Tips for Creating an Excellent Self-Introduction Video

In the crowded world of English teaching applicants, your resume, photo, degree, and TEFL certificate aren’t enough to help you stand out. But an excellent self-recorded introduction video will! It can prove your capabilities to the schools by hearing your English skills and teaching experiences as well as your voice. It creates personal connections with the schools and builds rapport with your prospective students.

A self-introduction video may not be required by the schools but is easy to do and will earn you extra brownie points. It makes them remember you!

What To Include In a Self-Introduction Video

Remember that it’s a short video of only 1-3 minutes long. Be concise and to the point!

Here are some of the things you should mention

  • Your full name
  • Where you’re from and your educational background
  • Why do you love teaching English?
  • Your relevant experiences
  • Past teaching jobs, experiences with student age, subject, etc.

It’s not that scary really. Make sure you plan it out well. Writing a script in advance will help prepare yourself to talk smoothly and comprehensively. However, don’t look at the paper while recording yourself. Practice a couple of times so you can speak naturally.

Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine and show your strengths. You don’t have to follow any specific structures. Think about your particular group of students and say whatever that would make you stand out as a perfect teacher for them.

Tips For Creating An Excellent Teacher Introduction Video

  1. Speak clearly and not too fast. Imagine you’re talking to non-native speakers with rather weak English listening skills. Make sure they can understand you well.
  2. Show your energy and confidence. The students would prefer somebody easy to speak with and passionate about his or her subject. Look happy, confident and natural. Oh, and smile!
  3. Dress to impress. Though you’re recording yourself, probably at home, you must look presentable. Wear what you would wear to teach a live class.
  4. Frame the video well & decorate your wall. Clear away any background clutters and make sure the video focuses on you without any distractions in the back. You should be recorded from the waist up with your face and hand gestures visible to the audience.
  5. Set up a well-lit environment. Good natural lighting is best for your video and teaching environment. Otherwise, make sure the light is not placed directly behind you, lit enough and not casting any weird shadows on your face. Make sure your light sourcing is not pointing directly into the camera and affecting the interviewer’s view.
  6. Record in a quiet place. The mic will pick up any background noises such as traffic, surrounding people, etc. If possible, you can borrow or even invest in a high-quality portable mic that should be easily bought online. Remember, your voice is the deciding factor here!

How to Prepare the background for Intro Video and Online Teaching?

The teaching background is another essential element to keep your students engaged. A cluttered and unorganized background can be distracting to your students and a sense of unprofessionalism. Many ESL companies factor the teaching style, lighting, background, dressing, manner to the overall teaching performance evaluation.

  • The ideal teaching positioning is that your background is the wall and ideally a white or light-colored wall. However, if you’re not able to position yourself in this type of configuration, then perhaps consider placing a whiteboard withstand as a background.
  • Decorate the wall with pictures, posters, and wall decals. Not only it enhances the learning experience but also good tools to assist the teaching.

Review Your Self-Introduction Video

It’s absolutely normal to record a few times before you get the perfect result. After recording, you should review your video to see if it matches your desires.

  • Did you sound clear and convincing to the recruiter?
  • Can the viewer see you well without any distractions?
  • Is the video stable (not shaky) and good quality?
  • Was the video recorded full-width with high quality?
  • DID YOU SMILE?!

Ready to Share Your Intro Video?

Once you’ve recorded an excellent self-introduction video, you may upload it on YouTube. However, remember that YouTube is blocked in China. Thus, if you’re applying for an online English teaching job in China, you will have to find an alternative channel or send the file directly to the schools.

Share an URL to the recruiter instead of sending the entire video file, because video file tends to be relatively large in size, Gmail only allows you to attach up to 25MB and Microsoft Hotmail and outlook only allow up to 10MB per email attachment.

  • YouTube – The most effective way is uploading to YouTube and set the view of privacy to Unlisted if you only intend to share with specific personnel, instead of sharing publicly.
  • Cloud Storage – Sharing via Google Drive, Microsoft SkyDrive, or Dropbox, etc is another option.
  • Youku – It would be best if you’re willing to take the extra mile and upload it to the Chinese YouTube equivalent video sharing site, Youku. YouTube is blocked in China. HR of the ESL teaching companies in China have to use a VPN to access the video but at a significantly slower speed.

Let The Video Work Its Magic

Now you are all prepared! It’s time to let us help you find you a great online ESL teaching job!

Good luck and have fun with it!

Comments

  2. Omolara Olorunfemi-Ogunjuyigbe says

    Very good explanation to prospective abroad teachers. Thank you for taking the pain to give detailed explanation. However, apart from teaching children sounds I’m good at teaching adults to teach preschoolers some subjects such as understanding the World, picture reading and conversation,Sounds,numeracy and religious studies ( in preschool environment)

  12. Moosa Mlekeleli Dawood-Lukhozi says

    Impressive presentation and walkthrough… actually feels less daunting. Now looking forward, even more.

    Thank you kindly

  14. Dimpho Bridget says

    Hello, can you please share the process of sharing the intro video via google drive because i dont see no email address provided

  19. Siva Ellary says

    On other Job Application sites, it is recommended not to provde the first name and name for confidentiality reasons. Just provide the first name in the video. I had to edit my video because of this. Can I use the video without my surname.

  20. Sylwia Gasiorek says

    Hi,
    My name is Sylwia and I am looking for an online teaching job. I have worked as an educator over 10 years+ in Shreveport Louisiana. I have experienced to work with regular students and special needs too. I love to work with pupils I can’t imagine to do something else. Education is very important to me, so I want my students to be life long learners. Also, I am bilingual Polish/ English.
    I graduated from Warsaw University in Poland in 2004. Then, I moved to Louisiana USA. I started my family in Shreveport and it’s my home now. In my free time I enjoy to spend time with my family and friends, exercising, and traveling. If you want to have a professional, creative, and fun teacher contact me please. I promise to do my best job and you’re going to be pleased with my work.

  32. Eufrocena Deloslado says

    Thank you for creating this site that helps jobseekers. I’m trying my luck and i know you can be of great help to me.
    More power!

  42. Angela Sankovich says

    Hello, Thank you! What would you recommend for someone who is a recent TEFL graduate and does not yet have any ESL teaching experience? Should we say this in our video? Or should we simply highlight our transferable skills from past jobs? Trying to obtain an entry level position. Excellent video tips. Thank you again.

  44. Sherrie Malleis says

    Hello there. Although I have many years of teaching experience, I have now moved to working in administration. I applied for an administrative position through your website, but I was prompted to create a teaching video. Is that necessary for someone applying for an administrative position? I am happy to do so if that is the requirement.

    Please advise.
    Sherrie Malleis

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