My name is Steven Blum and I am a 23 year old American currently living in Washington D.C. I have nearly a year of experience teaching English to refugee students in the U.S., as well as preparing my own English lessons for adult learners. Earlier this year, I spent seven months backpacking across Asia before returning home, so I am familiar with the food, culture, and people of Vietnam.
Before embarking on my travels around Asia, I spent time working in various nonprofit organizations around Washington D.C., where I learned the value of collaborating in a multicultural setting. Through these jobs, I developed strong communication and problem-solving skills, all of which strengthen my teaching approach. I have also spent time volunteering at a school in rural Nepal, highlighting for me the importance of education around the world.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations, with a focus on human rights and cross-cultural communication. Additionally, I have earned my Level 5 TEFL certification through a 170-hour intensive course with the International TEFL Academy. In this course, I gained valuable experience teaching students across various proficiency levels. I developed and executed lesson plans and tailored activities to meet the needs of diverse learners. I quickly learned how to adjust my lessons if they proved too difficult or too easy for the students.
I am very confident in teaching English as I have a lot of experience, as well as strong preparation through my TEFL course. I am a team player who gets along with fellow staff, students of all ages and parents. I have taught a range of ages from 3-21, with most of my experience focusing on the age group 14-18, as well as adults. I have taught students one-on-one, as well as in larger classroom settings. In all of my experiences, I have never had any trouble successfully managing a classroom.
I have attached my cover letter, CV, and a letter of recommendation for your consideration. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your school, and look forward to discussing how my background and skills can benefit your students. Thank you very much for your consideration.
International TEFL Academy, Chicago, Illinois
Level 5 TEFL/TESOL Certificate, August 2024
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150 hours of coursework
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20 hours of practicum
American University, Washington D.C.
Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, May 2023
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Study Abroad - Queens University Belfast, Northern Ireland. Spring 2022
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Presidential Scholarship 2019-2023
Related Work and Volunteer Experience
New Marigold School , Chiti, Nepal
Volunteer, April 2024
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Volunteered at New Marigold School in Chiti, Nepal, part of the Heaven Hill Academy project. These schools provide free and non-violent education to rural communities in a country where the high cost of schooling and physical punishment are prevalent challenges for students.
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Assisted in constructing four new classrooms, increasing the school's capacity to educate 80 additional students.
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Organized educational materials and school uniforms for the upcoming term, ensuring a well-prepared learning environment.
International Rescue Committee, Silver Spring, Maryland
Intern, Youth Development, Sept 2022- Dec 2022
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Provided academic support to recently arrived refugee students (ages 5-24) from various countries including Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Afghanistan.
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Offered English language support, college/career readiness help, assessed future educational opportunities for refugees, and worked to address other barriers to education, namely foreign credit evaluations.
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Developed curriculum and managed casework for clients requiring calls with the use of a translator.
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Conducted multi-cultural training, addressed client concerns of personal wellbeing, and coordinated community events, specifically University of Maryland Good Neighbor Day.
Additional Work Experience
Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), Washington D.C.
Intern, Global Programs July 2023- Dec 2023
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Provided support on a variety of projects focused on promoting democratic and economic freedom, digital governance, and community resilience.
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Assisted with the team's reporting to the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), including knowledge management sheets, board summaries, and semi-annual reports.
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Conducted a long-term research project on the effects of climate-induced migration in Sub-Saharan Africa and architected recommendations to mitigate the influx of migrants in the region.
McCain Institute for International Leadership, Washington D.C.
Junior Fellow, Preventing Targeted Violence, Jan 2023- May 2023
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Worked on the Preventing Targeted Violence Team to evaluate, identify, and employ pragmatic approaches to countering targeted violence and domestic terrorism. Attended Department of Homeland Security (DHS) briefings on targeted violence and terrorism prevention, as well as DHS program grants and funding.
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Curated a diverse panel of speakers and agenda for the Spring 2023 Prevention Practitioners Symposium In Los Angeles. Conducted research and outreach to enhance the Prevention Practitioners Network, a national network of interdisciplinary professionals dedicated to preventing targeted violence, terrorism, and their impacts within the United States.
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Coordinated planning efforts for the Invent2Prevent competition, a student-led innovation competition co-hosted DHS. Compiled reports for DHS evaluating the competition, assisting with DHS officials and interviewing competitors.
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Directed social media for SCREEN Hate, an outreach campaign to educate parents, teachers, and other professionals on the dangers of online violence and hate speech. Researched ways to identify harmful online behaviors and warning signs.
South Tunisia Adventures
Part-Time Consultant, Jan 2023- May 2023
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Semester-long project for IBUS-471: Peace Through Entrepreneurship. Partnered with South Tunisia Adventures, an adventure tourism company in the Dahar region of Tunisia, to develop new methods of attracting clients without the use of intermediary travel agencies.
