Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Hater Depot]

I would really pretty much rather do anything else. I've started applying for jobs lately so I've been using this one. Please offer any constructive criticism you care to.

Dear So-and-so,

I recently saw your ad on Dave's ESL Cafe to teach
[middle schoolers, adults, at a public school]. I have teaching
experience in both the United States and Korea
and am very interested in your position.

My experience teaching in Korea has been both challenging and
rewarding. When I began I had not taught middle school before and
controlling the children was very dificult. But once my skills
improved and I learned the student's personalities, I was always
sorry when class was finished. I was proud to see many of the students
improve their English noticeably.

Because I am currently studying Korean at an American university, I
will not be available to start until January 2006. Attached to this
e-mail please find my photograph and resume. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Hater Depot

[hack]

I have about a 100 page word document on writing cover letters. It really helped me get into a lot of doors-but not here, I used it to look for a job in Canada. PM me with your email if you're interested and I'll email it to you. It's about a 400kb Word file.

[SPINOZA]

[YoungLi]

I sure hope you aren't going to be judging anymore spelling contests.

Who told you it was okay to start a sentence with "But" or "Because?" It's controversial in academia at best or completely frowned upon at worst.

"and am" ...................

Sorry, but that cover letter needs a LOT of work. There are way too many major problems with it to point out here.

[Hater Depot]

YoungLi, while it's clear that I made a few mistakes and you're free to post whatever you like, do please that note I asked for constructive criticism.

I do have a sense of humor though, and the weather has turned quite nice lately, so this is the last time I'll respond to your attempts to troll me. I hope this source comes from deep enough in the heart of academia for you:

[Hater Depot]

I'd like to thank SPINOZA and hack for the genuine help they offered. I feel like an idiot for not having drafted a copy editor and caught those typos, but what can you do? It's not the last time I'll do something stupid.

[rokgryphon]

Hater...I would also consider a short blurb in there about your teaching philosophy as well. It will show that you are not just going to go into class to play but you are going to play with a purpose in mind. Some accomplishments you have had in the teaching field (or academia as you are a student now) and the ways that you continually attempt to improve your teaching may also help to turn some heads.
R.G.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I have 3 years teaching
experience in the United States and 2 years in Korea
and am very interested in your position.

My experience teaching in Korea has been both challenging and
rewarding. I was proud to see many of the students
improve their English noticeably.

I am currently studying Korean at an American university, so I
will not be available to start until January 2006. Attached to this
e-mail please find my photograph and resume. Thank you.


***
I've had some experience reading piles of cover letters. What you have now is an acceptable basic letter. What it needs is some pizzazz--some detail to make it stand out from the others. Avoid the weird (that needs to be said because some people don't seem to have a weirdness guage) but try to think of something that will stay in the reader's mind even after reading 26 other letters.

[canukteacher]

I would include more detail about your teaching experience. Where did you teach, i.e. public school, university, private institute, etc. What did you teach? Computer skills are also looked at favorably.

The fact that you are learning Korean should really impress them. I think you should make this sound more positive. For example:

I am currently studying Korean here in the United States. I will be available to begin teaching in January 2006.

You can probably do better than that. What I am getting at here, is get rid of the negative.

Good luck!

CT

[Manner of Speaking]

Hater Depot,

You know a thread on pointers for writing cover letters is not a bad idea. People could post their cover letters here for constructive feedback. Good idea...thanks for starting the thread. And good luck with your job hunting.

Cheers,

MOS