How to Make a French Teacher Resume
Writing a French teacher’s resume is no different than writing any teacher's resume. Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind while writing it.
- Keep your resume to one page.
- Write to the point: short and clear.
- Note down the keywords from the job description.
- Identify and prioritize your strengths.
- Use a standard layout and a format.
Education institutions receive thousands of job applications daily for advertised positions through different sources such as social media (LinkedIn), direct email, official websites, and recruitment agencies.
Before these applications reach the hiring managers, they go through an AI-based software called applicant tracking system (ATS) that checks your resume for keyword heaviness.
Shortlisted resumes go to the hiring manager. On average, a hiring manager spends less than 10 seconds reading a resume and that’s the time you have got to make a good impression.
If you fail, your resume will end up in the trash like most other resumes.
This article shows you how to write a French teacher resume better than 95% of the applications your hiring manager receives. We start with the layout and the format.
French Teacher Resume, Layout, Format, and Structure
If you have ever worked on developing a course schedule, then you know how important it is to develop a plan before you start: it will save you days of work and rework.
Similarly, we recommend that you begin by defining the format and layout of your resume.
In the layout, you should plan the resume: define the headings, subheadings, and content. A good layout will save you a lot of time while making sure all important information is included in the resume.
Here’s what we recommend for a French teacher resume:
- Header: name and contact information
- Professional summary/ objective summary
- Work experience
- Education
- Skills
- Additional sections: certifications, languages, interests
The resume format is the way you’re going to fill the resume. Based on how you write the experience section of the resume, there are 3 standard formats:
- Functional (skill-based): emphasizes relevant skills. Previous experience is listed based on the demonstrated skills.
- Reverse Chronological (traditional): most recent experience is given the priority while rest of the work experience is listed in reverse chronological order.
- Hybrid (combination resume): a mix of functional and reverse chronological formats.
For the resume of a French teacher, we recommend using the reverse-chronological format to list your work experience. Thus, your hiring manager can review your most recent or current employment first.
Here are a couple of tips to further structure your resume:
- Create your resume in both PDF and MS Word formats. Check the job description (JD) to see what format the recruiter expects.
- Maintain consistent margins throughout the resume. Depending on how they can fit all on one page, 1 inch from each side is recommended.
- Define the fonts you’re using and their sizes for headings, sub-headings, and body text
Use our ready-to-fill resume templates to create a great resume in ten minutes for your next French Teaching job.
The Header & Contact Information
The header of a resume is used to state your name and contact information. Despite its simplicity, this section is important because it contains the information that will allow them to contact you again.
Stuffing the header with unnecessary information will lead to creating a bad first impression for your resume: which most applicants do.
A good & a bad header
💡 CORRECTMalisa Lawrence
French teacher
malisalaw@gmail.com+1 244 26 34 77
https://www.linkedin.com/in/malisalaw
🛑 INCORRECTFrench teacher
Malisa Lawrence
malisa@oise.com+1 244 26 34 77
101, main street, apt 35,
Washington DC
USA
Follow these tips to create a great first impression with your header:
- State the first name and the last name.
- State your job title in the current job.
- Write a professional email: avoid your work email.
- Put your contact number: ideally your mobile number.
- No need to state the physical address if they didn't ask for it.
- Put the link to your updated LinkedIn profile/ portfolio.
Describe Your Experience Teaching French
Your experience section is undoubtedly the most important section of your French teacher resume. It is what the first thing hiring managers look at.
Also, the main reason we write our experience in reverse chronological order is so the hiring manager can find the latest experience quickly.
We are going to show you how to write a natural but keyword-heavy experience section to get past the ATS and the recruiter to get as many calls as possible.
Example for Substitute Teachers
INCORRECTAug 2017 to Present
EFI language center, Paris, France
- Prepared out presentations
- Conducted classes in the absence of the usual teacher
- Maintaining compliance
- Update class records completely
- Instruct students
- Prepared student progress reports
- Taught both high school students and grade school students
- Helped individual students to understand difficult language principles
CORRECTAug 2017 to Present
EFI language center, Paris, France
- Conducted French classes in absence of the teacher: due to the usual teacher’s maternity leave, conducted the elementary French class for 6 months straight
- Analyzed the learning outcomes and prepared learning materials
- Checked and updated classroom records of 50+ students every semester
- Taught the French culture together with the French way of living to make the learning experience interesting for students
Note down the keywords (the requirements) from the job description and write your experience around them even if your experience is not a solid teaching experience in a recognized institution.
Use numbers to add credibility to your statements.
Describe how you dealt with problems in the classroom environment, maintained relationships with children, and your willingness to learn and grow.
Also, check out how to write a resume for a substitute teacher step by step.
Regardless of how many years of experience you have as a French teacher, if you do not understand the recruiter's requirements and do not write a perfect experience section, your chances of landing a well-paying job are slim.
That brings us to another point: even without having much experience, you can land your dream French teacher job by correctly writing your resume experience section.
Example for Experienced French Teachers
INCORRECTAug 2015 to Present
French Language School, France
- Preparation of course materials
- Conducted classes
- Checked the test results
- Updated individual class records
- Communicated with parents
- Taught advanced students
CORRECTAug 2015 to Present
French Language School, France
- Conducted 4 secondary and 2 advanced language classes in the last 2 years
- Developed individualized study programs for 30+ students who had difficulties in the language tests
- Created a positive learning environment by inspiring students to research the French culture
- Designed language acquisition strategies for secondary and advanced level students and early second language acquisition strategies for elementary level immigrant students
- Introduced a student learning management and knowledge sharing system
If you have solid teaching experience as a French teacher, you should exploit it to the maximum.
Use keywords together with numbers. Describe your achievements as a teacher, the awards and recognition you received.
Include Your Education
This is another section recruiters look into in your resume. A mistake candidates make here is writing long paragraphs describing education. This section should be short and simple to understand.
Use a consistent format to put your education in the resume. You can use a simple format like this:
CORRECTInstitution, location
Main learning outcomes
GPA (if greater than 3.0)
You can further shorten this section by cutting down the learning outcomes. It depends on how much emphasis the recruiter has put on education. If they are strict about your educational qualifications in the JD, expand them.
Education
OISE, Paris, France
- Literature in French.
- Advanced French language skills.
- French-speaking mastery.
- Appropriate educational psychology.
GPA- 3.8/4
Bachelor’s degree in the French Language, 2008-2012
EF International language center, Paris, France
- Broad knowledge of linguistic skills.
- Basic french cultural studies.
- Advanced French writing.
GPA- 3.6/4
Best Skills for a French Teacher on The Resume
Most candidates use this section as a filler. However, this section has a meaning.
Anyone can write a set of generic skills in their resume because no one can measure them, especially the soft skills. Hiring managers obviously know this. Nevertheless, they will want to see at least if you have identified the skills necessary to be successful in the role.
Therefore, don’t ignore this section. Write a mix of soft skills and hard skills you believe are necessary to succeed in the position. Many of these are outlined in the job description.
Soft Skills:
- Effective communication in both French and English
- Analytical skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Ability to get along with children
- Presentation skills
- Teamwork
- Problem-solving
- Leadership and management skills
Hard Skills:
- Modern linguistic teaching methods
- MS Office
- Database management
- Classroom management techniques
- Project management
Professional Summary for a French Language Teacher
The professional summary is your sales pitch on the French teacher's resume. It is a couple of sentences that attract potential recruiters to read the rest of the resume.
It’s like the about section, or the bio in your LinkedIn: the summary of your experience, core qualifications, and achievements.
Check out the following example:
CORRECTINCORRECTThe first paragraph starts with an adjective describing you. Then your experience and how you could be a great choice for a future employer.
The second paragraph states how you helped the previous/ current employer for success together with your achievements. The use of numbers makes it extra appealing.
Ideally, you should write different professional summaries for different jobs.
Professional Objective
A professional objective is no different than a professional summary. If you are applying for an entry-level job without having much experience or you’re in a career transition, you should consider writing a professional objective.
The style and the format for a professional summary and the objective summary are pretty much the same.
In the objective summary, instead of emphasizing your expertise, highlight your enthusiasm in the role and the employer.
Additional Sections for Your French Teacher Resume
We generally use additional sections in a resume to provide a pleasant surprise to the hiring manager.
This is especially useful when the hiring manager is almost ready to shortlist your resume, but he needs a little nudge.
Also, if there is a particular skill certification that could put you at the top of the list, you could place it in a separate section for more exposure.
French teacher resumes may list computer skills and certifications, languages, and interests. Make sure the information you include is relevant. You should not include them in your resume if they are not, as that would do more harm than good.
Computing Skills & Certifications
Teachers these days need to deal with many software and systems in schools. Here’s some of them:
- MS Office
- Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Moodle
- Internet literacy
If you have completed courses in relevant software and tools or if you have worked with them previously, let the recruiter know.
Certificates are industry-specific. For example, if you have obtained a French teaching certificate from an authorized body, that would take your resume to the top of the list.
Make sure you list such certificates separately or bold them for more visibility. You shouldn’t let the hiring manager miss that.
Languages
There’s no other job where the language section is more important than a French teacher.
You should be fluent in French. Also if the students speak English, you should be well-versed in the language.
Having fluency in more languages would be to your advantage here. For example, if you’re proficient in German and Spanish, you could be in use in the absence of a teacher for those classes.
Remember, the recruiter is looking for solutions to their problems in your resume.You should state the levels of fluency in each language for the recruiter to have a clear picture.
A simple guide to state your language proficiency levels is as follows:
- Elementary proficiency
- Limited working proficiency.
- Professional working proficiency.
- Full professional proficiency.
- Native / bilingual proficiency.
Interests
You should state your interests only if they add value to your profession as a French teacher.
Your interests convey a message about you and your personality.
If the recruiter is looking for an active character with an outgoing personality and is dedicated to learning and growing, your interests should communicate that.
Interests
Playing Basketball for The French Teachers Federation team
