andie weetman

To whom it may concern,

I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to apply for the position of an ESL Teacher. I am an Australian educator, currently teaching in an English Academy in Florencia, Colombia.

I am a qualified teacher, with a Bachelor of Secondary Education and a Bachelor of Arts from Monash University in Melbourne. I have also completed my TESOL certificate, through the Australian Training Academy.

During my first two years of teaching and my tertiary education, I have developed a passion for teaching and a theoretical and practical understanding of how to best support student growth. Something I am committed to developing throughout my teaching career. I am a strong believer in the importance of student-centred learning and recognise the need to creatively adapt learning experiences to meet individual students’ needs. I believe it is important to create a supportive learning environment, in which each student feels safe to engage in the class. This aligns with my understanding the role of the teacher is to support students’ social and emotional growth, as well as their academic achievement.

I have a particular interest in working with students from diverse linguistic, and cultural backgrounds. During my tertiary education, I completed a three week placement in an Indigenous community in the Northern Territory of Australia. During this placement, I gained experience teaching English to Indigenous, ESL learners. This experience reinforced the importance of differentiated learning and the use of culturally appropriate pedagogy. In my role as an ESL teacher, I would commit myself to a providing high-quality learning experience, using pedagogy that is appropriate for ESL learners and considering their native literacy practices.

This understanding of culturally and linguistically appropriate teaching, has been reinforced and expanded by my time teaching in Florencia, Colombia. I have only just begun this teaching program. However, already I have begun to develop significant skills required for teaching ESL students, including the use of appropriate pace and linguistic difficulty, creating engaging games and activities and incorporating relevant and realistic language experiences. I hope to work in an environment that values communication between students and the teacher, providing necessary speaking and listening practice.

I am currently learning Spanish. However, I am now only at a beginner level. Improving my Spanish is one of my key priorities in the lead-up to taking a position as an ESL teacher and something I hope to get out of my teaching experience.

I believe I am a flexible person and am suited to working in a diverse range of contexts. I also have strong interpersonal skills and believe I will be able to effectively collaborate with staff in any school or learning centre. I have a passion for travelling and would appreciate the opportunity to learn from my experiences teaching in a new cultural environment.

Thank you for considering me for the position of an ESL Teacher. I have attached my Curriculum Vitae for further information. Please let me know if I can elaborate on any of the information provided. I look forward to further communication with you.

Yours sincerely, Andie Weetman.

Teaching Employment:

Current: Academia Nacional De Sistemas

• Support and classroom teacher role in an English language school.
• Responsible for planning and enacting engaging, relevant and curriculum-aligned English lessons and activities.

2021-2022: Matthew Flinders Secondary College

• English and Humanities Teacher for students in Years 7, 8 and 10
• Responsible for planning and enacting the English and Humanities Curriculum
• Responsible for assessing and reporting on student learning
• Additional role: Head of Year 8 English in 2022. Responsibilities included managing the Year 8 English team & planning and managing assessments for Year 8 English

2019: English Tutor at Cluey Learning

• English tutor using an online learning platform for students aged 12 to 17.
• Design and implement one on one English lessons for a range of secondary students, with different learning capabilities
• Provide feedback and support for students on set English coursework
• Implement teaching strategies for ICT to increase learning opportunities for students

1. Bachelor of Secondary Education at Monash University- WAM: 82- Graduated 2020
2. Bachelor of Arts at Monash University- Graduated 2019
3. TESOL Certificate through the Australasian Training Academy- Completed 2022