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Big Poppa Pump
Joined: 28 May 2010
Posts: 167
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 Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 12:29 pm Post subject: |
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| GF wrote: |
I used to assist past directors in interviewing potential teachers and now I own my own language school and I can attest that some of the Celta crowd have overblown egos too. I particularly despise Celta holders without university qualifications who look down on teachers who have taken the time and trouble to complete a degree and get certified to teach in schools but don't have a Celta. I would take a certified teacher any day over a Celta candidate, especially here in Estonia. Celta/Delta certificates get no respect from adult students or parents of children.
Pet Peeve: I go absolutely ballistic when I receive a CV with a cover letter that is 2, 3, or even 5 pages long!!! Candidates need to boil it down to half a page or less or risk getting their CV binned from the start. |
I'd personally prefer to turn away people without any sort of degree. To me a degree in any particular subject demonstrates a certain level of academic achievement. I've worked with some very good TEFL cert holders and some down right awful ones as well. A degree in Education doesn't mean much to me in the context of the language center I work at. The curriculum is laid out in a straight line that must be adhered to by the letter or the universe will explode.
If I ever get into the position to do some hiring for an organization that allows a wide range of classroom freedom, allows the teachers to design their own curriculum, and encourages the use of creative instruction beyond an ESL text I definitely would be looking for properly credentialed teachers.
But at the language center I manage now, pbbtt.. the ones with over-developed egos of any sort of qualification are annoying and not worth the energy.
Speaking of TEFL certs..
Damn, what is with Languagecorp?
uggh..
Utterly can not agree more about your bit regarding the CV. One page for a resume, one page for a cover letter, and keep it all very basic and understandable as the directors may not have a very high level of English. |
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artemisia
Joined: 04 Nov 2008
Posts: 875
Location: the world
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| Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 12:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Pet Peeve: I go absolutely ballistic when I receive a CV with a cover letter that is 2, 3, or even 5 pages long!!! Candidates need to boil it down to half a page or less or risk getting their CV binned from the start. |
I assume you're referring to the cover letter being 2-5 pages long and not combined with the CV. Above two pages would be excessive for a cover letter and it's probably best to keep it to one. Unless you're about 18 yrs and not done much, half a page or less would be pushing it to write something decent. Perhaps that's what some language schools want. |
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GF
Joined: 08 Jun 2003
Posts: 238
Location: Tallinn
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| Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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| artemisia wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Pet Peeve: I go absolutely ballistic when I receive a CV with a cover letter that is 2, 3, or even 5 pages long!!! Candidates need to boil it down to half a page or less or risk getting their CV binned from the start. |
I assume you're referring to the cover letter being 2-5 pages long and not combined with the CV. Above two pages would be excessive for a cover letter and it's probably best to keep it to one. Unless you're about 18 yrs and not done much, half a page or less would be pushing it to write something decent. Perhaps that's what some language schools want. |
Yes, I meant the cover letter alone. Over the summer I received an epic tome that was so long that I refused to read it or do more than take a cursory glance at the attached CV to see how old the applicant was. The guy was in his upper twenties so I didn't see the need for such a long cover letter. My wife read it and it was a blow-by-blow account of everything he did since leaving high school. I did warn her that reading it would be a waste of time. However, we met a Spanish teacher from Russia who is in his sixties and has such qualifications and experience that I would read a 5-page cover letter from him.
Another point about cover letters: Never, EVER say that the reason you are moving to the country in question is for a boy/girlfriend. That is the kiss of death for a CV as we all know what will happen next if something happens to the relationship. |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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| Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Another point about cover letters: Never, EVER say that the reason you are moving to the country in question is for a boy/girlfriend. That is the kiss of death for a CV as we all know what will happen next if something happens to the relationship. |
Incredible.  Do job applicants actually give that as a reason for applying for a job in a particular country? How old are these uninformed idiots? |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 5:00 pm Post subject: |
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Actually, maybe this advice should be kept under wraps. Why lose such a clear indicator of a non-starter as a teacher?
Some knowledge might be better kept in state secret status inside the ranks of those of us who sometimes hire teachers  |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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Hic! I nearly always turn down any applicants who send a 'cover' letter. But I always send an email of explanation and sign it as 'The Manage Director', hic!
But if said applicant has a nice bright smile and a dazzling set of eyes, then she'll probably be accepted anyway. Hey, I mean, there have to be some perks in the job right?
Hic!  |
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bdbarnett1
Joined: 27 Apr 2003
Posts: 178
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
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| Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Why on earth would you turn down someone who writes a cover letter?! |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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Because of my mood, usually black when forced to trawl through reams upon reams of CVs. Unless I receive a properly called 'covering' letter. Then I may give it more than a cursory glance...
An autocratic whim, perhaps, but hey, absolute power.... |
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GF
Joined: 08 Jun 2003
Posts: 238
Location: Tallinn
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| Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Another point about cover letters: Never, EVER say that the reason you are moving to the country in question is for a boy/girlfriend. That is the kiss of death for a CV as we all know what will happen next if something happens to the relationship. |
Incredible. Do job applicants actually give that as a reason for applying for a job in a particular country? How old are these uninformed idiots? |
I've had two so far and both were guys in their twenties. One didn't know I knew his girlfriend through her father and that she was planning to leave the country in a few months! |
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mozzar
Joined: 16 May 2009
Posts: 339
Location: France
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| Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Sashadroogie wrote: |
Hic! I nearly always turn down any applicants who send a 'cover' letter. But I always send an email of explanation and sign it as 'The Manage Director', hic!
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What? Have I misinterpreted the tone here? You turn down people with cover letters based on a whim? A cover letter is reccommended when applying for any job by nearly all agencies, business people and experts. |
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bdbarnett1
Joined: 27 Apr 2003
Posts: 178
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
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| Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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| mozzar wrote: |
| Sashadroogie wrote: |
Hic! I nearly always turn down any applicants who send a 'cover' letter. But I always send an email of explanation and sign it as 'The Manage Director', hic!
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What? Have I misinterpreted the tone here? You turn down people with cover letters based on a whim? A cover letter is reccommended when applying for any job by nearly all agencies, business people and experts. |
He seems to prefer that people refer to the letter as a "covering" letter, which would rule out almost everyone. Guess he wants to keep it in the family! |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 10:57 pm Post subject: |
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'Covering letter'. A standard term. Just like 'managing director'. Look it up if you don't believe me, or if it upsets you.
And is this not as balanced a reason to reject an applicant as their having a CELTA or DELTA but not some other certification? Some other very strange comments on this thread... |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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| Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 10:59 pm Post subject: |
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In the United States (and perhaps in other countries), the proper term is "cover letter".
Last edited by Isla Guapa on Sun Sep 26, 2010 11:13 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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bdbarnett1
Joined: 27 Apr 2003
Posts: 178
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
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| Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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So...using a different word due to having a different Standarding Englishing dialect (we're not talking Konglishing here!) is the same as a person missing a certification to teach? Tell me, should I use "take away" or "drive thru"...don't want to offend!
The strange comments are coming from you, comrade. Remind me not to apply where you hire so I can save myself some trouble. |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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To Isla Guapa
Yes, thank you, I know. But are you suggesting that 'covering letter' is somehow an improper term? Surely not? But just in case:
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/covering_letters.htm |
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