Interview Tips for ESL Teaching Jobs Abroad

source：Teach Abroad time：2018-10-19 17:06:15 read:7660

Interview tips for ESL Jobs
Looking for a new teaching job can be a full time job in itself so once you have secured an interview with a good school you will definitely want to make sure you are fully prepared and present yourself in the best possible light. This article will provide plenty of interview tips for ESL teachers, which will help you structure your interview answers.

Before the job interview
Obviously it is wise to read up about the company and find out all you can about their schools, teaching methods, course material, requirements and any other details you can. Not only does it show initiative and that you are genuinely interested in the job you are interviewing for but having a good understanding of the company allows you to make a more informed decision on whether that particular school is right for you.

Self-introduction video
Here’s your opportunity to really impress the school. Making a short introduction video will give the employer a good idea about your English ability, teaching style, classroom presence and the command of your voice.
A video introduction is sometimes requested by schools for non-native English speaking candidates but native speakers can also find it very useful especially if you have no teaching experience. Make sure you make a proper script and rehearse before recording your video introduction. Including a short video clip of you inside the classroom actually teaching is also a great way to stand out from the crowd. 

Getting ready for a Skype interview
Most interviews are done via Skype and are usually video calls so make sure you have tested your microphone and headphones, have a webcam ready and a fast internet connection. With Skype you can set your profile picture too so ensure you have a professional one for the interview.
It’s definitely worth finding a quiet, well lit place for the interview. Dress professionally, as you would for a face to face interview, so a shirt and tie for men and smart clothes for women.

Tips for during the interview
Most interviews with schools will last from 45 – 90 minutes and usually start with some small talk. The interview will usually be spilt into three sections, beginning with the interviewer asking you questions, then moving on to telling you about the job, school and city and finally answering any questions you have.
Generally the interviewer will be asking questions related to your previous teaching experience (or if you don’t have any yet, then about your TEFL course), your views on teaching, how you would teach specific language or grammar points, classroom management techniques, dealing with discipline issues (especially if you are interviewing for a young learner job), teaching materials you have made, lesson planning as well as questions not related to teaching such as how you work with a team and cultural sensitivity perhaps.

Questions asked in an English teacher job interview
Interview questions for experienced teachers
Can you tell me more about your experience at (previous schools)?
What further training have you received? (workshops, seminars etc)
How do you deal with difficult students?
How do you motivate students?
What courses books have you used? Any preferences?
What is a good activity you have used recently?
What kind of feedback have you got from observed lessons?
Talk me through a lesson that went well
How would you teach the present perfect?
What are your goals for the future for your teaching?
How do you teach large group sizes?
Have you used interactive white boards before?
What are the main roles of a teacher?
What are the keys to effective learning?
What classroom management techniques do you use ensure your classes run smoothly?
What makes a good lesson plan?
Interview questions for recent TEFL course graduates
What did the TEFL course cover?
What did you find most interesting?
What did you find most challenging?
What was the most useful feedback you got from your tutor?
Did you make any of your own materials?
Which areas do you still need to improve on?
Ideal qualities the school is looking for in a candidate
Don’t expect the interview to be overly formal, the school will be looking to get to know you and find out whether you would be a good fit at the school. The kind of qualities they will be looking for are of course a genuine enthusiasm and passion for the job and plenty of energy especially if the job is for teaching young learners.
Be clear about your reasons for wanting to live and teach abroad and make sure you can show that you will be able to cope with the challenges. Reliability and professionalism are important as is the ability to be flexible, open minded and culturally aware.

The chance for you to ask questions in the interview
The interview is of course a chance for you to ask all the questions that you have and to really find out if it’s the right school for you. These will be both teaching and non-teaching related questions. Don’t be afraid to ask about the contract, compensation package as well as general questions about the city and way of life. Some of the common questions to ask in a teacher interview are listed below:
About the job and school
Can you describe for me what a week at work would be like?
What are the teaching resources like?
How long are the classes and how many students in each class?
Are teaching assistants available?
What’s the technology like? Does your school have interactive white boards?
Are there any off-site classes or are they all taught in the school?
About the teacher’s accommodation
Is accommodation provided?
Will I be sharing with another teacher?
Do I have the option of getting my own housing?
How far is it from the school?
You might also want to ask about flight allowances, bonuses, appraisals, training, admin duties, promotion opportunities and the visa application process.
About the city
What do the teachers like to do in their free-time?
What are my options for learning Chinese?
What is the cost of living like?

After the job interview
After the interview you can expect to hear from the school with a final result within 5 working days. The school may well be talking to a few other candidates but usually like to get a job offer out quickly to candidates they want to hire. A job offer will be sent via email and sometimes you will be given a deadline on when they expect an answer.

Begin the adventure
Once a job has been offered and accepted the school will begin the visa application process, which can take between 3 to 6 weeks. Once the visa is in your passport, the adventure begins and you can book your flight ticket.
So for the ESL job interview, remember to be well prepared and relaxed. It is a chance for you to really show why you are the right person for the job, let your personality shine through and ask plenty of questions. If all goes well you will have a handful of offers and be in the position to pick and choose the very best job.