•  –Always keep in mind just who you are sending the information to. More than likely, it is someone who does not have a great command of the English language so it is important to use words and phrases that are going to be understood. The last thing you want is the recruiter or the school principal having to use a dictionary to translate your information.
• –The cover letter on the email is the most important part of your information. While you should send a resume, bosses and recruiters are going to make their first impression of you based on the cover letter. Your cover letter should summarize the relevant information contained in your resume. It should also detail why you want to teach in China. Don’t be afraid to brag a little bit if you have relevant experience but do not use phrases such as “I know I am great with kids” or “Everyone tells me I am the greatest teacher.” Read through your letter a few times and make sure that there are not major spelling errors.
• –You resume should be complete but it should not be too fancy. Remember that the schools in China will have to download it (and internet access in certain places isn’t always very fast) so don’t put fancy graphics or decorations on the resume. Click here for a sample resume.
• –You should include with the letter a copy of your current resume as well as a scans of your passport and a degree certificate (including TESOL/TEFL), and a current photo of yourself. If you don’t include these items immediately, you will have to provide them sooner or later so you might as well speed up the process.
• –My suggestion is to avoid attaching any items to your email. Attachments are often delayed or are even blocked by spam filters. The best way to send your information is to sign up for a free webhosting account and upload your documents to a webpage. You can then simply provide the links to each item in your email and avoid attachments altogether. This will also save you the hassle of having to attach documents to every letter that you send out. One free host to check out is http://www.t35.com/
• –Use an email address that is easily identifiable by the schools. Your email address should at least contain your last name and should be from a simple mail domain such as ‘@hotmail.com’ or ‘@yahoo.com’ If you are using an email address that is full or has a lot of problems, you should consider signing up for a free email account from Yahoo!, Hotmail, or Google.

After you have sent your initial email to a school, make sure to check back as soon as possible for a reply. A prompt response will show the school that you are truly interested in the job. And don’t forget that there is most likely a time difference between your location and the location of the school so most likely replies will be sent from the school in the middle of the night. Happy Job Hunting!

Click here for more information about finding a job in China.

This little excerpt is from a story that I told when I was teaching English in China a few years ago. It started out as a simple story about a boy and his camel but as the week progressed and I told it again and again, the tale took on a life of its own and the whole school became enthralled with it. It was a useful story because not only did it keep myself and the students entertained, but it also allowed me to teach some new English words in a fun manner.

Telling stories is perhaps the most effective way that I have found to hold captive your students’ interest and teach new words and phrases. Telling a story helps students to “put their thinking caps on” and directly involves them in the learning process. They will hopefully leave your class remembering the story and the new accompanying English words.

Of course, you can’t tell a story every day. The inclusion of a story in your lesson should be a treat for your students. You could even use the possibility of a story as an incentive for good behavior and participation. I have found that stories work well for all ages, even all the way up to Senior HighSchool.

If you have no interpreter in your class, consider bringing some props to help you tell the story. For example, when I told the camel story, I brought in a small wooden camel that I had purchased in India. I was also able to find some toy figures to represent the people in the story. These items helped my students to visualize what had actually happened.

Write down key words from the story before you start telling it. After you are finished with the story, ask your students questions to gauge their comprehension and review the new vocabulary words. You can also have your students ask you questions about the story as well.

What kind of story can you tell? Where can you find some good stories? I’ve always made up my own stories and added a personal flair to them. Use your imagination. You can even change the story a little bit from class to class. If you have fun with the story, then so will your students. Feel free to bring your own culture into it if appropriate.

The camel story that I told had a bittersweet ending that the entire school was talking about for days. It was a story that captured the imaginations of students and teachers alike. And it was a story that captured my imagination as well. I have used it in various other schools here and in the United States. And that’s the nice thing about stories. You can always recycle them.