“Visions” of K-12 Foreign Language Teacher Recruitment in Higher Education

Abstract

Abstract: This article addresses the role of college and university professors in foreign language teacher recruitment (K-12) and lobbies for increased involvement in recruitment efforts. The discussion includes explanations of why many foreign language professors who are not affiliated with Schools or Colleges of Education frequently do not recommend foreign language teaching careers to their students. Also delineated are the benefits of more participation in recruitment efforts by foreign language professors from traditional, humanities-based departments of foreign languages and literatures. The article concludes with 22 reasons to be a foreign language teacher — a resource for presenting the positive aspects of the foreign language profession to potential foreign language teacher candidates.