How to apply for Conversation Class Instructor –Adults

About Kandelia

Kandelia runs a Family Program that supports parents and caregivers of newly arrived immigrant and refugee students in Seattle Public Schools. The role is remote and contract-based, focused on adult English conversation classes. This is a fit for someone who wants direct teaching contact with newcomer adults and can work with a small-group online format.

About the role

You will teach online English conversation classes to immigrant and refugee adults in small groups, twice a week with two one-hour classes each day. You prepare lessons on the Ellii platform, assign and grade homework, and track progress. Total teaching hours are 16–25 per month, typically in morning or early evening slots. The work supports parents and caregivers connected to Seattle Public Schools.

A typical day

On a class day, you would prepare a conversation lesson on Ellii before the session, then lead two one-hour online classes with a small group of adult learners. Between or after classes, you might assign and grade homework, note progress, and coordinate with Kandelia staff on scheduling. Class days occur twice a week, with total teaching hours between 16 and 25 per month.

Who Kandelia is looking for

• Has experience teaching or tutoring adult English Language Learners, especially newcomers with varying proficiency levels.
• Can plan conversation-based lessons on the Ellii platform and adapt activities to participant needs and interests.
• Is comfortable with remote teaching tools and reliable communication with staff and participants.
• Can commit to a contract schedule of 16–25 teaching hours per month, including morning or early evening classes twice a week.
• Understands or is willing to learn the context of immigrant and refugee families in Seattle Public Schools.

Tips for this application

• State your exact availability for morning and early evening classes twice a week, since the schedule is fixed and central to the role.
• Name Ellii or similar ESL lesson platforms you have used, and describe how you build conversation activities from them.
• Give one concrete example of adapting a lesson for mixed English proficiency levels in a small group.
• Mention any experience teaching or supporting immigrant and refugee adults, even if it was volunteer or part-time.
• Confirm you can handle the administrative side: assigning homework, grading, and coordinating with Kandelia staff remotely.

What to cover in your cover letter

In your cover letter, address these points: your experience teaching conversation to adult English Language Learners; how you use Ellii or similar platforms to prepare lessons; your availability for twice-weekly morning or early evening classes; and your approach to tracking progress through homework and assessments. Also note any familiarity with the Seattle Public Schools family context or immigrant and refugee communities.

Research before applying

• Look up Kandelia's Family Program and how it connects to Seattle Public Schools to understand the participant context.
• Review the Ellii platform's lesson and activity library for adult ESL conversation topics.
• Check what Kandelia says publicly about its services for immigrant and refugee families in Seattle.
• Find out the typical English proficiency range of participants in Kandelia's family programs, or prepare to ask in the interview.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you plan a one-hour conversation class for adult newcomers with mixed proficiency levels.
• Your experience using Ellii or another ESL platform to prepare lessons and activities.
• How you keep adult learners speaking and building confidence in an online small-group setting.
• How you assign, grade, and use homework and assessments to track progress.
• Your availability and reliability for a twice-weekly schedule of two one-hour classes per day, 16–25 hours per month.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without confirming you can work the fixed twice-weekly morning or early evening schedule.
• Describing general ESL teaching experience without naming the platforms or methods you use for conversation classes.
• Ignoring the homework, grading, and progress-tracking duties, which are listed responsibilities, not optional extras.