Job Discussion Forums

[rockymtgrrl]

Hello everyone,

I have been asked by several schools I�m applying to to provide references and recommendation letters. I have two questions about this process.

First, who do schools like to hear from for recommendations? My TESOL instructor? Former students? Non-ESL-related former employers? I haven�t had much prior work experience in ESL, obviously, so I�m not sure who to ask to write these letters for me.

Second, what is the proper tone for these letters? Should they be enthusiastic and gushing, or mellow and professional? What attributes should they focus on? The people I�ve approached about writing these for me have asked me what I want them to say, and I�d like to have some ideas about what to tell them.

Thanks very much! I hope these aren�t silly questions.

[dagi]

I don't think these questions are silly! I asked my employer to write letters of reference for job applications. One was done ok, all according to the standards. But the second letter I got!! When I read through it I really wondered if the person who wrote it was kidding me or just wanted to kick ass. It wasn't even signed and there so many grammar and spelling mistakes in it, there is no way I can present that to a prospective employer.

[Glenski]

If you have references from employers in the EFL field, those would rank the highest in merit.

After that would probably be either non-teaching employers or your EFL/ESL instructors. It might depend on how long ago you had contact with them.

After that would be anyone with some sort of professional acquaintance -- a coworker, for example -- or someone that appears to have personal merit of some sort.

I wouldn't use my own students as references. Or friends or relatives.

Reference letters should state the relationship you have/had with that person, plus describe your character and ability to do the job, preferably teaching but if you have a non-teaching reference, it should at least state your attitude and ability to learn on the job. Reviewers can sense B.S. so avoid the "gushing" style of remarks. If they know you have little to no experience teaching, they will simply expect to see a good character reference without getting hip deep in obvious whitewashing.

[tesol1]

As a TESOL course director and course tutor I have to write references for my teacher trainees all the time. Avoiding the "gushy" style seems to be appropriate, focusing on the graduate's strengths demonstrated on the course.

My graduates have all found successful employment, much of which may be attributable to the fact that their reference letters focus on their accomplishments on my course, verbalizing how those successes would translate into ESL terminology most DOS's are familiar with, and making apparent how those successes on the course would translate into successes on a job.

Applying the appropriate ESL terminology also makes the reference more credible. This makes the bearer more employable as well.

I have, as well, always previously had great success obtaining work with letters from my TESOL instructors, colleagues, and employers. Of these, the TESOL instructor letters are probably best when starting out, while the letters from employers and colleagues would serve to indicate greater experience.