Students usually pursue diverse career goals at the onset of their academic program in college or university. As they climb the ladder, they become more specific with their career ambitions and choose narrower paths to aid their growth.
If you are reading this article, chances are you have decided to narrow your focus and share your academic knowledge with others by pursuing a career in teaching and becoming an English professor. It's an excellent career path for anyone that wants to explore academia and impact the lives of others through research and education. Learn more!
Even as you want a good start with your career pursuits, you may often worry about the time it may take you to complete your studies, get the necessary education and gain the experience you need to become an English professor in Canada.
This article will answer this puzzle and provide some other information you may find helpful as you pursue a career in teaching.
You may also be interested in the salary of English professors.
Who is an English professor?
An English professor is an instructor who teaches courses, propagates educational policies, and publishes scholarly papers in an academic setting, usually in a college or university.
They focus specifically on English language composition and literature. If you are interested in this career path, you may have the opportunity to explore different paths in this field. Here are some of the various fields for English professors.
- Creative writing
- Poetry
- Drama
- Composition studies
- English linguistics
What Does an English Professor do?
These professionals teach English courses at various levels (graduate and undergraduate) in colleges and universities. Many professors design their courses based on the needs of the students and the topics in their field.
Many English professors also offer extra-curricular help, support, and guidance to students who may need it. Their teaching schedule is usually flexible and can change by the semester. Not just that, they usually enjoy long holidays to conduct research or paid sabbaticals.
English professors write books and conduct research aside from teaching. They are usually special guests in seminars, conferences, and educational gatherings related to their field.
If you are serious about pursuing a career in English studies and becoming a professor, you should understand the itineraries of research and fall in love with it. It might intrigue you to know that research is one of the core duties of an English professor, irrespective of their specialty. It's hard to find an English professor that doesn't do research. Students who want to explore this career path must be prepared to study their subject and constantly be updated on recent happenings in their field.
With online courses gaining more popularity in many universities and colleges, there has been a significant change in an English professor's approach to teaching. Professors who take English courses online may be required to upload documents and tests and conduct exams online. In addition, they must be familiar with email communication systems and various computer application programs since they may need to provide feedback to students via email, Skype, or Zoom rather than in person.
How Long Will it Take to Become an English Professor?
Probably, this question has been on your lips, and you kept searching for answers. Alas! It’s no longer a puzzle.
Generally, it may take up to 8 years to become an English professor in Canada. This is an estimated average time, and you could spend more depending on whether things fall in place quickly for you or not. Here is the breakdown of the steps you may take to become an English professor. This may help you estimate the time it may take to reach your goals and become an English professor.
A Bachelor's Degree in English
A bachelor's degree program in English in Canada usually takes four years. Many universities in Canada offer a wide range of English programs aside from English literature. The most important thing is to have a strong background in the English language.
See the skills you need to become an English professor in Canada.
Typically, the English department in most universities offers distinct classes in various subjects. Therefore, this may be an opportunity to decide the specialization to focus on within the English language. Common subjects in English include:
- English literature: the study of prose and poetry about English and literary criticism.
- Linguistic: the scientific study of language
- Composition: the craft of writing prose and poetry in English
A Master's Degree in English
You may apply for a master's program after completing your bachelor's degree in English. It usually takes 1-2 years to complete depending on whether it's a part-time or full-time program. Unlike the undergraduate degree program, it is a study focused on specialization.
Gather Experience
While studying for your master's program, consider gaining experience in your free time at school. The best way to gain experience is to look for teaching assistant opportunities. You would teach lower graduate classes and work with students directly by providing professional guidance for their studies.
Publish Articles and Write Books in Your Field
This is necessary to show your expertise in your field. Your chances of climbing the ladder of success in your career and becoming an English professor in Canada may be higher if you have published multiple works online or in printed books.
So, if aspiring to become an English professor, you must fall in love with writing. And publish many works ranging from research papers, journals, and articles, to officially recognized and officially recognized texts.
Apply for a Doctorate Program
It would help if you also pursued a PhD in the specialization you wish to pursue in English. Unfortunately, many PhD programs may require you to submit a dissertation which could take up to 6 years to complete. In addition, since they are very competitive, you may have to apply multiple times to get a chance to study your chosen specialization.
Find out the experience you may need to search for English professor jobs in colleges and universities.
Once you have your PhD alongside all other necessary qualifications to become a professor, it's time to update your resume and apply for jobs. This is an excellent time to network and search for opportunities in the schools you studied. Ensure you include your published works, professional achievement and other faculty references in your resume.
Do I Need an English Grammar Course to Become an English Professor?
Yes, you need it. Working as an English professor means you have to gain a solid mastery of the English language. This includes proper grammar, speaking and writing skills. Since many students may look up to you for guidance, it's also necessary to know how to guide them so they make the best of their time in career building.
Since online studies are highly flexible and provide enough options for self-study, many schools offer opportunities for students to pursue their career goals with a few visits to the campus. This means there are many English courses you could take online as part of your study program to improve your proficiency in English and develop the proper teaching skills required for teaching jobs.
Where Can I Find Courses for English Professors in Canada?
If you are studying for your master's or undergraduate program, you may have flexible options to take many English courses online. This may help you improve your study habits, get help with school work quickly and achieve academic success faster.
Superprof is a one-in-all platform where you can find online courses in your English department that could help you advance your studies faster.
On Superprof, you can either take courses online or in person. In addition, there are many English tutors near you whose services you may find helpful for career advancement. Here are some of the tutoring services that English tutors offer on Superprof.
- Tutoring services
- Homework help
- Career Guidance
- Help with a school project
You can quickly peruse various tutor profiles and find the one that offers the services that meet your learning needs. These tutors have different educational backgrounds and diverse experiences in teaching and mentoring.
More so, the rating of each profile is displayed publicly on their profile. If they have five stars, other students enjoyed their tutoring services; you may too. Even at that, it’s easy to find a tutor with excellent ratings because of the quality and standard that the platform promotes in academics.
Many hold full-time teaching positions in universities, colleges, and high schools in Canada. And they would be more than happy to help you achieve your career goals quickly.
Final Thought
The time it takes to become an English professor in Canada varies. And it usually depends on whether you enroll on a full-time or part-time English program at the university.
Becoming an English professor isn't a one-day process. You need to employ self-discipline, be committed and seek professional help whenever you need it. Fortunately, the tutors on Superprof are more than happy to help you in this beautiful journey.
Did you like this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
