English as a Second Language Teacher Resume Guide + Tips + Example

Kellie Hanna by Kellie Hanna, Content Strategist, Career Advice Expert
Updated on February 13, 2023
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Want a job as an English as a Second Language Teacher? Then you need a great English as a Second Language 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.

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English as a Second Language Teacher 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 English as a Second Language Teacher resume

  1. 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.

  2. 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. If you are applying for your first job or changing careers, use the English as a Second Language Teacher resume objective instead.

  3. 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. It’s best to include both hard and soft skills, such as excellent reading, writing and speaking skills and interpersonal communication.

  4. Work History

    Whether this is your first job or you’ve been at it for decades, a resume for an English as a Second Language Teacher must include a section to display your job history. In reverse-chronological order, show your current and previous employers and provide company names, locations and the dates you worked for them. Include three bullet points of measurable achievements for every job you list.

  5. Education

    An English as a Second Language Teacher resume must include an education section, whether or not you have a degree. In reverse-chronological order, display the names of the schools and the years you graduated using bullet points. If you did not attend college, list your high school information and the classes you’ve taken since graduating.

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Action words for a stand-out English as a Second Language Teacher resume

Use action words and numbers to add impact to your resume.

Here’s a short list of perfect action words for an English as a Second Language Teacher resume:

  • 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!

Need a professional resume now? Our Resume Builder has all the tools you need to create a professional resume in minutes! Just fill in one of our templates, and you can make edits as you go, download your finished resume and save it in any file format you want. It really is that easy!

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 English as a Second Language 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)
  • English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
  • English as a New Language (ENL) 
  • English Language Learner (ELL)

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English as a Second Language Teacher resume FAQ

  1. 1. What is the right way to include keywords in an English as a Second Language 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.

  2. 2. What does an English as a Second Language 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.

  3. 3. What is the right format for an English as a Second Language 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.

Do’s and don’ts for building an English as a Second Language 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.
  • Use keywords 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 English as a Second Language Teacher experience and skills.
  • Boast that you’re the “best English as a Second Language Teacher ever.”
  • 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. An English as a Second Language Teacher resume with errors is unprofessional.

Top 4 tips for acing an English as a Second Language Teacher interview

  1. Research.

    It’s vital to take the time to learn about the school’s history, goals, values and people before the interview. Doing so conveys interest, passion and commitment — traits that can set you above the competition.

  2. Practice.

    Practice really does make perfect. To prepare for your interview, start by reviewing the most common interview questions, such as: 

    Write down two or three possible answers for each question, then practice answering them with a friend.

  3. Ask questions.

    Always have at least three questions ready for each person you speak with during the interview process. Doing so shows that you’re interested and that you’ve been paying close attention.

    Some questions you might ask for an English as a Second Language Teacher job are: 

    • What is the school’s biggest accomplishment this year?
    • What are the biggest challenges of this role?
    • What are the expectations of this role?

  4. 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.

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Kellie Hanna

Kellie Hanna

Content Strategist, Career Advice Expert

Kellie is the content strategist for My Perfect Resume. She has more than 20 years of experience in digital media and is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She has a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.

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