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Section V: Employments Issues

In Module 13, you found information about getting a job teaching. In this section ofthe Teacher Resources, additional ideas and suggestions are offered.

I. RESUMES or CVsThere are many styles of resumes, and each country tends to have a favored style,but the content of the resume should remain the same. Employers want and need toknow the details of your teaching experience, not just that you have taught adults inPoland for a year. You should state: the levels you have taught, the skills you havetaught, and you can choose whether to include the textbooks that you are familiarwith.

Example: Taught children ranging in ages from four to ten conversation skills,songs, and vocabulary. Orally quizzed students on a weekly basis and wroteevaluation reports for the parents every month. Used GO! book series and "RosettaStone" software.

Taught adult refugees life­skills English: vocabulary for supermarkets, post office,banks, doctors, restaurants, and job applications; administered BEST test asplacement exam; wrote daily lesson plans, quizzes, and tests based on textbookSurvival English; and assisted students in completing job applications.

Including detailed information eases the work of the prospective employer inguessing about your experience and how it will fit his/her need. If you ease theprocess for prospective employers, it impresses them, and it will put you in a goodposition with the selection committee.

When stating information about your TEFL certificate, you should include the hours,your grade if applicable and where it's from.

Example: TEFL Certificate: Bridge­Linguatec TEFL Online, 40 hours / observation.August 2003, Grade Pass A

Colored resumes and fancy coverings do not impress employers and end up in thetrash.

Do's and Don'ts in Getting a Job Overseas

Do:

Include details of your teaching experience: levels taught, skillstaught, books used

Name of TEFL certificate, hours, and grade

Include a cover letter

Include related experience

Be professional

Dress professionally for the interview

Don't:

Use colored paper or fancy coverings

Include unrelated experience to make your resume longer

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Don't state in your cover letter that you have fallen in love witha native and you have to get a job there so you can be with thelove of your life. In other words, don't give reasons that couldbe perceived as frivolous by a potential employer who's lookingfor a good teacher and a stable employee.

Cover Letters or Letters of Interest You should always include a formal letter with your resume or CV. This gives theemployer another chance to get to know you and for you to highlight your skills andreasons for being hired. You should always include where you heard about the job,why you want to work for them, why you want to go to that country, and why youare the best match for the job. Employers want to be sure you will be happy in theircountry and stay for the full contract, so provide reassurance in this area. Also, askthem to contact you for an interview and give your contact information (phonenumber and/or email address).

II. Some questions that are asked in interviews

What characteristics do you think are most important in a teacher?

What experience do you have with working with other cultures?

What would you expect a beginning/intermediate/advanced group ofEnglish students to already know?

What textbooks are you familiar with?

What would you do to explain a vocabulary word that a student doesn'tunderstand?

Do you have any sample lesson plans to show us?

What valuable techniques have you learned from your TEFL course thatyou will use in your teaching?

Why do you want to live in this country?

Do you speak "our" language?

How long can you commit to teaching?

Are you willing to work weekends? Are you willing to travel to giveclasses?

What would you do if you didn't know the answer to one of your student'squestions?

What's the most recent article you have read in the field of ESL/EFL?

With what methodologies are you familiar? What is your preferredmethodology?

Describe a time when there was a conflict in your past work experienceand how did you resolve it?

III. Other things to expect in the job­search process

Acquiring the visa in a foreign country, for example, flying to Korea to getyour visa for Japan.

Giving your passport to a government office to get your visa stamped. Forexample, in Chile, the Foreign Affairs Office takes your passport for two tothree days to stamp your visa in the passport, and then returns yourpassport.

In general, you should not give your passport to your boss to hold whileyou are working there. You should always have your passport in a safeplace. It's common in Korea that employers that provide housing ask forthe teacher's passport while he is moving out of the housing to ensure thatthe teacher pays all final utility bills and leaves the apartment in goodshape. In a few countries in the Middle East, the government requires

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employers to hold passports.

You should always register with your country's consulate in the locationyou are teaching. If your passport is lost or stolen, you can often replaceit faster if you are already registered with your consulate.

Many countries require photographs with your resume and/or CV.

Many schools ask for a video of your teaching.

Many countries require you to have a Bachelor's Degree in any field inorder to get a work visa.

IV. Finally, What About Employment Contracts?

Make sure your read everything in the contract or have a lawyer, ifpossible, read it.

If the contract is not in English, get it translated.

Question anything that you don't understand.

Get references from current or former teachers about the workingconditions at the school before signing.

Once you agree to the terms of the contract and sign it, do your best tolive up to the terms. Most contracts are only for six months or a year. Ifyou're not so happy with the company, try to make it to the completiondate. While you don't want to sign an unfair contract, you also don't wantto have a broken contract negatively affect your ability to get futureteaching jobs.

This is the end of this section. Click on the next module section in the table of contents© 2006­2009,

Bridge Linguatec, Inc