Will AI replace Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary?
AI can do 85% of the work Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 9 of their 24 tasks, while 11 more are ready but barely used so far. 4 still need a person.
AI is already doing this9 · 52% of time
People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as how to speak and write a foreign language and the cultural aspects of areas where a particular language is used.Mostly automated16% of time
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.Mostly automated12% of time
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in scholarly journals, books, or electronic media.Mostly automated8% of time
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.Mostly automated3% of time
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.Mostly automated3% of time
- Keep abreast of developments in their field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional organizations and activities.Mostly assisted3% of time
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.Mostly automated3% of time
- Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.Mostly automated1% of time
- Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.Mostly automated1% of time
AI could do this next11 · 33% of time
AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.10% of time
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.6% of time
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.3% of time
- Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.3% of time
- Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.2% of time
- Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks.1% of time
- Act as advisers to student organizations.1% of time
- Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.1% of time
- Develop and maintain Web pages for teaching-related purposes.1% of time
- Organize and direct study abroad programs.1% of time
- Write letters of recommendation for students.1% of time
Still needs a person4 · 15% of time
No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.8% of time
- Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.3% of time
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.2% of time
- Participate in campus and community events.1% of time
Your week is not the average
Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.
What this means
AI can already do almost all of this work at least twice as fast. People in this job already use it heavily. Expect the role to shift toward deciding what to do, checking AI's work and owning the result.
What to do next
- Do the 9 tasks AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
- Get ahead on the 11 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
- Build on the 4 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
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