Being an ESL (English as a second language) teacher can be a challenging job. It involves working with children and/or adults from all around the world, and understanding different cultures in order to provide the best education for them. Likewise, schools investing in ESL teachers may be flying you into a foreign country, and making large investments for you to be available. Working with people with different backgrounds can be difficult, especially if there is a minor language barrier. This guide will show you some of the things that should go in a resume concerning this occupation.
ESL Teacher Resume – Objective Statement
The objective statement in a resume can be compared in relevance to the mission statement of a school which a job applicant should be very conscious applying to that school. Doing so will help mold the objective statement to meet that of the institution’s. This section of an ESL teacher resume should convey your goals, beliefs, and intentions in no more than two or three clear and concise sentences. You want to capture the attention of the prospective employer; so considerable thought should be put into this introductory section. It can help to write about bringing two or more cultures together while teaching English as a second language.
ESL Teacher Resume – Qualifications and Skills
Teachers must be able to communicate. Furthermore, ESL teachers must be able to communicate in more than one language. An applicant for and ESL teacher’s job should at least know the language of the students well enough to communicate with them fluently. This section is your chance to list the skills that make you qualified for the position you are applying. Including skills that describe your ability to work well with students, to organize courses, and to communicate effectively with non-native speakers will make you a sought after candidate for this job.
Professional Experience for an ESL Teacher Resume
As convincing as the pervious section may seem to employers, this is where the most attention is paid in the ESL teacher resume. Employers do not only want to know that you are willing to help others develop their language skills; they need to know how much on the job experience you have had. Listing all your experience with teaching English to non-native speakers is very crucial. Do not forget be detailed. Each previous job should be listed in reverse chronological order beginning with the most recent. Directly following each job should be responsibilities that were part of that position, such as grade levels taught, any planning and/or extracurricular activities, and of course what languages your students spoke in their native tongue.
Education Requirements for an ESL Teacher Resume
If the school you are seeking a position with is an accredited school or academy, it is required by law to have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, with an emphasis on English and education curriculum. In addition to this, having certain credentials will also decide the base salary a teacher will get. In this section, a list of your educational background, beginning with the highest awarded certification or degree. Include the year they were awarded and the institution that awarded them to complete your resume.
Crafting a resume to land a job as an ESL teacher will take some planning and a certain amount of introspection. Finding your strengths to highlight is as important as documenting work history and educational accomplishments. As the world globalizes and communications becomes more important, ESL teachers are in much greater demand. With the right resume and this guide, it is possible to format a resume that gets noticed by prospective employers. There are also ESL teacher resume samples on this site to give you more ideas for crafting your own.