Emin Burak Alkaya

I have been living in the UAE for 18 years and have acted as a teacher/instructor/trainer at a
number of institutions across the country. Currently, I am working as an English, Turkish and
German instructor at Berlitz. I am an adaptable professional who has been consistently praised by
my coworkers and management as results-oriented. Over the course of my 20-year career, I have
developed a skill set directly relevant to the Instructor role you are hiring for, including course
design, curriculum development, research and exam preparation. I have always demonstrated
critical thinking, creativity, and multitasking abilities in every teaching position I have held,
whether as a freelancer or a full-time instructor at institutions such as Berlitz, Tafkeer, Goethe
Institut, Abu Dhabi Police, and Abu Dhabi University. I invite you to review my achievements in
the attached resume.

Enthusiasm is the essential characteristic a language teacher must have. It was this motivation that
introduced me to the field of TESOL. During my studies in the MA TESOL program at Al Ain
University of Science & Technology, I strengthened my enthusiasm through a solid theoretical
foundation that has shaped my teaching approach. I am confident that the MA TESOL program
has contributed greatly to my career. I hope to become a better innovator each new day by
approaching teaching in a reflective and critical way.

I believe that man is born good, and it is the environment that decides if this innate goodness will
prevail all throughout an individual’s life. Therefore, a great responsibility lies with the teachers
to find the good in every student. My personal teaching philosophy is based on constructivist
approaches to language acquisition. Some of the important aspects of my teaching philosophy are
higher-order thinking, student-centered learning, the breaking of subject boundaries, and the
development of project-based, real-life (authentic) learning.

My motivation for applying for a teaching post at your institution is to work effectively as part of
a team to facilitate learning in a real educational environment where students expect high
standards. During my CELTA and TEFL courses, I gained intense, exhilarating and enlightening
experiences that have stayed with me and shaped my teaching ever since. These two courses gave
me the ability to look critically at my own and others’ teaching. I am now able to assess course
content and materials against students’ needs and abilities. Communicative activities are an
essential part of my lesson plans owing to the ideas I acquired during my teacher training. Student
centered learning is my ultimate goal for any lesson I teach. I am confident I can add value to your
institution. My work experience includes innovation in many areas, including strategies to
overcome the effects of certain students’ traditional learning backgrounds. At Abu Dhabi Police,
I was selected as the Teacher of the Year in 2010 thanks to the way I approached local students. I
can bring not only my ideas from my previous and current jobs but also my general passion for
innovation to your organization.

With my experience and credentials (TESOL, TOEFL, TEFL & CELTA), I am well prepared to
uphold the highest standards of ESL instruction at your institution and to exceed your expectations
for this position. I look forward to elaborating on how my specific skills will benefit your
institution.