Teaching Without Teaching Experience

[BrooklineBiker]

Hi all,
I'm interested in teaching an adult education class. This would be my first time teaching anything in a formal setting. I've been trying to draft a cover letter to interest local adult education providers but most of the templates that I've seen are for experienced instructors. Does anyone have recommendations on how to pitch myself without formal teaching experience?

[mozar]

Just call them and ask them. They might not even want a cover letter in the first place. You can also stop by and introduce yourself.

[BrooklineBiker]

Thanks Mozar!

[Hargrove]

Don't try to excuse yourself from not having teaching experience. Take the opposite strategy, which is largely to spend time on why you're an enthusiast/how it captured your imagination/why teaching now is a good decision/what you hope to offer.

They will know you don't have experience - don't dwell on it. Convince them of what you do have. Teaching is storytelling, acting, passion, attentiveness, empathy, logic, creativity, subject knowledge...

Don't be afraid to introduce yourself as an expert on your thing, even if you're not an expert at portraying yourself as an expert on your thing.