Workshop 09 — Cover Letters & Following Up · Facilitator Lesson Plan

For: CSC office staff, case managers, bilingual volunteers You don't need to be an expert. The deck does the teaching. Your job is pacing, translating, and reassuring. Many participants find writing English exposing — treat the 3-paragraph template as scaffolding, not a test.

1 · At-a-Glance

2 · Learning Objectives

After this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Decide whether a specific job needs a cover letter (yes / no / optional).
2. Draft a 3-paragraph cover letter using the template — intro, skills, ask.
3. Follow up on a submitted application on Day 3 and Day 7 using a phone or email script.
4. Track applications in a notebook, phone notes, or paper sheet.

3 · Pre-Workshop Checklist (15 min before start)

Tech

• Open slides; test language toggle (top-right "中文")
• Default language matches the room — most CSC sessions start in 中文
• Click through slides 5 and 8 — "Reveal" buttons must appear; refresh if missing
• Test projector mirror; slide counter shows 1 / 12
• Bookmark workshop URL on phone as backup
• Load /resources once on laptop so it caches offline

Materials

• ~20 double-sided handouts (template + tracker + checklist)
• Print Quick Reference Card (section 12) — clip to lectern
• Bilingual sign-in sheet at door; pens at every seat

Room

• U-shape ≤12, rows ≥13; one chair near you for the 1-on-1 after

Yourself

• Skim this plan once (15 min); say slide 1 bilingual opening out loud
• Read section 8 Q&A — be ready for top 3

4 · Audience Snapshot

LEP Chinese adults from Alhambra, Monterey Park, Rosemead, El Monte, and Chinatown core — decades of work in restaurants, garment, caregiving, retail, back-of-house. Almost none have written a cover letter in English. They've heard the term, never produced one. They walk in slightly defensive: long-form English feels exposing, "cover letter" sounds like a college task. Your job: shrink it to three short paragraphs, show that half a page is enough, send them home with a copyable template.

5 · Cultural & Bilingual Tips

• Frame, not prescribe. Many jobs (walk-in restaurant, retail, Indeed quick-apply) don't need one. Say 需要的时候，有个公式可以套 ("when needed, here's a formula"). Slide 3 leads with this.
• Writing English is face-exposing. Hesitation isn't slowness — it's fear of judgment. Template = scaffolding, not test. Say 照着模板填，不用从头写.
• Bilingual cadence. Lead with the key Chinese phrase, then the English term. One key phrase per slide — don't translate every sentence.
• Gaps are normal, not a confession. Never ask "who has a gap?" Use 如果上一份工作是几年前的，可以这样写…. Writing problem with a writing solution.
• AI is a starter, not a cheat. 先写个初稿，再改成自己的话 ("first draft, then your own words"). Risk: don't paste a letter you can't read.
• 敬启者 / "To Whom It May Concern". Many older participants learned this in school. Not wrong, just old-fashioned. Validate briefly, point to Dear Hiring Manager (亲爱的招聘经理).

6 · Slide-by-Slide Script

One block per slide. SAY verbatim or close. POINT TO keeps your finger on the visual. ASK turns it into a conversation. WATCH FOR flags common confusion. IF SHORT is your trim card.

Slide 1 · Title · ⏱ 1 min

SAY: 欢迎大家。今天用 30 分钟讲两件事：怎么写求职信，申请之后怎么跟进。 — "Welcome. In 30 minutes: how to write a cover letter, and how to follow up after applying."

POINT TO: Title; date line.

ASK: 有人最近申请过工作吗？ — "Has anyone applied for a job recently?" Take 2–3 quick hands.

WATCH FOR: Hesitation to raise hands. A small nod counts.

IF SHORT: Skip ASK.

Slide 2 · Agenda · ⏱ 1 min

SAY: 两件事：第一，求职信的三段公式。第二，申请之后的跟进。 — "Two things: the 3-paragraph formula, then follow-up."

POINT TO: Two agenda cards.

WATCH FOR: Participants who came for resume help. Reassure: "Resume is a different workshop — today is the letter that goes WITH the resume."

IF SHORT: 30 seconds, advance.

Slide 3 · Do You Need a Cover Letter? · ⏱ 3 min

SAY: 每次申请都要写求职信吗？答案是：看情况。 — "Do you need one every time? It depends."

POINT TO: Three columns — green ✓, red ✗, gray ?.

ASK: 你最近申请的工作，是哪一种？ — "The job you applied to most recently — which column?" Take 2–3 examples.

WATCH FOR: A participant who feels they should have written one when they didn't need to. Reassure: 没写不代表错 — 看情况 ("not writing one wasn't a mistake").

IF SHORT: Read just the three column headers. Skip ASK.

Slide 4 · The Simple 3-Paragraph Formula · ⏱ 4 min

SAY: 三段就够了。第一段：你是谁、申请什么。第二段：你有什么经验。第三段：感谢、留电话。半页纸就够。 — "Three paragraphs is all you need. Paragraph 1: who and what. 2: experience. 3: thank them, leave your phone. Half a page."

POINT TO: The three-circle diagram (Intro → Skills → Ask), then each formula card.

ASK: 如果只能选一段最重要的，是哪一段？ — "Which paragraph is most important?" (Answer: paragraph 2 — connects YOUR experience to THEIR job.)

WATCH FOR: People thinking they need to write more. Repeat: 半页就够 — 雇主很忙.

IF SHORT: Read the three card headers only. Skip the example sentences.

STRETCH (advanced): 如果你已经写过求职信 — 哪一段你最难写？为什么？ ("If you've written one before — which paragraph is hardest? Why?") Most experienced participants say paragraph 2 (the skills bridge) — exactly the answer that anchors the keystone slide 5.

SCAFFOLD (beginner): Read the three card headers in Chinese only — 自我介绍 · 你的经验 · 谢谢和留电话. Point to each circle as you say it. Use three fingers. Compare a weak opener (I want a job) to a strong opener (I am applying for the cashier position at Wing Fat Market) out loud — the strong one names WHAT and WHERE. Don't ask anyone to repeat in English on this slide.

Slide 5 · Fill in the Blanks Cover Letter · ⏱ 5 min

SAY: 我们一起试一下。假设：申请超市收银员。这封信里有几个空，我们一起填。 — "Imagine: applying for a supermarket cashier. Let's fill the blanks together."

POINT TO: The letter. Read it slowly — Chinese, then English. Pause at each blank.

ASK: For each blank: 这里应该填什么？ — "What goes here?" Blanks: cashier (收银员), Indeed, three years (三年), phone number. Take answers, THEN click Reveal Answers.

WATCH FOR: Silence on the phone number blank — normal. Suggest "your own phone goes here."

IF SHORT: Skip the room-call. Click Reveal and read the completed letter aloud.

Pedagogical note: Highest-value moment in the workshop. Most participants have never seen a complete cover letter. Don't rush.

STRETCH (advanced): 如果换成你正在申请的那份工作 — 这四个空你会怎么填？ ("If this were the job YOU'RE applying to — what would go in these four blanks?") Have them whisper-write to a neighbor or jot on the handout. Best advanced extension because it forces personalization without re-teaching the template. This becomes the launching point for §13 Finish-Early Extension if you have spare time.

SCAFFOLD (beginner): Treat each blank as a swap, not a fill. 这就像换字 — 'cashier' 换成你要申请的工作；'Indeed' 换成你看到这份工作的地方；'three years' 换成你做过几年。模板不变，只换四个字。 ("It's a swap, not writing — 'cashier' swaps to your job; 'Indeed' swaps to where you saw it; 'three years' swaps to your years. Template stays, four words swap.") If a participant is still stuck, write the four swap-words on a sticky note for them. Don't ask them to read the full letter in English aloud — just the four swapped words.

Slide 6 · Common Mistakes — Avoid These · ⏱ 3 min

SAY: 避开这五个错误，你的信就会被认真看。 — "Avoid these five mistakes and your letter will be read seriously."

POINT TO: Each ✗ row. Spend most time on row 1 (too long) and row 4 (To Whom It May Concern).

ASK: On the To Whom It May Concern row: 这句话有人在学校学过吗？ — "Did anyone learn this in school?" Many older participants nod. Then: 不算错，但有点老式 — 现在用 Dear Hiring Manager 更友善.

WATCH FOR: Defensiveness on "spelling errors." Soften: 让朋友、CSC 工作人员、或 ChatGPT 帮你检查.

IF SHORT: Read just the five red X headers.

STRETCH (advanced): 'To Whom It May Concern' 是很多人在学校学的。还有没有其他英文短语 — 您在学校学过、现在听起来有点老式的？ ("'To Whom It May Concern' is what many people learned in school. Are there other English phrases you learned in school that now sound old-fashioned?") Common surfacings: Yours sincerely, Esteemed Sir/Madam, Please find enclosed, Whom shall I say is calling?. Validate every one — 不算错，只是现在很少用了 ("not wrong, just rarely used now"). This is the generational-language lens — names the pattern without grading anyone.

SCAFFOLD (beginner): Don't try to teach all five mistakes. Pick TWO: row 1 (太长 / too long) and row 4 (敬启者 / To Whom It May Concern). Point to each with one finger and one sentence. Skip the other three. If a participant looks worried about a mistake they think they've made, say 没关系 — 今天学会了，下次改就好 ("It's fine — you've learned it today, fix it next time").

Slide 7 · After You Apply: How to Follow Up · ⏱ 4 min

SAY: 大多数人申请完就只是等。等是没用的。跟进的人会被记住。 — "Most people just wait. Waiting doesn't help. The people who follow up get remembered."

POINT TO: The timeline — Day 0 (Apply), Day 3 (1st follow-up), Day 7 (check in), Day 14 (move on).

ASK: 今天投了简历，下次联系雇主是几天后？ — "If you applied today, when do you contact them next?" (Answer: Day 3. Many guess longer.)

WATCH FOR: Worry that following up is 太急 (pushy). Address directly: 三天后跟进刚刚好。雇主收到太多申请，跟进帮他们想起你。

IF SHORT: Walk the timeline left-to-right. Skip the lower cards.

Slide 8 · True or False? · ⏱ 2 min

SAY: 两道题 — 举手投票。 — "Two questions — raise your hand to vote."

POINT TO: Q1. Read in Chinese first, then English.

ASK: 求职信越长越好？举手 — 对的请举手。错的请举手。 Take the vote. Click Reveal Answer 1 (FALSE — half a page is enough).

Repeat for Q2 (一两个星期后跟进显得太急？ — also FALSE).

WATCH FOR: Q1 splits ~50/50 in most rooms. The reveal locks in 半页就够.

IF SHORT: Do only Q1.

Slide 9 · Phone Follow-Up Script · ⏱ 3 min

SAY: 打电话紧张是正常的。这就是你的脚本 — 可以照着读。 — "Being nervous is normal. Here's your script — read it out loud."

POINT TO: The 5 numbered lines. Read line 1 slowly in English, then Chinese. Continue through 5.

ASK (optional, only if room is warm): 谁愿意试着读一句？ — "Anyone want to read one line out loud?" Don't push.

WATCH FOR: Pronunciation anxiety. Validate: 读得慢一点没关系，雇主会等。打电话之前深呼吸一下。

IF SHORT: Read only lines 1, 2, and 5.

Slide 10 · Keep a Job Application Tracker · ⏱ 2 min

SAY: 投了五份简历之后，你会忘记是哪家、什么时候投的。用一张表记下来。 — "After 5 applications, you'll forget. Track them on a sheet."

POINT TO: Sample table — Wing Fat Market, Bai Hua Restaurant, Hua Xing Clinic.

ASK: 你现在用什么记？ — "What do you use now?" Take a couple of answers.

WATCH FOR: "I remember in my head." Push back gently: 投了十家以后就记不住了.

IF SHORT: Point to the table and the two tips. ~60 seconds.

Slide 11 · How We Can Help You (CSC Services) · ⏱ 1 min

SAY: 这些都是 CSC 免费的服务 — 不分身份，不收费。 — "All free CSC services — no status questions, no fees."

POINT TO: Five service cards + 213-808-1758.

WATCH FOR: Someone leaning in to read the phone number — they're the one who'll come to a 1-on-1. Note them.

IF SHORT: Phone number + "免费 · 双语" only.

Slide 12 · More Resources + QR · ⏱ 1 min

SAY: 扫这个二维码，可以拿到完整的模板、跟进脚本、和申请记录表。也可以拿一张打印的回家。 — "Scan the QR for the full template, follow-up scripts, and tracker. Or take a printed copy."

POINT TO: QR + the printed handout in your hand.

ASK: 今天最想用的是哪一个 — 模板？跟进脚本？还是申请记录表？ — "Which will you use first?"

WATCH FOR: People lingering at the QR — they want drafting help. Stay 5 extra minutes after.

7 · Interactive Moments

8 · Common Participant Questions

Never give legal, immigration, or tax advice. For gap-related questions, give a writing solution — never ask the participant to disclose the reason.

Q1: 我有几年没工作，怎么写？ / "I have a gap — how do I write it?"

You say: 求职信不用解释空档 — 只写您有什么经验和技能。比如"我有五年餐厅经验，做事认真。" 不必说哪几年。雇主问就面试时简短说一句。 ("Cover letters don't need to explain gaps — just write your experience and skills. Like 'I have 5 years restaurant experience and I'm reliable.' Don't say which years. If asked, answer briefly at interview.") Route to: CSC 1-on-1 — 213-808-1758.

Q2: 我英文不好，可以用 ChatGPT 写吗？ / "Can I use ChatGPT?"

You say: 可以 — 让 ChatGPT 写个初稿，再改成自己能读懂、能解释的话。不要直接复制粘贴一封自己读不懂的信。雇主打电话来，您要能聊里面的内容。 ("Yes — first draft from ChatGPT, then edit into language you can read and explain. Don't paste a letter you can't read. Employer may call about it.") Route to: Resources page template — start there, refine with AI if needed.

Q3: 不知道招聘经理的名字，写谁？ / "Don't know the hiring manager's name?"

You say: 用 'Dear Hiring Manager'（亲爱的招聘经理）就好。所有公司都接受。不用写 'To Whom It May Concern' — 太老式了。 ("Use 'Dear Hiring Manager' — standard, every company accepts it. Skip 'To Whom It May Concern' — too old-fashioned.") Route to: Slide 6 / handout.

Q4: 跟进时打电话还是发邮件？ / "Call or email when following up?"

You say: 两个都行。小公司、餐厅、零售 — 打电话更直接。大公司、网申 — 发邮件更专业。不知道电话号码，就发邮件。 ("Either. Small business, restaurant, retail — call. Big company, online apply — email. No phone number, email.") Route to: Resources page section 3 (both scripts).

Q5: Indeed 一键申请 — 也要写求职信吗？ / "Indeed quick-apply — still write one?"

You say: 如果没有上传栏位，就不用写。如果有上传栏位（写 'optional'），写一封短的会让您更突出。看您时间。 ("No upload box, skip it. Upload box says 'optional', a short one helps you stand out.") Route to: Slide 3 — the "optional" column.

Q6: 没有邮箱怎么办？ / "I don't have an email."

You say: 要有一个邮箱才能找工作 — 雇主都用邮件。Gmail 免费，5 分钟可以注册。CSC 可以帮您。 ("Need email to job-search — Gmail free, 5 min. CSC can help.") Route to: CSC 213-808-1758, ask for "email setup."

Q7: 跟进了两次都没回复，是不是没希望了？ / "Followed up twice, no reply — hopeless?"

You say: 不一定 — 大公司常常要两三周才回复。两周之后继续投别家，但不要放弃这家。两周后没消息，再发一封短邮件，然后专心找下一份。 ("Not necessarily — big companies take 2–3 weeks. After 2 weeks, keep applying elsewhere but don't drop this one. Still nothing? One more short email, then move on.") Route to: Slide 7 timeline — Day 14 = move on.

Q8: 我去 99 大华、大华超市、或者 Monterey Park 的餐厅直接问工作 — 也要带求职信吗？ / "If I walk into 99 Ranch, 大华, or a Monterey Park restaurant to ask about work — do I bring a cover letter?"

You say: 不用 — 那种现场申请只要简历、身份证、和工卡（如果有）就够了。求职信主要是网申、邮件投递、或办公室职位用的。但您可以带一张写好电话和经验的小纸条 — 经理忙的时候，递过去更专业。 ("No — for walk-in applications, just bring your resume, ID, and work permit if you have one. Cover letters are for online apps, email submissions, or office jobs. But you can bring a small note with your phone and experience — looks professional when the manager is busy.") Route to: Slide 3 — the "No — skip it" column.

9 · Recovery Plans

If the internet fails:

• Slides cache offline via service worker — refresh once and they should keep working.
• Use the printed handouts as the visual anchor.
• Skip the QR demo; point to the printed URL.

If only 3 people show up:

• Sit in a circle. Conversation, not presentation.
• Skip the slide 8 vote — just ask and discuss.
• On slide 5, let participants suggest fills for THEIR job, not just cashier.

If 25+ people show up:

• Cluster chairs in 4s — good for slides 5 and 8.
• Use the mic if available.
• For slide 5, give one blank per cluster.
• Stay at the door 5 extra minutes after.

If the group is silent:

• Wait 7 full seconds. Silence is translation time, not failure.
• Re-ask using 如果有人… ("if someone…") framing.
• Share your own example.

If one participant dominates:

• 好的，谢谢分享。我们听听其他人的看法。
• Walk toward another part of the room.
• If they persist: 下课后我们可以一对一聊一下。

If you're running long (>5 min over at the halfway mark):

• Skip IF SHORT items on slides 6, 7, 9.
• Combine slides 11 + 12 into one minute.
• Cut slide 9 read-aloud.

If you finish early (5 / 10 / 15 min spare):

Don't default to 还有什么问题吗？ — silence will eat the time. Match the activity to your spare-time budget.

• 5 min spare — Round-the-room one-word check: 用一个词说说，今天最重要的一件事是什么？ / "In one word, what's the most important thing from today?" Take 8–10 quick answers. Likely words: 三段 / 跟进 / Day 3 / 模板. Closes the loop without dragging.
• 10 min spare — Pair-share draft: each participant writes ONE paragraph (intro OR skills) for their real most-recent target job, swaps with neighbor for a 60-second 听起来自然吗？ ("does it sound natural?") check. Full activity in §13 Finish-Early Extension.
• 15 min spare — Use the first sub-block of the 60-Minute Variant (see §13): open phones/laptops, paste the slide 5 template into Notes or email. Stands on its own as a hands-on applied block.

If a question goes runaway long:

• 好问题。让我先记下来，我们在 1-on-1 / 资源页面里看更深。 — "Good question. Let me write it down — we'll go deeper in 1-on-1 / on the resource page."
• Write it visibly on a whiteboard or paper "parking lot." Move on.

If a participant pushes for legal/immigration advice:

• Don't answer. 这个我没办法回答 — CSC 有一对一服务，可以帮您。
• Route to CSC 213-808-1758.

If a participant asks tax / ITIN / work-authorization questions (off-topic for this workshop):

• 好问题 — 这超出今天求职信的范围。VITA 同事会帮您看更准 — 报税相关。工作许可的问题，AJCC 的双语顾问最清楚。
• ITIN / W-9 → VITA (free tax sites, January–April).
• Work authorization / I-9 → AJCC East SGV (626) 934-5700.
• Start a business / self-employed → SBDC or SCORE.

10 · Closing & Next Steps (last 3 minutes)

SAY (verbatim): 今天就到这里。三件事请记得：① 三段就够，半页足够。② 申请之后第 3 天、第 7 天跟进。③ 用表格记下每份申请。下一步：拿走一张资料，扫二维码看在线模板，想要 CSC 帮您检查的，下课后跟我说。

Translation: "That's all for today. Three things: ① three paragraphs, half a page is enough. ② Follow up on Day 3 and Day 7. ③ Track every application. Next: take a handout, scan the QR for the online template, and if you want CSC to review your letter, see me after."

Hand out: Resources handout. Point to the template (section 1) and tracker (section 4). Show the CSC phone number.

Send them to:

• https://cover-letter-workshop.pages.dev/resources — template, scripts, checklist, tracker
• CSC 1-on-1 cover letter help — 213-808-1758 (walk-in or call to book)
• AJCC East SGV — (626) 934-5700 — in-person resume + cover letter help in Mandarin

11 · Post-Workshop Tasks (within 24 hours)

• Save the sign-in sheet (scan/photograph)
• Log total attendance + brief mood note
• Send "thank you for attending" message (WeChat/email) with slides + resources URL
• Schedule anyone who asked for review into the next CSC 1-on-1 slot
• Note any question you couldn't answer for the next staff sync
• Flag any slide that confused the room

12 · Quick Reference Card (print this page)

One sheet. Clipboard. Lectern. Glance during the workshop.

Workshop 09 — Cover Letters & Following Up · 30 min

Agenda strip:

1. (slide 1–2) Welcome + agenda — 2 min
2. (slide 3–4) Need one? + the 3-paragraph formula — 7 min
3. (slide 5) Fill-in-the-blanks activity — 5 min
4. (slide 6–7) Common mistakes + follow-up timeline — 7 min
5. (slide 8–9) Quiz + phone script — 5 min
6. (slide 10–12) Tracker + CSC + QR — 4 min

If running long: cut slide 9 read-aloud + slide 8 Q2 first; combine slides 11 + 12; convert slide 5 group fill-in to "think 30 sec + raise hand."

If you finish early:

• 5 min spare → round-the-room one-word check (一个词 recap)
• 10 min spare → §13 Finish-Early Extension (one-paragraph pair-share draft)
• 15+ min spare → first sub-block of §13 60-Min Variant (paste template into Notes/email)

Top 5 questions you'll get:

1. I have a gap in work history — how do I write that?
2. Can I use ChatGPT to write it?
3. Who do I address it to without a name?
4. Call or email when following up?
5. I don't have an email — what do I do?

Emergency phrases:

• Silence: 如果有人… ("if someone…")
• Redirect: 我们听听其他人的看法。
• No answer: 好问题。让我跟同事确认一下，我们再联系你。
• Out of scope: 这个问题最好问 [AJCC / 律师 / CSC 一对一]。我可以帮你联系。

Three facts to know cold:

• The formula: 3 paragraphs — Intro · Skills · Ask. Half a page. Under 200 words.
• The follow-up cadence: Day 0 apply · Day 3 first follow-up · Day 7 check in · Day 14 move on.
• Salutation upgrade: Dear Hiring Manager, not To Whom It May Concern (敬启者 — old-fashioned).

If something breaks:

• WiFi out → printed handout + phone backup (slides cache offline)
• Reveal button doesn't work → refresh the page
• Projector dies → walk the printed template (section 1) around the room
• Question I can't answer → 我跟同事确认，联系你。 + write it down

13 · 60-Minute Variant (when you have a full hour)

Use this when: Your slot is 60 minutes instead of 30+10, OR you finish the core 30-min teach with significant time remaining, OR the room asks for hands-on practice. The variant ADDS 30 min of applied work after the 30-min core — it does NOT re-run the same slides.

Don't lecture longer. The 30-min core is calibrated to LEP-adult attention. Extra time goes to PRACTICE — turning the slide 5 template into a real letter the participant can send tomorrow.

Finish-Early Extension (10 min — drop in after slide 12 or mid-workshop if you're well ahead)

A one-paragraph pair-share draft. Each participant writes one paragraph (intro OR skills) for THEIR real most-recent target job, swaps with a neighbor for a 60-second "does it sound natural?" check, and volunteers read theirs aloud. The whole point: prove that the slide 5 template works for THEIR job, not just the cashier example.

• Setup (1 min): 刚才我们一起填了收银员的信。现在你试一下 — 写一段，是关于你最近想申请的工作。 ("We filled in the cashier letter together. Now you try one paragraph for the job YOU want to apply to.") Hand out blank paper if anyone needs it. Ask everyone to pick one paragraph — Intro OR Skills, not both. Pair adjacent neighbors; if odd number, you pair with the leftover.
• Activity (7 min): - First 4 min: silent draft. Walk the room. Whisper 照着模板填 ("just fill the template") to anyone staring at the page. Don't correct grammar — that comes in the variant. - Next 3 min: pair swap. The reader's only job: 听起来自然吗？ ("does it sound natural?") Not "is the grammar right?" — that question makes people freeze. If a pair finishes early, ask them: 换一个雇主名字，还行得通吗？ ("would it still work if you swapped in a different employer?")
• Debrief (2 min): Ask for one volunteer to read theirs aloud. After they read, name one strong move (这里说'三年餐厅经验'很具体，很好 / "the specific '3 years restaurant experience' is strong") and one stretch (如果再加一句为什么想去这家，更打动人 / "if you add one sentence on WHY this employer, it lands harder"). Don't critique grammar publicly. If no volunteer, read your own (have one ready as backup).

60-Minute Variant — Applied Block (30 min, added after Slide 12)

The keystone hour: every participant leaves with a real, sendable draft on their phone. Three sub-blocks. The room moves from template → personalization → polish → "send to self" so the file is in their email when they walk out.

Time: 30 min (35 if you include the 5-min wrap below)

Materials added:

• The printed slide 5 template — one copy per participant (also already on the handout)
• A bilingual volunteer if at all possible — one volunteer can handle 6–8 micro-edits in 10 min
• Whiteboard or large paper for parking-lot questions
• Confirm room has WiFi strong enough for 10–20 phones; if not, use the offline printed template only and skip the "send to self" step

Sub-block 1 — Open & Paste the Template · ⏱ 10 min

Goal: every participant has the slide 5 template open in Notes app, Gmail draft, or WeChat self-message, ready to edit.

• (1 min) 请大家拿出手机。我们要把刚才那封信的模板，复制到自己的手机里 — 之后才能改成自己的。 ("Take out your phone. We're going to paste the template into your own phone, so you can edit it.")
• (3 min) Project the slide 5 text and the resources URL. Walk three options out loud: - Notes app (iPhone / Android) — easiest for first-timers. - Gmail draft — best if they want to send it from their phone later. - WeChat "File Transfer" / self-chat (文件传输助手 / 我自己) — familiar to most participants.
• (5 min) Participants type or paste. Bilingual volunteer + you circulate. The two things you whisper most often: Notes app 在哪 — 黄色的图标 ("Notes app — the yellow icon") and 先复制模板，不用改任何字 ("paste first, don't edit yet").
• (1 min) Quick room check: 有人没打开吗？ ("Anyone not open yet?") Don't move on until every phone is showing the template. This is the only sub-block that fails if anyone falls behind.

Sub-block 2 — Swap In Your Real Employer + 3 Sentences for Paragraph 2 · ⏱ 10 min

Goal: every draft now names a real employer and has 3 specific sentences in the middle paragraph.

• (1 min) 第一步 — 把'Wing Fat Market'改成你真的想申请的雇主。可以是 99 大华、可以是隔壁的诊所、可以是 Indeed 上看到的那家。 ("Step 1 — swap 'Wing Fat Market' for the real employer you want to apply to. 99 Ranch, the clinic down the street, the one you saw on Indeed.") If a participant doesn't have a specific target, name one of: 99 Ranch, Hawaii Supermarket, Bai Hua Restaurant, San Gabriel Healthcare, El Monte AJCC office — local enough to feel real.
• (7 min) Paragraph 2 work. The script for the room: 第二段是最重要的 — 写三句话：① 你做过什么 ② 你做了几年 ③ 一件你特别会的事。 ("Paragraph 2 is the most important — write three sentences: ① what you've done ② how many years ③ one thing you're especially good at.") Bilingual volunteer + you do 1-on-1 micro-edits. The 60-second rule: under one minute per person on the first lap, longer help second lap.
• (2 min) Quick share-back: 谁愿意念一句你刚刚写的？ ("Anyone want to read one sentence?") Take 2–3 voices. Validate every read with one specific compliment ('十年厨房经验' — 数字很清楚 / "'10 years kitchen experience' — the number is clear").

Sub-block 3 — Micro-Edits + Send-to-Self Close · ⏱ 10 min

Goal: every participant has the polished draft saved in their email so they leave with a usable file, not a piece of paper that might get lost.

• (6 min) Second lap of 1-on-1 micro-edits. You and the bilingual volunteer split the room. Priorities, in order: (1) spelling of the employer name, (2) phone number on the last line, (3) Dear Hiring Manager (not To Whom It May Concern — the generational-language moment from slide 6). DON'T rewrite their voice. The letter should still sound like them.
• (3 min) Send-to-self step. 最后一步 — 把这封信发给你自己。这样你回家以后还能找到。 ("Last step — send this letter to yourself. So you can find it when you get home.") Walk three options: - In Notes: tap share → Mail → enter your own email → send. - In Gmail draft: tap the recipient line → type your own email → send. - In WeChat self-chat: it's already there — 已经存好了 ("already saved").
• (1 min) Close: 恭喜 — 你已经有一封求职信了。下次看到合适的工作，改一改雇主名字就能投。 ("Congrats — you have a cover letter now. Next time you see a good job, just swap the employer name and apply.")

Close (5 min, optional — use if you have 65 min total): Round-robin one-line share: 下个礼拜，你打算投这封信给哪家？ ("This week, who are you going to send this to?") One name per person. Most rooms surface 2–3 SGV employers everyone recognizes — that recognition is what turns the workshop into action.

When to use what — quick rules

Differentiation in the variant

• For advanced learners (have written letters before, comfortable in English): Run the 60-Min Variant as the default — they need the application, not more teaching. In Sub-block 2, push them to write all three paragraphs, not just paragraph 2. The advanced extension worth adding: surface the 敬启者 / "To Whom It May Concern" beat as a generational-language lens — invite a participant to share another English business phrase they learned in school that may now be dated (Yours sincerely, Esteemed Sir/Madam, Please find enclosed). Names the pattern without grading anyone.
• For mixed-proficiency rooms: Pair an advanced participant with a beginner during Sub-block 2. The advanced participant gets to teach (deeper learning); the beginner gets a peer scaffold — and the advanced participant's letter often improves from explaining it out loud.
• For beginner-heavy rooms: Shrink Sub-blocks 2 and 3, expand Sub-block 1 to 15 min — most of the time goes into "just get the template on your phone." For paragraph 2, give them a fill-in-the-blank version: I have ____ years of experience as a ____. I am very ____ and ____. Two adjectives off a printed list (reliable / hardworking / friendly / careful / quick / experienced). Language-light, document-based.

Routing & boundary

Same rules as the 30-min core: no legal, tax, immigration, or medical advice. Hands-on activities focus on document-reading, template-filling, script-rehearsal — NOT decision-making for the participant's individual case. If a participant during 1-on-1 micro-edits asks about gaps, work authorization, or how to handle a past employer dispute: stay on the writing question, route the rest. ITIN / W-9 → VITA (free tax sites, Jan–Apr). Work authorization / I-9 → AJCC East SGV (626) 934-5700. Self-employment / starting a business → SBDC or SCORE. Cover-letter review beyond today → CSC 1-on-1 at 213-808-1758.

14 · Flashcards & Activities · 随身卡片与活动

There is a 6-card take-home deck for this workshop — vocabulary, a dialogue, a fact sheet, tips, useful info, and a diagram. 这个工作坊有一套 6 张随身卡片:关键词、对话、数据、小贴士、有用信息、图示。

Print 打印: 打开卡片 Open the deck · 直接打印 Print now. Prints 2 cards per landscape sheet (3 sheets per deck). Print one deck per participant, plus 1–2 spare decks for games; cut along the dashed lines. 每人一套,另备 1–2 套做游戏用。

Hand them out at the close (§10) — the deck is the take-home companion to the written action plan. 在结尾(第 10 节)发给大家,和写下的行动计划一起带回家。

Best-fit activities for THIS workshop (full menu of 8 at the flashcards page) · 这个工作坊最适合的两个活动(完整 8 个活动见卡片页):

1. 对话练习 · Dialogue Role-Play (对话卡 dialogue · 3 分钟) — 两人读对话,中英各一遍,换角色,再换成自己的情况。 Pairs read the dialogue in both languages, switch roles, then swap in their own situation.
2. 配对 · Match-Up (关键词卡 vocab · 2 分钟) — 两人一组,一人读英文词、一人说中文意思,翻面对答案。 Partners quiz each other on the terms, then flip to check.

Always close with · 收尾必做 — 带走一张 Keep One Card (whole deck 整套 · 2 min): each participant picks the ONE card most useful to them right now and tells a neighbor why. 每人选一张对自己最有用的卡,告诉旁边的人为什么 — 给他们一个具体的、带得走的东西。