Category Archives: Getting a Job
Characteristics of a Sought-After Teacher – What Schools Look For
Image via Wikipedia
When a school searches for a new teacher for an open teaching position, they already have an image of the teacher they want. Every school has certain qualities they feel a teacher must have to be successful. Those qualities can be many things depending on the needs and location of the school. While the qualities that each school considers important may vary, there are usually shared qualities that all schools would consider important to the job.
The experience or background of a teacher is the most important quality a school looks for so your resume should highlight the qualities they are looking for. If they are looking for an ESL TEFL TESOL teacher for kindergarten students, it may be best to highlight lessons that contain activities that you have initiated and prepared at your previous schools with regards to language acquisition. In addition, if you are looking at a position for a content subject such as science or math, highlight your knowledge and education (i.e. degree) in that area. This is especially important if you are a new teacher with little or no experience. Regardless, you should also have all academic qualifications available for the school to preview before you go for an interview. Most schools want to review the qualifications prior to hiring or considering applicants for a teaching position and will sometimes pass on teachers who don’t submit these items for review when applying. This is especially true of TESL TEFL TESOL training which is a requirement for obtaining a visa and work permit in most countries, regardless of the subject taught. Each school is unique so the best thing would be to have a cover letter that speaks to that school and the teaching job they are looking to fill. Don’t just have a blanket letter and teacher resume that you mass mail to any potential school looking for a teacher in the hopes of gaining employment. It may be beneficial to have a list of professional highlights that you can copy and paste into a cover letter based on the requirements of the position.
Another important consideration for schools is the personal qualities of a teacher. Most schools are looking for a long term commitment from a teacher so they want to make sure that teacher will fit within their school. The obvious qualities that come to mind are personable, positive and flexible/patient because these qualities will carry over into the classroom and interaction with your future students. In addition, the school will look at a teacher’s qualities with regards to their professionalism because there is much that is required outside of the classroom such as preparing lessons, creating worksheets and tests and the always popular grading of assignments. In other words, they will want a teacher that is organized and committed. If they feel that the teacher can’t be depended on, they may not consider them a viable candidate. One of the things that may highlight a teacher’s lack of commitment is a resume that shows numerous teaching positions over a short period of time. Remember that you will not be judged strictly by your qualifications but on the sum of who you are as an individual.
The factors that go into a school’s decision to accept a teacher are varied and many so it is impossible to cover them all. Regardless, cover the basics looked for in any teacher for any teaching job and then identify the unique characteristics or qualifications of particular teaching jobs. Remember that looking for a teaching job, like many other employment searches, is about selling yourself and the best way to do this is by identifying what the employer (i.e the school) wants.
The following is an abbreviated list of characteristics posted by a teacher in response to a UNICEF request to “What makes a Good Teacher?”:
Positive – Thinks positively and enthusiastically about people and what they are capable of becoming. Sees the good in any situation and can move forward to make the most of difficult situations when confronted with obstacles. Encourages others to also be positive.
Dependable – Honest and authentic in working with others. Consistently lives up to commitments to students and others. Works with them in an open, honest, and forthright manner.
Organized – Makes efficient use of time and moves in a planned and systematic direction. Knows where he or she is heading and is able to help students in their own organization and planning. Can think in terms of how organization can be beneficial to those served.
Committed – Demonstrates commitment to students and the profession and is self-confident, poised and personally in control of situations. Has a healthy self-image. Encourages students to look at themselves in a positive manner, careful to honor the self-respect of the students, while encouraging them to develop a positive self-concept.
Motivational – Enthusiastic with standards and expectations for students and self. Understands the intrinsic motivations of individuals, and knows what it is that motivates students. Takes action in constructive ways.
Compassionate – Caring, empathetic and able to respond to people at a feeling level. Open with personal thoughts and feelings, encouraging others to do likewise. Knows and understands the feelings of students.
Flexible – Willing to alter plans and directions in a manner which assists people in moving toward their goals. Seeks to reason out situations with students and staff in a manner that allows all people to move forward in a positive direction.
Knowledgeable – Is in a constant quest for knowledge. Keeps up in his or her specialty areas, and has the insight to integrate new knowledge. Takes knowledge and translates it to students in a way which is comprehensible to them, yet retains its originality.
Creative – Versatile, innovative, and open to new ideas. Strives to incorporate techniques and activities that enable students to have unique and meaningful new growth experiences.
Patient – Is deliberate in coming to conclusions. Strives to look at all aspects of the situation and remains highly fair and objective under most difficult circumstances. Believes that problems can be resolved if enough input and attention is given by people who are affected.
You can also practice answers to typical teacher interview questions like the ones on the following sites:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute: career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/interview/TEACHER.htm
Resumes for Teachers: resumes-for-teachers.com/interview-questions.htm
Michael G. Hines is founder of Icon Group Thailand: http://www.TotalESL.com – ESL TEFL TESOL Jobs + http://ESLarticle.com – ESL TEFL TESOL Information + ESLcontentfeed.com – ESL TEFL TESOL RSS Feeds
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Hines
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/83097
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ESL Teaching Jobs – 10 Important Things to Consider When Deciding on an ESL Job
Picture by Rex Pe http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldendragon613/
ESL teaching jobs are a dime a dozen but there are 3 very important questions you should be asking yourself before and while you are performing your search for the perfect ESL job. There are also 7 crucial questions to ask the institution that is considering you (or that YOU are considering) before or after you have made contact with them. What you will learn here are those exact questions. Let us read on and explore these questions and the reasons why I recommend that you ask them.
1. Is the position in the country you would like to visit?
If you are interested in China, be sure to just check out the ESL teaching jobs in China. Checking out other positions in other countries will only confuse you.
2. Do you want to teach in the country or the city?
As I said before, there are millions of positions out there. Are you considering an ESL teaching job for the money or for the chance to immerse yourself in a different culture and have it funded by a teaching job?
If you are looking at an ESL job for the money, then I recommend you hit the bigger cities. For instance if you are considering China, then I would only look at positions in the bigger cities of GuangZhou or Beijing. Shanghai’s cost of living makes it impossible to save anything. The reason I say this is because cities tend to pay double, sometimes triple that of their country counterpart because the cost of living is so much higher than in the country.
If you are looking to immerse yourself in the culture and your income should be just enough to support you, then I would recommend trying to find a position in the country. The money won’t be anywhere near what it would be in the cities but you will be FULLY IMMERSED into the culture of the country. You might even be fortunate enough to land a room with a family of nationals. Then you will TOTALLY experience the culture first hand!
3. What qualifications do you need and do you have them? (IE: TESOL, TEFL, CELTA, etc…)
Each country has their own requirements and regulations and they are quite different from each other. Some countries are VERY strict about you having your Bachelors Degree in any major (such as Thailand, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan) and some like China just look at your ability to teach and the fact that you would be a “Native Born English Speaker” as they put it. Also, many countries will choose you over others if you have some ESL training such as TESOL, TEFL, CELTA, etc.. These courses can be had at home easily and very inexpensively. I have seen signs that advertise that you could have your TESOL certification over the course of a weekend. Those ones I would be leery of. But generally speaking, you can have your TESOL certification over the course of a couple weeks and the cost varies from school to school. It usually is below one thousand dollars at the time of this printing. I highly recommend you start with this as soon as you have made your mind up about teaching esl.
4. Does the institution cover your flight or reimburse your flight costs before or after your contract is finished?
Some institutions will pay for your flight to get to the position. Most Korean jobs are like this. Others will cover the cost of your flight (to a certain dollar value) AFTER you have finished the contract. But beware of this one. Sometimes they will try to find reasons to keep the money, similar to your landlord trying to find reasons to not reimburse your damage deposit. But don’t let that deter you from your dream of teaching overseas. Most institutions are honorable.
5. How many hours per week will you be expected to teach?
Be very, VERY clear on this one. Make sure you KNOW exactly how many hours you are required to work each week. I know of MANY teachers that have been USED by the administration where their contract said 25 hour work week and they ended up working 50. Your time is YOUR TIME! If it is not something that YOU decided to do, then that time just became THEIR time and your pay won’t go up any higher than what the contract said. Make sure you know HOW MANY HOURS and What the hours are.
6. Are you living on or off campus?
Living on campus can be convenience or a nightmare for you and/or the school. By living on campus you usually have a 5 or 10 minute walk to or from class BUT this could also make it too convenient for your students to come knocking on your door. You will get no privacy and are totally bound by their rules. On the other hand living on campus usually will consist of covering the cost of the accommodations, electricity, water and food. That could be a big savings in itself.
7. Are your accommodations shared or private?
As you can probably guess, living with a strange person could turn ugly or you could become best of friends. But if you prefer to live alone, then do not even consider the postings for ESL teaching jobs that only house you with someone else. They are now OFF your short list.
8. What is your compensation for overtime?
Make sure that your overtime rate of pay is WRITTEN DOWN! Don’t just go on what the ad says or what the administrator you talked to said.
9. Does the institution cover the cost of your housing/food/transportation?
This one is self explanitory. If they cover it, you save money.
10. MOST OF ALL…What is your pay?
With ALL these things, make sure they are on the contract you get sent to you from the school. Then when you get there, make sure that the contract on their end is the same as the one YOU have. There have been stories that after something has gone wrong and they check the contracts, it turns out that they are different. Something has been changed without the teacher noticing it.
All in all, its just a case of common sense and using your head. Most teachers, after finishing one contract, end up going on and signing another contract. If not with their existing boss, then with another one.
If you are REALLY interested in teaching ESL overseas then you owe it to yourself to check out ESL For All. There is VERY IMPORTANT information there to help make your decision one you won’t regret. Check out ESL For All today!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelvin_Nikkel
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English Teaching Jobs Online – Prelude to Starting a Career in Teaching English Online
- Image by mikecogh via Flickr
The advent of the technology called “The Internet” has contributed to a lot of changes people experience in the world right now. In one click, an individual can shop for his basic needs, one can send correspondence to a friend he has not seen for a long time, and many can learn the English language in the comforts of their home.
The primary factor governing a student’s decision regarding getting English lessons online is that it is the best alternative for people who have no time to attend classroom studies. There are many colleges and teachers who tend to give the suggestion of adopting the latest technologies in English learning programs online. Learning the English language online is a comprehensive and result-oriented method for understanding the linguistic concepts.
This is good news. As the number of students who prefer learning English online increases, the job opportunities for people who want to teach TEFL (or Teaching English as a Foreign Language) lessons also increases. Before even deciding on pursuing a career and getting a teach-English job, an aspiring teacher needs the proper qualifications and some related experience. To teach English as a Second Language (ESL) courses entails preparation, just like many fruitful careers.
Get an Academic Degree
Most advertised positions for teaching ESL online require at least a bachelor’s degree. It is not necessary that the applicant has completed an English degree, though this is advantageous. The importance of having an academic degree is understanding the complexities in studying any field. Needless to say, this kind of experience and understanding is very important for teachers.
Decide if You Want to Make a Career out of Teaching English Online Opportunities
Some people may be looking at teaching English online as something to do for a short time. If you wish to start a career in this field and you want to continue it for a long time, you might want to enroll in a TESOL course or a Teach English to Speakers of Other Languages certification program. Getting certification will make you more qualified to teach and it can open more teaching opportunities for you.
Choose the Age Bracket of Your Students
Remember that you are embarking on a life-changing journey. Unless you are comfortable with your audience, you will not be able to deliver well. Make sure that the age bracket you choose to teach will learn something from you because if you fail, you are not only wasting your time but theirs as well. As a result, you may not be able to continue your teach English job.
Enroll in an Online English Course
You will learn the ropes well if you enroll in an online program as a student learning the language. You do not need to finish the whole course. Just see how it feels like to be a student and learn from your instructors. Through this method, you will be able to assess whether or not it is something that you will be willing to do over a long period of time.
Once you have done these things and you are sure that this is something that you want and can do for a long time, you are ready to start a career in teaching TEFL courses and lessons.
| Jayson Pino Guevarra is currently the Chief Research and Development Officer of Executive English, an international company which assists global communication through the efficient use of technology. Executive English brings together people who want to learn English online, professionals who are qualified to handle English teaching jobs, and expert providers of online learning support for distance education.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jayson_Pino_Guevarra |
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7 Tips For Successful TEFL Interviews
Photo by Alan Cleaver, http://www.flickr.com/photos/alancleaver/
Attending an interview for a teaching job in the TEFL market is often a shock to graduates who have recently completed their TEFL certificate course. In many countries where the market is very buoyant, you can often wonder when the interview is going to start and they are already offering you hours.
This was certainly the case in Madrid a couple of years ago. There was such a need for English teachers that you would often get phone calls offering your jobs without actually attending an interview. Whilst this was great, it also meant it was hard to control the quality in the market.
Since the global economic crises, this has certainly changed. For teaching English in Madrid and most other European cities there is still an extremely high demand for English teachers (most getting jobs within a few days of the course) but the agencies, schools and academies can be much more selective than in the boom.
Given this, it has never been more important for those that have newly graduated from their TEFL course to impress at interviews. The majority of the norms that apply to interviews apply to teaching interviews, dressing well; being on time; being positive and confident etc etc. However, there are other points that will set you apart from the crowd.
Tip 1
On your TEFL course you will have completed a whole range of coursework and lesson plans. Take your best lesson plans with you and the materials you have created. Show the interviewer the type of lesson that you are capable of. Show them your needs analysis and level test that you have designed. On most modern courses now, you will have created an executed a telephone class. This is a boom area in teaching English so again, show them your material.
Tip 2
Make sure you use the terminology that you have been using on your TEFL course. Elicitation, modelling, CCQ, minimal teacher talk time and the many others that you will have become familiar with.
For example: “I find that when I teach beginner and elementary classes, it is really important that I keep my TTT low and model. I try to back up what I am saying with simple gestures that I keep consistent. I also keep this in mind when trying to elicit and I use the board to help the students understand what I am asking for”.
Tip 3
As with all interviews – be honest but give solutions to any problems you have had on your course. Many graduates are still afraid of grammar after their course, if this is the case with you, explain that you found grammar a struggle but you always prep and plan your classes ahead and will ensure you are up to date with the grammar structures you are teaching. It is about instilling confidence in the interviewer.
Tip 4
It is very common to be asked to do a short model class of about 15 minutes. You will normally be given a short amount of time to prepare this. Given this is likely, think about a few classes that you could teach. Don’t just focus on the 15 minutes of the teaching. Explain to them what your warmer would be and if you are following the PPP methodology (Presentation, Practice and Production) what they stages would be, then do the 15 minutes of the class.
Sometimes the interviewer will give you the topic. In my experience talking to my graduates, the main topics tend to be the comparison between the past simple and the present perfect, the present continuous and the conditionals. With a bit of prior preparation and planning, this ‘on the spot’ lesson planning activity need not be stressful and should be able to highlight your abilities.
Ensure you keep to the methods you have been taught with elicitation, modelling, CCQ etc. The interviewer will be looking out for these.
Tip 5
Find out about the school, academy or agency before you interview. Do they specialize in business classes, children’s classes, exam preparation or is it a combination of adults and children? Think about how your past experiences will help you teach these students. Have you done summer camp work, voluntary work, tutoring, have younger siblings, work experiences in a bank, lawyers etc?
Tip 6
Go in looking prepared and organized, it will give the right impression to the interviewer and will help you keep track of what is going on. The most important thing is a small diary. Unless you are working for a school, you will generally be required to move around from location to location. In Madrid you would normally use the metro, buses and trains. Writing down the locations, times and details of what you are being offered is essential. Get them to show you on the metro map where the job is and put a circle around it. Mark out the times in you diary or planner and the travel time needed to get to the class.
You will often get many interviews in the same day and may accept quite a few offers. By putting everything in your diary and checking the routes on your map, you won’t double book yourself or leave yourself short of time to get to the next class.
Tip 7
Finally, NEVER be late for a teaching interview, being punctual is a key ingredient to being a good teacher!
Natasha Mason Kennedy is the owner and Director of TtMadrid, a TEFL academy in Madrid, Spain. Natasha has been working in the industry of business English and teacher Training for the last 10 years.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Natasha_Mason
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Instructional Video of the Week: A Guide to Teaching English in Korea
- Image via Wikipedia
Many people would love to teach English overseas as a way to travel and see the world. But what is required of you to be able to do this?
This video covers one of the most popular destinations for ESL teachers, South Korea. This video covers the following catergories;
- Qualifications
- Job Vacancies
- Hogwan (private institutions) vs Schools
- Students
- Holidays, Vacations and Sick Days
- Private Lessons
- Remunerations
- Accommodations
- South Korea
- Food& Drink
I is a relatively comprehensive guide answering a lot of the questions prospective teachers will have about the country, the job and standard of living.
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