The Thread

How to write a cover letter

In a nutshell, your cover letter should say, “I’m the right person for the job. I have unique skills and experience that will help your company right away. I hope you’re as excited about this as I am”.
The accompanying resume should then prove your case.

Put another way, the cover letter is the advertisement for your resume.
An effective cover letter establishes an immediate bond between reader and job applicant. It should demand attention and arouse enough curiosity in the mind of the reader to ensure that your resume is read thoroughly.

Six things you must do in your cover letter
To get your resume read, and to get that job interview, your cover letter must do the following:

1. Focus on the needs of the employer and how you would solve her problems, contribute to her bottom line, etc. Employers have problems. That’s why they’re hiring! Your cover letter should say (although not in so many words): “I’m the answer to your problems.”
2. Display knowledge of the hiring company. With the wealth of company information now available on the Internet and most public libraries, you should be able to drop one or two facts/names into your cover letter that show you’ve done your homework on the company and it’s specific products, needs, challenges, etc. Most job applicants simply ask for a job. If you can offer specific suggestions that will work right away for a company, they will call you.
3. Briefly state your best qualifications AND achievements. Don’t spend a lot of time rehashing your resume. But do include enough tidbits to generate interest in the mind of the reader. Because cover letters and resumes do get separated (I know this from experience!) it’s important to write a cover letter that will make readers want to pick up the phone and call you even if they’ve never seen your resume.
4. Show your enthusiasm about the job you want. Avoid sounding like 90% of applicants, who say (not in so many words): “Give me a job where I can advance and make more money.” Instead, convey this sense: “I’m excited about the possibility of brining my skills and expertise to work for you.” This should be the main theme of your cover letter.
5. State that you will follow up to schedule an interview. This is not considered rude by employers. Far from it. If you politely inform the reader that you’ll be calling within a few days to answer any questions and schedule an in-person interview, you set yourself apart from the crowd with your determination and confidence. Your persistence will pay off, eventually, in an interview for the job you want. And an interview is the goal of every cover letter.
6. Keep your letter short and focused. This is perhaps the biggest challenge of all. Most cover letters, even those done by professional resume writers, ramble on in excruciating detail for one or even two full pages. Show respect for the limited time your reader has and limit yourself to four, five or six paragraphs at most.

Four mistakes to avoid
To avoid being tossed in the “circular file”, there are some things your cover letter should never do.
Here are four of the most common mistakes to avoid:

1. Don’t start off slow. Far too many cover letters take one, two or even three paragraphs to warm up. Start yours with a bang, like this: “I’m applying for the position of Caretaker at the Troy location of White Tower Apartments, as advertised in the Daily Tribune.” Here’s an easy way to find your best opening. First, write a draft copy of your letter. Second, look down the page for a concise statement that gets right to the point. Now, cut out the preceding text. Voila. You now have a powerful beginning for your cover letter.
2. Don’t talk about your career goals. Avoid statements like, “I seek a position where my skills will be utilized and recognized with further advancement.” This selfish attitude will turn off more readers than it will ever impress. Besides, if you’ve done your homework, you’ll only be applying to companies that recognize and promote ability. Don’t waste the reader’s time by making demands before the two of you have ever met.
3. Never, EVER mention salary. Even if the classified ad requests a salary history. Reason? Employers use salary histories to screen out candidates who are too expensive or not experienced/sophisticated enough to have made enough money previously. Including a salary history can only hurt your chances. It can never help. Solution? Include these five magic words near the end of your letter: “My salary requirements are negotiable”.
4. Never mention why you left a previous job. Some people feel compelled to explain why they stayed so long (or so briefly) at prior jobs. Don’t. Prepare your answers for any hard questions about your employment history … then save them for the job interview. This is no time for confessions. Don’t include anything in your cover letter that could result in doors being closed.

A word about style. There are still some who say a cover letter should never contain contractions, such as “I’m” or “you’re”. Nonsense. Contractions are perfectly acceptable in modern business correspondence. Cover letters are no exception. Having said that, if you feel uncomfortable using contractions, don’t. Just be sure you maintain a consistent style throughout your letter.

Visit http://www.resumetemplates.org Offering resume and cover letter templates to download, writing tips and an interview guide.

Learn The Chinese language, culture and people while gaining valuable teaching experience. I am an American Business man opening a chain of small English language and Bilingual schools in china. I have Chinese school teachers as business partners whom I have know for a number of years. I been to China numerous times and studied the possibility to doing this for a years now. I really think its a great project and a great way the Chinese to learn about America and share our cultures.

Our target market are lower middle income Chinese in smaller cities. The average annual income of married couple is $5500 to $11,000 USD. They are the backbone of working modern China. They can afford more than public school. But can’t afford expensive western operated language schools. These are wonderful people looking to improve and broaden the education of their children within their means.

I am offering an excellent opportunity to young teachers or any teacher interested in learning the Chinese Language, getting experience in teaching in a foreign country.Getting experience to eventually teach at a high paying private school in china or who just wants a little excitement and free travel in safety in China.

My desire is to have folks who really love teaching and children. I will also consider folks with other than teaching degrees and undergrads in some cases.

All native English speaking teachers will be assisting fully qualified Chinese English school teachers. No native English speaking teachers will be ask to teach on their own. No one will throw you into the fire trying to teach English without speaking the students native tongue.

Learn from some of what I consider to be the best teachers in the world. Teaching some of the most motivated and disciplined students in the world. Public school classes in rural China have between 60 and 80 students. Have no air conditioning or heat and a chalkboard to work with. No other resources. Our Chinese teachers have years of experience of doing everything with nothing. They are wonderful highly motivated teachers who love westerners and the western culture. They will teach you more about teaching, Chinese and China in a year than you could learn in a life time from books and schools. You will be safe, well taken care of and feel truly appreciated for who you are.

What we are offering:

· All expenses for travel to and from your working city in China. Including cost for Visas, passports, plane tickets. ect.

· A clean furnished Chinese style flat to live in. With all utilities paid for. Includes internet, TV includes some Chinese English channels. I will have all the flats painted and newly decorated as required. A chinese chaperone will be living near by and available 24 hours a day for assistance.

· Free escorted trips to 5 locations in China. Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Dazu or other historic locations in China. As a group the western student teachers can request a trip to a certain location.

· Chinese Languages classes 5 days a week.

· Chinese History and culture classes 3 days a week.

· A personal Chinese mentor.

· A monthly stipend equal to Chinese teachers pay (about $550 USD a month).

· The first school will be located in Daye City China. Examples of the cost of living are: about 60 cents for a taxi ride from one end of the city to the other. A bottle of water is about 15 cents.

Our school with be modern even by US standards. Class size will be between 12 and 25 students depending on the age group and subject. The ages will be from 3 years of age to Adult. It will be a great environment to both teach and learn. Our focus is totally on the student.

For more information please contact me at phillembreeatdayecityschool.info

Teaching in a foreign land might be a good decision in your carreer. It may open your eyes to the world and proved to be an unprecedented cultural awakening. You immerse yourselves in foreign languages, strengthened your independence, made life-long friends, and earn valuable experience in your teaching profile. You would be  able to witness a different way of life and gain a better understanding of todays global community. Here is some common questions may come to your mind, “Should I teach abroad?  Where do I want to travel?  Can I fulfill all the required qualifications? on time?  What if I don’t speak a foreign language?  What do I want to accomplish while I’m abroad?”  Well, in this article we are going to discuss some of the facts prior leaving for a teaching job abroad.

Teachinging abroad for a summer, quarter, semester, or year will give you a fresh perspective on yourself, and the world. By living in a foreign country you will constantly challenge yourself in many new and exciting ways and gain a level of independence you never knew you had. Staying abroad will expose you to diverse people and viewpoints, and you will get to experience a different way of life apart from yours home country. You will be immersed in the language, culture, and people of your host country and will get to experience life as a resident, not as a mere tourist. By studying foreign cultures and languages , living & teach abroad, we gain a better understanding of life global issues,history,geography and the arts of of foreign country.

Today’s competitive job market requires applicants to distinguish themselves, and international teaching experience is the perfect way to do so.  Having international teaching & education experience is an incredible resume booster, as it shows prospective employers you are motivated, independent, and generally more qualified.  Additionally, obtaining foreign language skills can make you eligible for all sorts of jobs that you may have otherwise been unqualified for.Not only can you work towards fulfilling your language requirement while abroad, but you may also fulfill several general requirements by taking electives.  When you return from abroad you may actually be ahead of your classmates who stayed behind.

Written By

James Smith

Smith1656@gmail.com

After two extended visits to Japan, and following other travels, I
returned to Canada. While I had plenty to keep myself busy, it quickly
became apparent that Japan was never far from my thoughts. I slowly began
taking steps toward my return, including obtaining my TESL certification,
further preparing me to return to the ESL field I have missed so much.
Why Japan, one might ask, and the answer is often difficult to provide in
summary but, most simply, I remain utterly fascinated by the Land of the
Rising Sun. The mammoth infrastructure of the cities, the public
transportation systems and all the other modern innovations capture the
imagination. This is in an important contrast to the natural beauty of
Japan and its evolving blend of ancient traditions with futuristic
visions. Everything about Japan, from the practical to the cultural, draws
me in and I have so much more to learn, to explore.  I very much welcome
the chance to do so.
As for the attraction to ESL, it is certainly more than the opportunities
it provides for international exposure, its a career to which I continue
to build my interest and abilities. Apart from my prior teaching
experience, my education and experience as a communications professional
have, I feel, prepared me a great deal for this line of work and I relish
the chance to dive back into the unique challenges and rewards of being an
ESL instructor.
An effective teacher should strive to provide and maintain a positive and
supportive learning environment to facilitate second language learning and
student growth. As a teacher, my aim is to create a dynamic learning
atmosphere that respects and appeals to the learning styles of all
students and encourages them to participate, thereby strengthening their
own learning experience.
I believe I have the skills, experience, and aptitude to be a successful
ESL instructor. I have also expressed, briefly, my strong desire to return
to Japan. I am hopeful that my positive experience with Oxford Seminars
will be further realized through its Teacher Placement program. The
resources and support offered by Oxford are key in providing instructors
with everything they need to create a positive, successful teaching
experience.

It is a great pleasure for me sharing my vision , teaching ideas with the community.

Sincerely,

Joseph A. Armstrong, BAC.
Suite 208, 104-1240 Kensington Rd NW
Calgary, Canada T2N 4X7
joe.armstrong@gmail.com

In China:

A strong and growing market exists, particularly in major cities and more developed coastal areas, especially as English is increasingly seen as a ‘must have’ in the larger, outwardly facing companies.

Though the market is currently dominated by adult learners, there is continued strong growth in the young learners market which presents a number of opportunities to UK providers & other organisations providing resource to meet with such growing demand.

The EL market is seemingly unaffected by the global economic downturn; in fact it may well increase the importance of learning English as competition for jobs becomes more intense. Previous research has shown that in the coming years the ELT market is expected to reach a high of 2 billion learners worldwide. The British Council’s latest research, carried out by Ipsos MORI, estimates the learning population in India alone at nearly 250 million people, with a further 300 million in China. This latest analysis demonstrates that the UK must respond to this growing demand, but in a way that looks to the future and lays the ground for long-term sustainable partnerships in learning with other countries. India and China show that as development spreads from major cities the demand for English intensifies.

Martin Davidson, Chief Executive of the British Council, said “The demand for English Language learning is huge and continues to grow, and with an estimated 550 million learners in India and China alone meeting this demand is beyond the means of any one organization. It will require a concerted response from the UK if we are to remain a partner of choice with governments overseas.”

At an event that saw some of the leading figures in the UK ELT industry hear from experts and British Council specialists from the two countries, the research addressed some of the most pressing questions the industry will face in the next decade, including not only who wants to learn English but what form of English language services will be required as their economies and populations continue to develop.

Maya Menon, Director of The Teacher Foundation, Bangalore said “India is complex and is grappling with many challenges, but today it is also a land with tremendous opportunities.  Providing access to English language is important in creating a level playing field and erasing the years of disparities that many Indians have faced in educational opportunities. To be able to do this, one of the key challenges is to improve the proficiency of the 4 million teachers of English in India. There are many opportunities for UK providers in India, especially if they partner with the government or with Indian organisations.”

Professor Gu Yueguo, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Beijing Foreign Studies University said “English continues to provide a window to the outside world for Chinese language learners from all walks of life. The shortage of qualified teachers of English in China has created a bottleneck in demand, but this provides the biggest opportunity for UK providers.”

Highlights from the research show that In India:

There is a large and growing market for English language services.

Whilst English is taught in all schools, the latest findings demonstrate that it may not be necessarily taught well, with an emphasis on passing tests rather than a real understanding.

This presents very real opportunities for all potential organisations to help the teaching of English in schools.

22 languages recognised by the Indian constitution.
Hindi is the ‘official’ language, but spoken by only 50% of the population (IMRB, 2008).
English is therefore key for internal communication:
–Part of colonial legacy
–Part of education system from school onwards (either as medium of instruction or second language, depending on State)
–High social status
–Second most widely read and spoken language in India after Hindi – 15% have speaking, writing and reading capabilities in English compared to 40% for Hindi (National Readership Survey)
Indications that more popular for things like test preparation, tutoring in school curriculum etc
But only 50 million people in India have internet access  (IAMAI, 2008)*
Rapid adoption of mobile based access to the internet may change this.
A special report in BusinessWeek in 2007 described how the Indian Cellular Association forecasts 200 million people will sign on to the internet with their mobile phones by 2010.

Need further resouce? Please visit : www.britishcouncil.org

About Stafford House

Stafford House is a long-established name in the EFL field which started as a sixth-form college in 1952. It is now based in Canterbury, with two sister organisations:

Stafford House Study Holidays - specialising in EFL summer courses across the UK.
CATS Canterbury - a sixth-form college offering A levels and University Foundation Courses.
Stafford House School of English - which offers year round and short intensive English courses in Canterbury.

In 1998, Stafford House became part of the Cambridge Education Group. There are two sister organisations in Cambridge:

Cambridge Arts and Sciences - a tutorial college which offers GCSE and A level courses.
Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts - which has foundation programmes in art and design, and a foundation course in drama.

  Stafford House Study Holidays Recruitment 2009: Please note that we are no longer recruiting for Activity Leader posts for this summer. We would like to thank all applicants for their time and wish them all the best for the summer ahead. Welcome to the Stafford House Study Holidays Recruitment Website! With 17 centres across the UK, we are now looking for the right mix of motivated staff to create great summer courses for our students.

New for this year:

• We are looking for teachers with an interest and knowledge of football for our Manchester United Soccer courses at York (girls and boys) and Cheltenham (boys only)
• Enhanced wage structures and revised job descriptions .
• Part time teaching positions available at our centres (15 hours)
• Experienced Tour Guides are required for our London Bankside and Edinburgh centres. Applicants must have good local knowledge and be confident in leading groups around the sights of the cities.
•  Transfer Coordinates are required for our London Bankside, London Uxbridge, and Felsted centres. This position requires a strong sense of organisation and responsibility, as well as the ability to manage time effectively.

Stafford House Study Holidays provides high quality EFL vacation courses for students from around the world. Our residential courses usually provide 15 hours of language tuition per week and a programme of structured activities and excursions. We are accredited by the British Council and a member of English UK and we are well known for the high quality of our language courses and for our well-organised social programme. We also employ a wider range of staff at our centres thus ensuring the well-being of our staff and safety of our students.

We provide very good working conditions for our staff, including:

• Attractive choice of campuses/locations in England and Scotland
• Full support and training at all times
• A variety of residential and non-residential positions available for teaching, activity and welfare staff, with management positions for suitably qualified/experienced people
• Accommodation and full board available
• A professional and enjoyable working environment
• Extra benefits for returning and experienced staff
• Very competitive salaries with increments for returning staff and experience
• A pro-active equal opportunities employer.
• Post summer employment opportunities and support

Please note: Successful applicants may be required to undergo a Criminal Records Bureau Enhanced Disclosure. Stafford House Study Holidays abides by the CRB code of practice.

If you wish to contact us, this is a dedicated email link directly to our Recruitment Advisors.
recruitment@staffordhouse.com

Stafford House Study Holidays
19 New Dover Road
Canterbury
Kent, CT1 3AH
United Kingdom

Recently, a dvd containing pornography was found at japanese customs from forwarded baggage of  outgoing travller, and the holder was fined heavily along with a strong warning.

Even if the pictures were downloaded via internet in Japan, it will be exposed by Japanese customs at landing when it contains any illegal pornography of Japanese standard.

As one of the consequences of spreading cannabies  among younger generation these days it is an urgent issue of public concern in Japan, and customs inspections accordingly getting stricter for personal luggage and cargoes in airport.

In this connection it is a reminder for all travellers , even if one of the following forbidden articles is found in a baggage, the holder, the agent, who forwarded it and/or others concerned will be summoned by customs, be detained for questioning for quite a long time and be fined heavily.

Therefore it is advisable for all who are going to travel Japan to be aware of following forbidden articles:

•  Gunnery, pistol, arms
• Porno materials including books, pics, cd, dvd ,child pornography etc.
• Narcotics, drugs,contraband items
• Counterfeit banknotes, coins, stocks, bonds etc.
• Explosive substances including dynamites
• Fake name brand goods

Student-focused Educator eager to contribute expertise toward actively supporting the academic community in delivering quality educations and optimizing individual and group performance.

 A student focused teaching career can be geared to empowering students to have a
passion for learning. A strong passion to mold young minds to be
well-rounded, responsible, and successful individuals.  Throughout the
career a teacher should utilize the opportunity to teach diverse groups of students,
including those with learning disabilities, those who performed at grade
level and those who were gifted and talented.  As a result, he would become
proficient at designing creative and stimulating lesson plans that
accomodate the needs of all his students.

The  greatest strengths include inspiring and motivating students. And
actively engage their minds by incorporating a variety of manipulatives,
enjoyable activities and cooperative learning projects.  In addition, he
tailor his lessons the link classroom learning and everyday life making
learning relevant to the student.  Furthermore, he hold parent/teacher
conferences to promote participation in the educational process, reinforce
educaiton in the home and boost student’ self-confidence and self-esteem.

A motivated and caring educator  believes that all children can learn and thrive in a stimulating and safe environment. Proven ability to work in chaotic situations while maintaining a positive attitude. Commended for excellence in creativity, leadership, and organization. Exceptional ability to establish instant rapport with both students and parents.

Teaching Experience:

• Created safe, comfortable, and fun learning environment for children of all ages.
• Taught lesson plans in creative, colorful ways to keep children focused and engaged.

Organizational Experience:

• Provided a full range of age-appropriate actives that encourage childhood social development.
• Created instructional materials and procedures consistent with individual learning needs.

Leadership Experience:

• Fostered effective communication with parents to maintain a partnership environment.

• Experience in detailed reports and documentation; ensuring data accuracy and completeness.

CfBT Education Services (B) Sdn Bhd is a Brunei company with local and international owners.

With over 40 years of successful worldwide operation, CfBT is one of the leading independent United Kingdom-based suppliers of education resource management and consultancy services.

The main focus of CfBT’s work in Brunei is on the recruitment and management of teachers of English to work in government schools. CfBT is contracted to employ over 200 teachers at Primary and Secondary level. In addition to the work in government schools, CfBT in Brunei also offers various courses and programmes such as personal enrichment and leadership courses, language and computer classes and teacher development courses such as the Cambridge In-Service Certificate in English Language Teaching (ICELT) and also the English as a Second Language in the Mainstream course.

CfBT also works in partnership with local companies and The Brunei English Language Teachers’ Association (BELTA) to organise events such as the National English Language Quiz and a biennial English Language Teaching Conference. Another recent development is the production of English Language Teaching software for use at various levels.

Projects

In addition to its core responsibility of providing experienced and highly qualified personnel to teach in Brunei’s schools, CfBT Edcation Services (B) Sdn Bhd has been actively engaged in a large number of English-related projects aimed at improving language learning both within and beyond the curriculum. Significant materials development has been undertaken in the form of numerous in-house publications and through assisting the Ministry of Education with the development of English Language coursebooks at virtually all levels of the national school system. CfBT continues to organise major events such as Wordplay (the National English Language Quiz) and a biennial English Language Teaching Conference. It has also successfully initiated and run events such as the National Short Story Compeitition and the National Drama Competition amongst others.

Current initiatives include projects such as SCOPE (Success at Cambridge O Level Public Examinations) and SPELT (Sharing Practice of Effective Language Teaching). CfBT is also pleased to be able to assist the Ministry of Education with its initiatives in the English Project for Pre-School (EPPS) and the ongoing development of support materials for the Gateway to English coursebook through a dedicated website.

CfBT is contracted to employ over 200 English teachers to work in Brunei government schools. These teachers are recruited from countries such as the UK, Ireland, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. They work alongside local teachers and play a full role in the school.

On a day to day basis teachers are answerable to the Heads of Departments and Principals of the schools to which they have been assigned, as they would be in their home country. However, CfBT provides comprehensive support both before and during the teacher’s contract, and both on a professional and personal level. This includes flights and orientation; housing; professional development; the development and provision of resources; language classes; health and welfare; and social and sporting activities.

CfBT also provides Education Centres in all three districts in Brunei where teachers can find teaching material as well as computer and reprographic facilities.

Contacts:
CfBT Education Services
Brunei Darussalam
T: +673 2442773/4/5
F: +673 2442246

E-mail:enquiriescfbt.com

During the past nine years, Search Associates has conducted over 100 administrative searches for outstanding international schools around the world. They have had unprecedented success in finding the right candidate for the right position. In fact, close to 100% of the administrative candidates placed through their searches have chosen to renew at the end of their initial contracts.
Each year Search Associates places over 1500 teachers, administrators and interns in international schools throughout the world, making them one of the larger of the international school placement organizations.
They offer highly personalized attention to the candidates and schools accepted into their program. They strive to maintain high standards, to provide timely information and to exceed our candidates’ and schools’ expectations in every respect. And accomplish this by remaining small, focused and responsive.

Founded by John Magagna, an experienced international educator and school head, Search Associates has grown to include Senior Associates Gavin Allen, James Ambrose, Robert Barlas, Marie Bogat, David Cope, Harry Deelman, Gary Duckett, Sally Gordon, Dexter Lewis, Ray Sparks, Jessica Magagna, Rob Graham and John Ritter.

A typical administrative search includes, but is not limited to, the following:

* Preparation of a search calendar.
* Visiting the school to confer with administrators, faculty, students, parents, board members, and search committee members (optional).
* Working with that search committee to prepare a position statement.
* Circulating that statement to all international schools as well as to interested educators and appropriate institutions.
* Preparing advertisements and notices.
* Representing the school candidly and enthusiastically to candidates.
* Recruiting and screening of the candidate pool.
* Deciding upon the candidates most suitable for the search committee’s review.
* Presenting those candidates to the search committee.
* Advising on plans for candidate reviews and visits.
* Advising on compensation and other needs of the candidates.
* Advising on contract, if requested.
* Acting as an intermediary if troubles arise (as when a highly desirable candidate is also interested in other schools near the end of a search).
* Acting in the interest of the school, but also being sensitive to the needs of the candidates.

Notice

Search Associates will not knowingly provide services to schools which discriminate against candidates on the basis of race, religion, gender, national origin or age. Candidates need to be aware, however, that schools located in certain countries outside the U.S. are bound by national laws or retirement policies which (e.g.) may prohibit foreigners from obtaining work permits after the age of fifty-five or some slightly greater age.
More information available : http://www.search-associates.com/main.html