do you want to teach in a U.S. high school or middle school? overseas? in a college?
In their book Great Jobs for English Majors (1994), Julie DeGalan and Stephen Lambert, note that "[t]here are two levels of teaching English: secondary school teaching with a bachelor's degree and college teaching, possibly with a master's degree, but more frequently requiring a doctoral degree as the essential credential" (137). What level of education you pursue depends on where, what, and with whom you'd like to work. In all cases, DeGalan and Lambert point out, "[t]eaching requires extra education, because it is a unique art and demands skills that were probably not acquired in undergraduate studies" (137). If you plan to teach, therefore, you should plan on continuing your education eventually beyond a bachelors degree. If you wish to pursue a career as a professor, realize that your professors at WKU have pursued advanced degrees in the study of literature and writing. They can be an excellent resource for exploring the possibilities and challenges of graduate study. According to the 1998-1999 Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for English teachers varies significantly according to geographical and professional variables. Consider the job market and your willingness to relocate if you plan to pursue a career in the teaching of English at any level. In addition to traditional conceptions of teaching, there are other career paths for teachers, paths that English majors with teacher training can follow:
- Trainer
- Employee development specialist
- Employment interviewer
- Education administrator
- Librarian
- Personnel specialist
- Public relations specialist
- Social worker
- Counselor
- Sales representative
- Media relations representative
- Researcher
- Non-for-profit organization administrator
- Educational consultant
- Environmental educator
- Museum curator
- Hospital/community health educator
(DeGalan and Lambert 150)
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