As an English teacher, you’re an expert when it comes to dissecting the optimal sentence structure, fixing grammar mistakes and making sure there’s never a spelling error in sight. With your talents and training, you’ve got many of the skills needed to write a perfect English teacher cover letter.
We’re here to fill in the remaining gaps – like what the hiring manager actually wants to know about your abilities and teaching style, how to overcome pesky application scanners and the best format for your cover letter. With 125+ writing guides and cover letter examples, Resume.io is a resource for job seekers in every field and at every experience level. This guide, along with our English teacher cover letter sample, will show you how to:
- Choose the right format for an English teacher cover letter
- Write a persuasive introduction, body section and closing
- Avoid many of the common mistakes that get candidates eliminated
If you’re looking for even more writing tips, check out our related education cover letter examples including:
Best format for an English teacher cover letter
You won’t be surprised by the names of many of the essential cover letter sections – they’re exactly the same as the parts of a high school essay! Here’s what you’ll need:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting / salutation
- The cover letter introduction
- The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
- The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)
You can find even more formatting tips in our comprehensive cover letter guide.
Check out the English teacher cover letter example below and adapt it to your own experience!
Dear Ms. Tonningworth,
I have taught EFL classes from ages 10-16 in international schools across the world for the past 25 years, so upon my return to the U.S. I am looking for a teaching position in a language school that will allow me to continue my passion. Whether a student is studying for a proficiency exam or whether they are simply there for a cultural exchange, I have in my toolkit a range of teaching methodologies to suit the needs of every class.
More than half of my career was spent teaching English to local students in international schools, so I understand the dynamics of a learning environment with a global flavor. The motivations of your students are incredibly high, and they have to be matched by the quality of the teaching. My self-created online reading comprehension course for intermediate and upper-intermediate students was adopted by over 100 schools worldwide and I hope to bring my creative talents to your school as I understand that this is encouraged.
I have taught class sizes from 10-35, but I much prefer the smaller classes of 8-12 that seem to be your standard. I always try to offer every student as much individual attention as possible within the scope of the lesson plan and am a big believer in setting homework according to a student’s developmental needs rather than the dictates of an exercise book. A 97% pass rate for formal qualifications over the past two decades is a testament to the quality of my provision.
I would be delighted to share my professional recommendations and come along for a trial lesson to give you an idea of how I manage my classroom.
Sincerely,
Laura Preston
Cover letter header
The header of your English teacher cover letter is the place to catch the hiring manager’s attention and make your name and contact information stand out. Don’t forget to include your phone number and email address, along with any relevant links to social media.
Consider the ATS
Applicant tracking systems, also known as ATS, scan job applications for keywords and rank them against the other candidates. Only the top-scoring applications are passed on to the hiring manager’s desk. Some possible keywords to include in your cover letter “email,” “phone” or the company’s name.
The aim of the cover letter header: Make it easy for the hiring manager to get in touch with you and add some attractive formatting to your cover letter.
Cover letter greeting
The cover letter greeting is how you will address the person reading your cover letter. Since the whole point of this document is to make a personal connection, it’s important to do some research as to who will be reading your English teacher cover letter.
If applying to a particular school, “Dear” followed by the principal’s correct salutation and last name is usually the safest bet. When applying to large teach abroad programs, you may need a more general greeting such as “Dear (Company Name or Institution) Recruitment Team.”
The aim of the cover letter greeting: Address the letter recipient by name to establish a personal connection and friendly tone.
Cover letter introduction
The introduction for your English teacher cover letter is arguably the most important sentence on the page. Many hiring managers will make a determination about whether or not to continue reading after just a few seconds, which means your introduction needs to be convincing from the very start.
Luckily, there are many ways to approach this. For teachers with some previous experience, an anecdote about success in the classroom is often a good way to start. You may also choose to begin with a statistic or personal statement about your goals and motivations.
The aim of the cover letter intro: Capture the reader’s attention with an anecdote, statistic or statement that encourages them to keep reading your cover letter.
Below you’ll find the introduction from our cover letter sample.
Dear Ms. Tonningworth,
I have taught EFL classes from ages 10-16 in international schools across the world for the past 25 years, so upon my return to the U.S. I am looking for a teaching position in a language school that will allow me to continue my passion. Whether a student is studying for a proficiency exam or whether they are simply there for a cultural exchange, I have in my toolkit a range of teaching methodologies to suit the needs of every class.
Cover letter middle part (body)
The body section of your English teacher cover letter (the middle part) is where you’ll have the most room to discuss your achievements, skills and the reasons why you think you’re the ideal candidate for the position in more detail than in your resume.
Although you want to avoid coming across as arrogant, you’ll want to play up your strengths and accomplishments here so that the principal or hiring manager can see the impact you’d have in the classroom.
If you’re applying to teach English abroad, you may want to consider discussing your unique qualifications for the country or situation where you’ll be working, such as speaking the local language or having previously lived in the region.
How long should my cover letter be?
As a general rule, cover letters should be between 300-500 words. In this short amount of space, you’ll need to be concise. Prioritize examples, anecdotes and details that are directly related to the type of teaching environment you’ll encounter in your desired position.
The aim of the body of your cover letter: Give the recruiter a taste of your abilities and even personality as an English teacher, show them why you’re the right fit for their position.
Let the body of our cover letter sample serve as a guide for your own.
More than half of my career was spent teaching English to local students in international schools, so I understand the dynamics of a learning environment with a global flavor. The motivations of your students are incredibly high, and they have to be matched by the quality of the teaching. My self-created online reading comprehension course for intermediate and upper-intermediate students was adopted by over 100 schools worldwide and I hope to bring my creative talents to your school as I understand that this is encouraged.
I have taught class sizes from 10-35, but I much prefer the smaller classes of 8-12 that seem to be your standard. I always try to offer every student as much individual attention as possible within the scope of the lesson plan and am a big believer in setting homework according to a student’s developmental needs rather than the dictates of an exercise book. A 97% pass rate for formal qualifications over the past two decades is a testament to the quality of my provision.
How to close an English teacher cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
Now that the hard part is behind you, you’ll want to end your English teacher cover letter on a positive note and leave the hiring manager wanting to get in touch to know more. Do this by creating a Call to Action.
This sentence expresses your enthusiasm in the position and invites the recruiter to get in touch – without sounding entitled to anything. You may even leave your email and phone number again here, space permitting.
Then, sign off respectfully. “Sincerely” or “Best regards” can work well.
The aim of the closing of your cover letter: Create an effective call to action that encourages the hiring manager to set up an interview. Sign off politely and positively.
Check out the conclusion of our English teacher cover letter sample below.
I would be delighted to share my professional recommendations and come along for a trial lesson to give you an idea of how I manage my classroom.
Sincerely,
Laura Preston
English teacher cover letter with no experience
Sometimes a firm grasp on the English language is all you need to get started as an English teacher, especially in many programs for teaching English to non-native speakers. If that’s you, look for transferable skills in previous roles and use your cover letter to highlight the ways you would easily adapt to the new position.
Your cover letter is also the place to focus on any personality traits or personal qualities you have that would make you right for the role. Patience, passion and perseverance can count for a lot here. And if you plan to teach abroad or in a new environment, your interest in the local language and culture can also make you a stand out candidate.
Basic mistakes in an English teacher application letter (and how to avoid them)
- A generic letter: A great cover letter is never one-size-fits-all. Even if the basics of teaching English remain unchanged, you’ll still need to show the employer that you’re interested in their opening. Do this by speaking specifically to their needs and situation, and referencing skills or responsibilities laid out in the job description.
- Formatting mistakes: The layout and design of your cover letter needn’t be complicated, but it should still be attractive and professional. The header plays a big role here, so it’s worth trying out a cover letter template if you need a hand.
- Not enough quantifiable information: The field of education relies heavily on numbers and statistics to measure progress. Your cover letter should balance your passion for teaching with real results you achieved for students and school districts. Make sure to use quantifiable data wherever possible.
Key takeaways
- Your cover letter is a great place to show the employer what you’re like as an English teacher and the results you can achieve in their position.
- Make sure to include your name and contact information in an attractive header.
- Your cover letter introduction should be full of energy and enthusiasm for the position.
- Use the body section to offer more anecdotes and examples of your work in the classroom.
- Check out our adaptable English teacher cover letter for more ideas on how to create a great page layout.
