A Day in the Life of a Spanish Language Teacher Back to Top

Overview

Of all the foreign languages taught in schools, Spanish is by far the most popular. Hispanics constitute for over 15% of the United States population, and by 2050 are expected to constitute nearly 24% of the US population. With these growing numbers, the need for Spanish teachers is becoming increasingly more important. Teaching Spanish aims to educate the student on English-Spanish translation, while learning how to read, write, and speak the language. The duties of a Spanish teacher include creating lesson plans, planning activities, creating and grading tests or assignments, and engaging students. Most importantly, however, a Spanish teacher must be fluent in Spanish and English. A Spanish teacher must often teach the history and culture of the language, so knowledge and interest of these topics is also important.

Elementary and Middle School

In 2008, the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) conducted a nationwide survey of elementary and secondary schools to collect data on foreign languages taught in the United States. According to the survey, the teaching of Spanish in elementary schools that have language programs increased from 79% to 88% in ten years. Among elementary and middle schools, the most common foreign language program is the exploratory model, which provides introductory exposure to the language. Language focus programs are the second most common program for elementary schools, emphasizing listening, speaking, reading, writing, and culture. The remainder of elementary school programs usually use the immersion model, which provides students with the opportunity to attain high levels of proficiency in the language. When a student reaches middle school, he or she is usually given the chance to choose which language to study. Middle school classes offer an introduction to Spanish that will be built upon in high school.

High School

The survey also found that the teaching of Spanish in high school remained stable at a very high 93% of schools with language programs. Nearly all high schools offer language programs, which typically instruct reading, writing, listening, speaking, and culture. In the high school level, Spanish is overwhelmingly the first choice of language for students to study. A Spanish teacher can teach anywhere from level one to five, or even Advanced Placement (AP) courses. High school foreign language classes move away from the simple translation of middle school and begin to instruct students on writing, reading, listening, and comprehending. At each level of Spanish, students will be more immersed in the language and are expected to retain each of the levels before.

Spanish teachers must earn a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish, and must be fluent in both English and Spanish. They must also obtain a teaching certificate in the state they wish to teach in. It is also highly recommended to obtain a foreign language certificate. Currently, only 31% of elementary level foreign language teachers have this certificate, so having one will certainly put you above the competition. The majority of high school foreign language teachers are certified to teach a foreign language. One quarter of elementary schools and nearly one third of secondary schools offering languages reported being affected by a shortage of qualified language teachers. The most affected schools were elementary schools in rural areas and high schools with a large percentage of students from a low-socioeconomic background. The need for qualified Spanish teachers is growing, and the average salary for the secondary level is slightly higher than that of the average teacher, $56,000.

Teacher Career Resources & Advice Back to Top

Spanish Language Teacher Jobs Back to Top

Recent JobsBack to Top

• High School-Luzhou, Sichuan-5,000-6,500 RMB - China, NY
• Language School-Changchun, Jilin-6000-7000RMB - China, NY
• Full-Time Jobs for English Teachers - Tianjin,China, TX
• Web Language Training Center-Suzhou, Jiansu-9500 RMB - China, NY
• IELTS School-Xi'an, Shaanxi-5500RMB - China, NY

View All Jobs