English Down, Languages Up

By Colleen Flaherty. After two years of growth in both English and foreign language faculty positions, English jobs are harder to find this year while foreign language jobs continue to grow, according to Modern Language Association data released Thursday.
Although the analysis of the Job Information List, released each year prior to the annual MLA convention, doesn’t include all jobs available within modern language departments, it’s seen as a reliable indicator of the job market in the current hiring season. Overall, MLA projects that 2012-13 will see about 11 percent more positions in foreign languages coupled with a 4 percent decline in English positions. In real numbers, that’s 1,246 jobs in foreign languages that were listed with the association, compared to 1,128 the year before. For jobs in English, that’s 1,191, compared to 1,235 a year ago.
Not since 1995-6 has hiring in the foreign languages exceeded hiring in English. Rosemary Feal, executive director of the MLA, attributed the upward foreign language trend to globalization initiatives that are increasingly part of colleges' and universities’ strategic plans, in addition to students’ increased interest in global and language studies. Read more...