Sam Soule
Portland, Oregon, 97213, USA
Tel.: 971-570-0256
Email: sdodgesoule@gmail.com
Skype ID: sdodgesoule@gmail.com

Dear Director,

I’d like to start by saying that though I have no official classroom teaching experience, I do have years of professional instruction behind me. Throughout college, I worked as a direct care provider for a variety of social service agencies. A large part of my job description involved teaching clients necessary life skills. It is there where I believe I have shown an ability to teach “students” with patience and empathy.

That said, the majority of my employment has been spent working within the American independent music scene. As I’m NOT a musician, my focus has always been on reporting, booking, and promotion. In addition, for five years I was the co-owner of a small music venue specializing in underground music. Eventually, my experience landed me a job with a Portland, OR tech start-up that focussed on promoting live events and building a community.

As an ESL teacher, I see myself working within an orderly classroom that stresses interactive learning. I first experienced the satisfaction of being an educator during my time instructing at-risk teenage youth, a position I held while writing freelance. In almost all cases, I found optimal classroom progress hinged on the degree I was able to connect with my students as individuals.

In the independent music scene, where “doing it yourself” is both requirement and creed, I have successfully developed strategic ideas, thought and acted independently within a fluid environment, and managed to maximize limited resources. These achievements, I believe, will be of great help to me as an ESL teacher.

This past November I earned official TEFL accreditation from Oxford Seminars.

It is then with great enthusiasm I submit this application for your review, including my resume of relevant work history, and all requested background documentation. Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you at your convenience.

Sincerely,

Sam Soule Sam Soule
Portland, Oregon, 97213, USA
Tel.: 971-570-0256 / Email: sdodgesoule@gmail.com
Skype: sdodgesoule@gmail.com

Personal Birth USA / 1967
Details Citizenship American

English Ability Native Speaker

Marital Status Single

Health Excellent

Education TESOL/TESL/TEFL Certification (100 Hours)

Oxford Seminars Portland, USA

October 2017

Bachelor of English

Major: English

University of New Hampshire Durham, USA

September 1986 - May 1990

High School Diploma

Yarmouth Jr & Sr High School Yarmouth, USA

September 1984 - June 1986

Work Director of Communications
History Boulevard Portland, USA

May 2012 - April 2017
Developed voice and character of company brand
Edited company newsletters, customer sales communications, and all social media
Developed, implemented, and tracked marketing strategy across multiple communication channels

General Manager & Owner

Slabtown Bar Portland, USA

January 2007 - September 2012
Purchased and scheduled busy live music event calendar
Developed business plan and club concept
Wrote all business print and online promotional copy, including press releases and advertisements

Freelance Writer Portland, US

May 1998 - Present
Regularly contributed articles to The Willamette Week, Portland's leading free weekly newspaper
Wrote bar reviews and weekly column for PDX.com, a Portland Metro news site.

TEACHING RELATED EXPERIENCE
Worked off and on for seven years, part and full-time, teaching life skills to individuals with mental heath and developmental disabilities.
Worked for a number agencies during this period.
Instruction and supervision duties most resembled a classroom environment when I worked directly with at-risk teenagers.

Additional Skills Languages: Spanish (Beginner)
Experiences Travel: Spain, Canada, Mexico

Overseas Residences: N/A

Interests: Writing, Reading, Literature, Independent Music

Skills: Have produced and promoted several 3-day live music festivals.

References Available upon request