A guide to writing the perfect ESL/EFL cover letter! In this post you'll find an example letter I wrote, a template you can use for your own cover letter, advice on what to write, and tips for how to maximize the potential of your letter.
Your cover letter is a great opportunity to demonstrate your value to a potential employer and you should take some time to write or modify one that is tailored to the specific position you're applying for. That being said, you should first create a general template that will be your guide. For each new application, you can simply copy this master file and then add the necessary details or make any changes you need to. Take a look at this example cover letter I wrote for a generic EFL teaching position.
* * *
Laura Lastname
Skype: EFLTeacherExampleSkype
Email: LoloTravelGoGo@gmail.com
Website: www.LoloTravelGoGo.blogspot.com/
Telephone: +1 (###) ###-####
Address: ## Bank Street
Address: ## Bank Street
City, Province, Country
### ###
July 23, 2019
ATTN: Human Resources
Good afternoon,
My name is Laura Lastname, I'm an English
teacher from Ontario, Canada looking for an EFL teaching position to start
immediately!
I have a B.A. in
anthropology, a TEFL certificate from Global Language Training Ltd., and
teaching experience.
I have a
variety of experience working as an English teacher, including working for an
ESL summer camp in the south of France, called American Village, teaching
Mathayom 4-6 EFL in rural Thailand for a public high school, as well as running
the English club and the Teaching Thai Teacher's Program. I've also taught
English in Japan for a private company called Amity, teaching private and group lessons, where I worked with babies as
young as 6 months.
Additionally, I’ve done some private tutoring as well.
My students enjoy coming to classes, and I enjoy
teaching them and encouraging their creativity and curiosity. I really like
teaching because it’s so rewarding to connect with students! I also think that my students make
me a better person. One of the reasons I enjoy teaching is that I feel
that it’s helped me to cultivate patience, empathy and understanding;
understanding my students, their different cultures, and understanding myself.
As Robert Half said, “When one teaches, two learn.”
I am available for an
interview by Skype (EFLTeacherExampleSkype).
In my
spare time, I also run a blog called, Lolo on the Gogo at lolotravelgogo.blogspot.com,
where you can find teaching and travel tips. I publish resources for teachers
and students, opinion pieces about my experience as an ESL teacher, and
articles about the ESL job market, teaching methodology and more. Please feel free to check it out at (http://lolotravelgogo.blogspot.com/) as well as my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc7b_ycE_eO9jt-wV2mk6RQ?view_as=subscriber) for more information!
Sincerely,
Laura Lastname
* * *
In your cover letter, you want to present all the information the employer needs to contact you, several reasons why they should, and some intriguing details that make them want to learn more about you. You don't need to explain every particular of your work experience in the cover letter because this can be covered during the interview process. Your cover letter should be interesting, but also professional, clear and concise.
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| Cover Letter Template Here! |
For those who are new to the work force or to teaching EFL, I've created a template you can use to create your own cover letter! It's not as difficult as it might seem. Also, the more work and life experience you have, the easier it gets to update your cover letter with your skills and accomplishments.
* * *
Name
Skype ID:
Email:
Website:
Telephone:
Address:
Date
ATTN: Human Resources,
(Company name)
Good afternoon,
My name is __________, I'm an English teacher
from __________ looking for a (full-time/part-time) EFL teaching position to start immediately! I’m
very interested in the position of __________ at (COMPANY NAME) in (LOCATION).
I have a B.A. in __________,
a TEFL certificate from __________, and __________ months/years of teaching
experience.
My work
experience includes __________. (If you do
not have extensive work experience, you can also elaborate on volunteer work or
your studies.)
I enjoy teaching because
__________. / I would make a great teacher because __________. (Use this paragraph
to describe why you would be an excellent candidate for the position and what
unique qualities or skills you would bring to the classroom. In case your work
experience is not extensive, this is a good opportunity to convince your future
employer(s) why they should give you a chance. State your strengths and
abilities and elaborate on how they correlate with teaching.)
Other certificates I’ve
been awarded include __________. (You can also include other interests,
activities or achievements related to the position, such as programs you’ve
attended, training you received, or additional resources such as your website,
YouTube channel, etc. if they illuminate some positive/useful aspects of your
life experience, personality and so forth. You can also use this space to write
about your hobbies or extracurricular activities.)
I am available for an
interview by telephone at __________ or via Skype at __________.
Sincerely,
__________
* * *
One important thing to remember is that your cover letter is not just about convincing someone to hire you; it's also the first step in your vetting process, letting the employer know what you are looking for from them. In your cover letter, you'll specify the particular position you're applying for within the company, your earliest expected start date and/or availability, and the qualifications you possess. This data allows your employer to gauge whether you are qualified and might be a good fit for the position. You are stating what you expect or need from the company, for example, if you are only looking for part-time position, if you're willing to relocate, etc.
Here are a few more tips for creating the perfect cover letter:
- Tailor your cover letter to the specific position
- If you have some specific interest in the position, the company or the location, include this information
- Include your volunteer experience, as this speaks to both your work ethic and your character
- If you are applying to a position in a country where you speak the language, it be can convenient for your potential employer and increase your chances of landing the job to include both an English version and a version of your cover letter in your second language
- Save your cover letter as a PDF: this will prevent accidental changes to the document, ensure the correct formatting and demonstrate that you know computer basics
- Always use spell-check
- Ask a friend or colleague to review your letter and be open to constructive criticism and suggestions
Above all, be confident and enthusiastic! Make sure that the overall tone of your letter is professional, respectful and positive. The cover letter is your first impression, so make sure it's a good one. Highlight your strengths, goals, aspirations and potential. There may be other candidates who are equally qualified, but a good cover letter demonstrates your commitment and drive.
Good luck and happy teaching!
See also:
How to Get a Job Teaching EFL/ESL
Why Teach ESL?
How to Get an ESL Job, Part I: Pre-Interview Questions
How to Teach in Thailand
Tips for Teaching in Thailand: Esan Eccentricities
What is it Like inside an ESL/EFL Classroom in Rural Thailand?
Remember that short and sweet is the way to go with cover letters as hiring managers usually don’t have the time to read more than a page max. Make sure that what you’re writing is relevant and structured. In the same vein, resist the temptation to recycle chunks of your resume - instead, see this as a separate space where you can impress from a different angle.
ReplyDeleteThat's great advice! Thank you so mich for your comment! 😊
DeleteOn the other hand, its wording varies depending on the body to which we deliver it, as well as the position that will receive the letter. There are different ways to write a job letter and here we will show you 3 examples , in addition, you can download them in PDF , Word and Excel format .
ReplyDeletecarta de recomendacion ejemplo