A high-quality CV is important for gaining a job interview for an ESOL or EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teaching post. Your CV should be tailored for the job and include your academic qualifications, teacher training, certification and linguistic skills.

Before completing your teaching job application, you may wish to look at this helpful ESL teacher CV examples to gain an understanding of the relevant experience to include, as well as the appropriate formatting. The ESL teacher CV sample below is an example of how to attract the attention of a school principal or a director of studies and win you a teaching job interview.

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    Sample ESL teacher CV

    Samantha _James_CV-4

    Samantha James

    4 Bold Street, Liverpool L1 4JG

    07912345678

    Samantha.James@example-example.co.uk

    Professional summary

    Engaging, confident and resourceful Teacher with strong organisational skills. Hard-working individual with proven success forging relationships with people from different cultures and backgrounds. Flexible communicator and team player.

    Work history

    April 2016 – Current

    Hello Language School – Liverpool

    English language tutor

    • Monitored students’ test and assessment marks to identify areas of improvement and build confidence.
    • Employed a variety of mediums to convey learning concepts.
    • Designed learning plans tailored to individual needs.

    March 2013 – February 2016

    New Start – Liverpool

    English language tutor

    • Maintained detailed, accurate class administration including lesson preparation, class registration and lesson record-keeping activities.
    • Offered virtual ESL lessons via Zoom to promote remote learning.
    • Provided basic, intermediate and advanced English language lessons to groups and individual students aged 7 – 60+.

    Skills

    • ESL lesson planning
    • Virtual ESL lessons
    • Language fluency assessments
    • Online classroom management
    • IELTS test preparation
    • English speaking coaching

    Education

    University of Liverpool Liverpool – 2012

    Bachelor of Arts Modern European Languages

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    Choosing the right format for your ESL teacher CV?

    There are many examples of CV formats on the web. But, once you find the right one, it’s easy to write your ESL teacher CV. The format preferred by recruiters and employers is reverse-chronological. This means writing your experience with the most recent job first and letting the work history make up the majority of your CV, following your contact details and personal statement.

    In some instances, for example, if you don’t have the necessary experience, a skills-based format could be used. This emphasises transferable skills learned in other jobs. If using this format, this section goes below the personal statement. However, a skill-based format is typically only used in entry-level roles, and ESL teaching jobs generally require several years of experience upon application.

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    Get your ESL teacher CV right with our proven tips

    • Proofread your CV

      Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors on a TSL teacher CV will automatically make a poor impression on recruiters. It is vital for this job that individuals showcase impeccable command of the English language because, in short, you’ll be teaching it to others. Be sure to proofread your CV and cover letter before sending them to employers.

    • Tailor your CV to the job

      As there are so many branches of English tutoring, you should clarify your specialism at the top of your English tutor CV. Some tutors teach English to foreign language students, while others work with English-speaking teenagers. Outlining this information will help employers to understand your unique strengths.

    • Shout about your attributes and achievements

      While it’s impossible to include everything, the personal statement section allows you to highlight your background and achievements. However, as you should only include a few sentences, keep it short and sweet, using positive phrases such as “I use a creative approach to solve problems”.

    • Don’t include every last detail

      With numerous candidates competing for the same job, recruiters don’t have time to flick through long CVs. So instead, keep it concise and relevant. Only write relevant details and save longer explanations for your cover letter. Your CV should be one or two pages maximum. If you’re struggling to fit it all in, use structured sentences and bullet points to format the information clearly.

    Writing a cover letter for a ESL teacher

    When writing a CV, it’s important to improve your chances of job selection with a supporting cover letter. This highlights your attributes and skills relevant to the role. However, knowing how to write a cover letter is vital to ensure you include all the correct information to support your application.

    A cover letter lets you expand on the information you included in your ESL teacher CV. This opens up more dialogue with the recruiter and showcases your best attributes. However, it’s important not to copy your CV word for word. Instead, use examples of your work history or achievements. For example, highlight success in one-to-one student tuition or detail how you tackled lesson planning strategies.

    While recruiters want to get to know you, keep it relevant and concise. One page is ideal.

    How to write a CV for a ESL teacher

    When writing an ESL teacher CV, you need to include relevant qualifications, skills, and experience for the job. This ensures you stand out against other candidates. In addition, your CV should be concise – one to two pages is ample.

    Below, our step-by-step guide provides a template on how to write a CV for your next ESL teacher role:

    Outlining education on an English tutor CV

    Although work experience is essential, employers often prefer degree-educated candidates. Consequently, a detailed education section promises to propel you ahead of the competition. Highlight your academic background alongside key achievements from other awarding bodies or training institutions.

    There are many paths to becoming an English tutor, and each one requires slightly different qualifications. Most roles require a Bachelor’s degree in an English-related subject. However, this isn’t necessary if you’re working outside a traditional setting – for instance, on an ad hoc basis in someone’s home. At the very least, you’ll need two to three A Levels at A* – C.

    If you want to teach English abroad or in the UK as a second language, you must take a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course on top of your studies. There are many training providers across the country, the most popular being Cambridge CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL. A full-time programme usually lasts around four weeks.

    The easiest way to format this section is as follows:

    • Name of school, college, university, or other awarding body
    • Study dates
    • Qualification level – e.g. A Level or Bachelor’s degree
    • Subject title – not required for GCSEs

    Example of work experience for an English tutor CV

    Any University, 2005 – 2007
    Master of Arts (MA) in English with an emphasis in TESOL: Distinction

    Any University, 2000 – 2004
    BA (Hons) English Literature: 2:1

    Any College, 1997 – 2000
    A Levels: English (A) Spanish (B) Maths (B) Science (B)

    Any High School, 1993 – 1997
    10 GCSEs at grades A* – C

    Adding contact details to your ESL teacher CV

    Ensuring your contact details are clearly displayed on your CV is essential. Fortunately, this section is easy to complete. However, including up-to-date information is also vital, as recruiters will use these details to get hold of you for interviews.

    This section should include:

    • Name – don’t forget to add it first
    • Address – List your full address and postcode for clarity
    • Phone number – Include a mobile number or home phone that you actually use
    • Email address – Use a work-appropriate email

    Example of contact section for ESL teacher CV

    UK contact details

    Robin Johnson
    21 Fairfield Avenue
    Ellesmere Port
    Cheshire, CH13 4ES
    07752 452500

    Spain contact details

    C/Mayor, 23 4-A
    03210 Valencia
    +34 654 321 987
    ronbinj@greatmail.com

    Start your ESL teacher CV with a personal statement

    The best way to make a great impression on potential employers by writing an impactful personal statement. This section showcases your skills, background, and qualities in a concise and positive way. This enables recruiters to get an insight into your attributes during the selection process.

    Our advice on writing a personal statement includes:

    • Write your CV in the third person
    • Keep it short and sweet, 3-4 sentences is ample
    • Use positive adjectives such as “supportive”, “organised”, and “flexible”
    • Include relevant skills and achievements
    • Detail relevant experience such as “providing one-to-one support

    Example of personal statement for ESL teacher CV

    A qualified ESL teacher with experience and progression from assistant to teaching posts in a medium-sized private language school abroad. Motivated, enthusiastic and committed to helping students make progress. Familiar with the national curriculum for English in Spanish schools.

    OR

    Friendly and passionate ESL teacher with a background in private tutoring. Experience helping second-language learners in the UK with spoken and written English. Goes above and beyond to provide support tailored to learner needs and circumstances.

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    How to present your work history on a ESL teacher CV

    ESL teacher roles typically require several years of experience in a classroom environment. Recruiters are looking to employ individuals that can hit the ground running and work well in this focused role. So, it’s important to showcase relevant experience on your ESL teacher CV.

    This section should start with your most recent job post at the top, or as it’s otherwise known, reverse-chronological order. Include details such as:

    • Start and end date
    • Job title, employer and location
    • A brief list of duties

    Fitting all your work history into this section is tricky if you have a lot of experience to highlight. However, it’s important not to repeat duties or overlap information to ensure you fit all the relevant details. For example, if you have experience with one-to-one support in one role, include your lesson planning skills in another. This provides a good insight into your overall experience and skill set.

    Example of work experience for a ESL teacher CV

    English language tutor | 123 English, Plaza de la Generalitat, Valencia, Spain | September 2014 to date

    • Teaching general English to individuals and small groups of up to six students.
    • Maintaining classroom and student records in accordance with school policy.
    • Lesson planning and designing short courses.
    • Assisting in general office and answering telephone on rota basis.

    Teaching assistant | Academia Orsitini, Calle de la Virgen de Africa, Valencia – October 2013 to June 2014

    • Working with experienced teachers with lesson preparation and delivery.
    • Teaching activities with children’s groups including songs and counting.
    • Helping to prepare materials; general teacher support as directed.

    Skills worth having on your ESL teacher CV

    ESL teacher roles are varied and require individuals with diverse skills. From providing support to planning lessons, it’s preferable to have a blend of attributes that fit the job. Highlighting these in your CV skills section is also important.

    You should include skills such as:

    Essential skills for an ESL teacher

    • Good spoken and written communication skills
    • Practical lesson planning skills
    • Positive attitude
    • Confident and friendly manner
    • Presentation skills

    Desirable aptitudes to set you apart

    • Organised
    • Flexible
    • Patience
    • Motivating
    • Reliable

    Outlining education on a ESL teacher CV

    An ESL teacher role requires candidates to have a solid educational background with typically a minimum requirement on qualifications. Candidates often need a degree-level education with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). It is also possible to apply for this position with a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) qualification.

    Recruiters notice other professional training certificates. So, include relevant certificates on your CV. The education section should include:

    • School, college, university or training provider
    • Year of qualification
    • Level of qualification, for example, BA (Hons), QTS
    • Subject or course title – don’t worry about this for high school courses

    Example education section for a ESL teacher

    Liverpool International Language Academy (2014)
    CELTA certificate

    University of Liverpool (2009-2013)
    BA (Hons) in Modern European Languages

    Liverpool College (2007-2009)
    A-levels: English language (A), Philosophy (B), Spanish (C)

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    Your ESL teacher questions answered

    What is the job description of an ESL teacher?

    The job of an ESL teacher covers a wide range of duties, including:

    • Planning and preparing lessons
    • Teaching adults or children
    • Tracking student progress
    • Creating individual student plans (if special assistance is required)
    • Liaising with other educators

    Can I teach ESL without a degree?

    Most English teaching schools and organisations require ESL teachers to have a minimum of a degree qualification. However, some tuition jobs are available where you can apply with a TEFL certificate.

    Do ESL teachers need to be bilingual?

    TSL teachers do not need to speak another language to be able to teach English as a second language. Students immerse themselves in the full scope of the language, so teachers speak and respond in English at all times. However, you should highlight on your CV if you speak another language.

    What are the qualities of a good ESL teacher?

    While skills and experiences are important when applying for an ESL teacher role, individuals must show a number of qualities to fit the position, including:

    • Collaborative
    • Empathetic
    • Patient
    • Adaptable
    • Engaging
    • Dedication
    • Demonstrator
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    Build your own ESL teacher CV

    Writing your ESL teacher CV couldn’t be easier with our handy guide and CV examples. In our CV creator you will find a range of ready-made CV templates. These will help you put everything together in a professional and clear way. The format used is simple to help you make the best impression when applying for an ESL teaching job.

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