ESL Teacher Resume Examples & Templates
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Want a job as an English as a second language (ESL) teacher? Then you need a great ESL teacher resume. We’re here to help. Use our guide to create a stand-out resume for an English as a second language teacher and make the most of your presentation and interpersonal skills.
This ESL resume will help you stand out and highlight your sought-after skills, like curriculum development, cultural competence and innovative lessons.
Start by editing this ESL teacher resume sample or explore our library of customizable resume templates to find the best resume template for you.
English as a second language resume example (text version)
Georgia Lane
Denver, CO 80111
(555) 555-5555
example@example.com
Professional Summary
Dedicated ESL teacher focused on providing an innovative, fun and inspiring classroom. Track record of encouraging students to master English while also nurturing their love of the language. Committed to finding new methods to get better results and improve the ESL program.
Skills
- Curriculum development
- Administration
- Classroom management
- Verbal and written communication
- Mentoring
- Leadership
- Interpersonal skills
- Group and individual instruction
Work History
July 2018 – Current
The New America School – Denver, CO
ESL Teacher
- Create lesson plans, including developing assignments, activities and projects, and scheduling special events.
- Teach five classes each day with an average of 22 students each, including beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.
- Use technology to develop interactive teaching activities.
- Encourage students to use English in their daily lives to increase proficiency.
- Work with students during planning period to help them catch up or tackle topics they are struggling with.
- Develop six special events per year to help students showcase their newly acquired language skills.
- Created an ESL newsletter with 2,000 subscribers that comes out monthly and provides fun information to encourage the practice of English outside the classroom.
September 2013 – June 2018
STRIVE Prep – Denver, CO
Spanish Teacher
- Developed lesson plans for four classes with 20 students, each with different proficiency levels.
- Created activities and assignments to encourage and assist students with language acquisition.
- Encouraged students through five special events and fun activities per semester.
- Used technology to make learning Spanish fun.
- Worked with students who were falling behind to bring them to the same level as the rest of the class, with a 95% of success rate.
- Took students on a yearly trip to Spain to immerse them in Spanish culture.
June 2010 – August 2013
Rocky Mountain Prep – Denver, CO
English Teacher
- Prepared and implemented lesson plans covering required course topics.
- Led interesting and diverse group activities to engage four groups of 21 students in the course material.
- Utilized multimedia strategies and technology to convey information in fresh and interesting ways, improving students’ progress by 35%.
- Administered assessments and standardized tests to evaluate student progress.
Education
- University of Colorado, Denver Denver, CO
Master of Arts - Dual Master in Spanish and English
- University of Colorado, Denver Denver, CO
Bachelor of Arts English Education - State of Colorado Teacher’s Licensure, Colorado Department of Education
Languages
- English
Native or Bilingual - Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Certifications
- English as a Second Language (ESL)
- English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
5 essentials of a top ESL teacher resume
Contact details
Add your contact information to the top of your resume so hiring managers can contact you. As our English as a second language teacher resume example shows, your contact information must include your full name, your city, state and ZIP code, phone number and professional email address. If you have a LinkedIn profile and professional website, add them last.
Personal statement
A personal statement, also known as a professional summary, is a concise, three-to-five-sentence statement that tells the hiring manager who you are and what you offer. Your summary must include job-relevant skills and one or two notable accomplishments. It should also touch on how long you’ve been in the industry.
For example: “Fulbright ESL Teacher with two years of teaching experience in Southeast Asia. Committed to maintaining a culturally competent classroom through innovative lessons. TESOL certified.”
If you are applying for your first job or changing careers, use an ESL teacher resume objective instead.
Skills
Create a skills section on your resume so hiring managers can see if you match their needs. Add your job-relevant skills to a bulleted list on your ESL teacher resume. It’s best to include both hard and soft skills, such as excellent reading, writing and speaking skills and interpersonal communication.
Work History
Your professional history showcases where you’ve worked and what you’ve accomplished. Start with your current or most recent position and work your way backward. On each entry, include the name of the employer, dates of employment and location.
Underneath, list three professional quantifiable achievements. For example:
- Created individualized lesson plans for 15 students at intermediate and advanced levels.
- Developed an engaging curriculum for teenage group instruction of 25 students at a basic level using current cultural, sports and social media references.
- Administered oral assessments and written evaluations for 30 students.
If this is your first ESL teacher job, include other relevant work experience, like volunteer experiences, community services, professional projects and more.
Education
Start with your highest level of education; include the institution’s name, degree and graduation date.
For example:
Master of Arts Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
American University. Washington, DC
Expected Graduation December 2025If your graduation date was 10 years ago or more, skip it. If you did not attend college, list your high school and any other post-high school course you’ve completed.
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Action words for a stand-out English as a Second Language Teacher resume
Your accomplishments need action words to showcase what you bring to the table. These verbs empower your accomplishments and abilities.
For example, “Developed advanced lesson plans for four individual students and basic lesson plans for groups of 12 students” shows your expertise and volume of work better than “Created class material for groups.”
A few examples of action verbs for an ESL teacher resume are:
- Teach
- Mentor
- Present
- Create
- Develop
- Encourage
- Optimize
- Improve
- Train
- Leverage
- Develop
- Support
- Manage
- Help
Check out our collection of resume samples to help you write a top-quality resume for an English as a Second Language Teacher job. You’ll surely find English as a Second Language Teacher resume examples to inspire you!
Our Resume Builder can help you build a work history using strong action verbs to combine with your quantifiable accomplishments. Check out our 800+ resume examples to help you create the perfect ESL teacher resume.
Top skills for an English as a second language teacher resume
Review the job description closely and match the required skills to the skills and traits that fit you.
As an English as a second language teacher, your skills might include the following:
- Administration
- Leadership
- Organization
- Verbal communication
- Written communication
- Presentation
- Mentoring
- Active listening
- Interpersonal skills
- Language
Certifications for an ESL teacher resume
English as a Second Language Teachers are expected to be certified to teach in public schools. Certification requirements and programs vary by state, and include:
- English as a Second Language (ESL)
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
- English as a New Language (ENL)
- English Language Learner (ELL)
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
If you’re still working toward the certification, you can include it with the expected completion date.
Pair your resume with a matching cover letter
English as a Second Language Teacher resume FAQ
How to write a resume for an ESL teacher position?
To write an ESL teacher resume, use this guide to optimize each section. Use the job description as a guide to tailor your resume to the position. This will catch the potential employer’s attention. Then, complete the basic sections:
- A header with your current contact information.
- A professional summary with your strongest skills and an achievement.
- A thoroughly balanced skills section with 6-12 skills.
- Your work history with quantifiable achievements.
- Your education section starting with your highest degree.
Then, move on to optional sections to help you stand out from other candidates, like:
- Certifications and licenses
- Professional memberships or associations
- Volunteer experience
Create an effective resume quickly and easily with our Resume Builder, which provides step-by-step guidance and editable content suggestions.
How to put an assistant ESL teaching position on a resume?
If your role was as an Assistant ESL Teacher, use it as the position name for your work history. For example:
Assistant ESL Teacher
International School
If you performed assistant ESL teacher duties as part of your role, for example, aiding other teachers with more experience or as support for a large group, list it under your work history achievements.
For example:
- Acted as an assistant ESL teacher to school director’s Business English class for new executives.
What is the right way to include keywords in an ESL teacher resume?
Having the right keywords in your resume is more important than ever, as employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan resumes based on keywords. Browse through the job requirements and find words that spell out the job’s major requirements, such as “excellent English reading, writing and speaking skills” or “effective classroom management.” Then match these keywords with your abilities and work experiences, and include them in your resume. For example, you could include a skill like “Efficiently taught 75+ students per semester” in your work history section.
What does an ESL teacher resume look like?
There is no standard English as a second language teacher resume template; you can use any of our resume templates and customize them for the job you want. A good resume for an English as a second language teacher will look like the sample resume on this page. It must display the job seeker’s contact information, various hard and soft skills, job history, education and certifications, if applicable. Your resume might also contain sections for awards and honors if the job candidate has them to display.
What is the right format for an ESL teacher resume?
The resume format you use depends on your experience and goals. If you have a few years of experience in teaching ESL, choose the combination resume format, which highlights your noteworthy work history and skills. If you’re a fresh college graduate or are just breaking into education, go with the functional resume format, which focuses on your skills and training. If you have more than five years of experience, go with a chronological resume format, which leans heavily on your work achievements. Refer to resume examples for English as a second language teachers to find the best format for you.
How to describe beginner ESL teaching tasks on a resume?
If you are specialized in teaching basic ESL to your students, simply specify it on your work history accomplishments.
For example:
ESL Teacher June 2023 – Present
American School
- Teach ESL to 40 beginner students weekly, emphasizing with special assignments to familiarize students with the American culture.
Do’s and don’ts for building an ESL teacher resume
- Use measurable achievements to describe your English as a Second Language Teacher abilities and experience.
- Use action words to impact your English as a Second Language Teacher resume.
- Tailor your resume to your target English as a Second Language Teacher job.
- Usekeywords from the job description throughout your English as a Second Language Teacher resume.
- Format your English as a Second Language Teacher resume so that it is easy to read by ATS software and human eyes.
- Lie about your ESL teacher experience and skills.
- Boast about your qualifications.
- Include irrelevant personal information such as your ethnicity and age.
- Add skills and experience not pertaining to being an English as a second language teacher.
- Forget to proofread your ESL teacher resume.
Top 4 tips for acing an English as a Second Language Teacher interview
Research.
As you start to work on your application, start researching your potential employer. Use their official web channels, media and current or previous employees you might know. This research will help you answer the employer’s questions and create your own.
Practice.
Prepare by practicing an interview with the help of a friend or relative. Start by reviewing the most common interview questions, such as:
- Why Did you Choose This Career?
- Why Should We Hire You Over Other Candidates?
- What’s Your Availability?
Research more examples of interview questions and practice with your interview partner. You can write down your answers or jot down a few points as you prepare. Ask your partner for feedback and work to improve. Also, don’t forget to mind your body language as it speaks before you even utter a word.
Be proactive and ask questions.
You are also interviewing the employer. Your questions will help you determine if they’re the right fit for you and if this role and company align with your career goals. Create questions to find out more. For example:
- Why did you choose this school or institution?
- How has the role changed since you started?
- What are the expectations for a new teacher?
- How do you evaluate performance?
- How do you protect teachers during conflict with students?
Use open-ended questions (Why, How, What) and give the interviewer enough time to answer them. Remember, you can bring a small notebook or piece of paper to remember everything you want to ask and write down their answers.
Prepare references.
Have professional references ready before you enter your interview — you never know if the hiring manager might want to contact them immediately. Ask a former principal and two former colleagues who can speak about your performance and who you know will give you an excellent review. If this is your first job interview, ask a former teacher or professor.
Cover letter examples for the next step in your teaching career
- Adjunct Professor Cover Letter
- Assistant Teacher Cover Letter
- Elementary Teacher
- Graduate Assistant Cover Letter
- Instructor Cover Letter
- Kindergarten Teacher
- Master Teacher Cover Letter
- Preschool Teacher Cover Letter
- Student Assistant
- Student Teacher Cover Letter
- Summer Teacher Cover Letter
- Teacher
- Teaching Assistant Cover Letter
- Tutor Cover Letter
- Teacher’s Aide Cover Letter
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ESL Teacher Resume Example
Kellie is a career advice writer. She is committed to helping job seekers navigate the job market and succeed in their careers.
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