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Lecturer, English Language & Literature

Education

Teach courses in English language and literature, including linguistics and comparative literature. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

EducationGeneral

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Teach writing or communication classes.
  2. 2Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
  3. 3Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  4. 4Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
  5. 5Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
  6. 6Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
  7. 7Assist students who need extra help with their coursework outside of class.
  8. 8Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as poetry, novel structure, and translation and adaptation.
  9. 9Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
  10. 10Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  11. 11Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
  12. 12Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
  13. 13Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
  14. 14Teach classes using online technology.
  15. 15Schedule courses.
  16. 16Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
  17. 17Write letters of recommendation for students.
  18. 18Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
  19. 19Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks.
  20. 20Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
  21. 21Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
  22. 22Recruit, train, and supervise department personnel, such as faculty and student writing instructors.
  23. 23Participate in campus and community events.
  24. 24Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
  25. 25Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.
  26. 26Participate in cultural and literary activities, such as traveling abroad and attending performing arts events.
  27. 27Provide assistance to students in college writing centers.
  28. 28Conduct staff performance evaluations.
  29. 29Write original literary pieces.
  30. 30Act as advisers to student organizations.
  31. 31Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
  32. 32Review manuscripts for publication in professional journals.
  33. 33Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Teacher
  • Lecturer
  • Professor
  • Instructor
  • Faculty Member
  • English Adjunct
  • English Teacher
  • Adjunct Lecturer
  • Classics Teacher
  • English Lecturer

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. Typical entry

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationDoctoral degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Bahasa MelayuDraws directly on Communications and Media — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
History (Sejarah)Draws directly on History and Archeology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Islamic / Moral StudiesDraws directly on Philosophy and Theology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Computer Science / ICTDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • English Language94%

    English

  • Education and Training89%
  • Communications and Media81%

    EnglishBahasa Melayu

  • History and Archeology75%

    History (Sejarah)

  • Philosophy and Theology74%

    Islamic / Moral Studies

  • Sociology and Anthropology74%

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicVery high
  • Leading or coordinating othersVery high
  • Handling conflict situationsRarely
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Noisy environmentAlmost never

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

36%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

0.14%

Of Malaysian Claude conversations, about this kind of work

Measures how much people use Claude for this work, not how many Malaysians do this job — and more AI use can mean people relying on it, not that it's replacing them.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
See pay for a related career: Teacher (DG9)

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

IPG (Teacher Training)

Become a school teacher: fully funded, with an allowance and a guaranteed posting. Apply separately through KPM after SPM.

~5 years

International Pre-U

A-Levels, AUSMAT, IB and more. The flexible premium route, local or overseas.

1–2 years

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org

Programmes that lead here

Programmes from the official UPU (KPT) and MQA catalogues whose field of study typically leads to this career. Matched by field, not a job guarantee.

Public universities (UPU)

Private institutions (MQA-accredited)

Search the programme catalogue