10 English Teacher Interview Questions
You are charting a career path for yourself on the way to becoming an English teacher, aren’t you? Do you want to experience teaching English abroad? The following article will reveal to you the most frequently asked English teacher interview questions along with suggestions on how to best answer them. This may help you score points in the eyes of employers and get the best job soon. Let’s follow the article below!
10 English Teacher Interview Questions you should know
Interviewing is always one of the forms of recruitment that makes job applicants nervous. Partly because they don’t know what kind of person their interviewer is. Do they ask difficult questions that make the other person confused to find the answer? To solve the problem of how to perform well at the interview. The only thing to do is to prepare well before the interview takes place.
So we continue to ask the question how to prepare well before the interview? And the answer is to understand the nature of the profession you do and grasp the questions that will be asked to screen and select the right candidates for the employer.
Surely you know, the purpose of the interview is to talk, exchange, ask questions to better understand the person. Therefore, the respondent’s answer will be very important to the recruiter because it helps them evaluate the candidate’s overall profile.
If you are applying for the position of a foreign English teacher, both offline and online. You all have to go through the usual hiring process. Let’s explore with Language Link a set of core questions often used to interview candidates in this teaching profession.
1. Could you briefly Introduce yourself? – Basic teacher interview questions
Question purpose
Most recruiters use this question to start a conversation with a candidate at the most basic level. Start an interview with a question that shows a caring attitude about the candidate and helps them feel more comfortable and easier to communicate with. The main purpose of this question is to give a brief assessment of the candidate
Suggestions for answers
To answer this question well, you need to provide an overview of personal information such as: name, age, education level, previous positions,.. You should consider introducing yourself encapsulated in maximum 2 minutes. Sharing briefly about interests and personality is also a way to attract employers, but you should not talk too much about these issues with employers.
2. Why do you want to become an English teacher? – Evaluate the teacher’s mission
Question purpose
With this question, the employer wants to know that you are really determined to work long-term with this job. Do you have a long road map to pursue your career goals? This helps them gauge whether you are committed to their profession and to their company.
So, think carefully and consider the answer accordingly so that the employer will be impressed and have a good view of you.
Suggestions for answers
To score on this question, your answer must show your orientation to the profession of an English teacher and commitment to their company.
Example: I want to pass on the useful knowledge I have to the younger generation. Help children develop knowledge. Because new knowledge is the only thing that helps us develop ourselves and awareness. And that’s what motivated me to apply for this position. Becoming a good teacher brings value to the community.
3. Can you share about your certifications and teaching experience? – One of the most common teacher interview questions
Question purpose
Find out about your expertise, qualifications and teaching experience so that your qualifications can be properly assessed.
Suggestions for answers
You just need to state the certificates you have received. Past teaching experience and how it helps in current work. In particular, make sure that your experience and certifications are suitable for the recruitment requirements and the new job position.
In addition, list your accomplishments, such as the number of students you have taught or outstanding results from past students.
4. What do you think is an effective method of teaching English? – Smart strategy assessment questions
Question purpose
Only experienced teachers know which method of teaching English is most effective. The employer’s goal is to assess your level of experience and whether it is in line with their orientation. Moreover, they also want to check if you are a good or useful strategy for their English center in the future.
Suggestions for answers
Actually, there is no specific answer to the question of which method is most effective. Because depending on the age and personality of the students, you will have different teaching methods. An effective method is one that applies the right people at the right time. Then that method will bring about its high understanding.
Preschool children will receive a different teaching method. Students in grade 1 and 2 will learn in a different way. And kids at the age of middle school, high school or college will have a different way of teaching. In it, we need to divide the children into several groups. Group of good, average or weak academics.
In addition, learning needs to mix theory and practice. Develop children’s confidence in speaking, listening, and reflexively. Especially, it is necessary for them to feel that English is a relaxing, entertaining and fun subject to study, not a boring theoretical study.
5. What do you think will be the biggest challenge as an ESL teacher here and how you overcome it?- Questions that test how you see difficulty
Question purpose
Assess the candidate’s ability to take an overview of job challenges and how to approach them.
Your ability to manage and handle situations. In addition to this question, the employer may want to learn more about your personality.
Suggestions for answers
For an open-ended question like this, you should give a situation that you encountered during your teaching, then state how you handled the situation and drew on your own experience. Besides, always show that you accept difficulties in a positive way, not pessimistically and consider them as obstacles. You are always stronger through difficulties. And thanks to it, you learn how to find solutions and solve problems better.
6. Are you an adaptor? Especially working in another country – Test your adaptation
Question purpose
This is a question to assess whether you integrate well with the environment or colleagues. Are you a good self-made person? It also helps employers check that you have researched thoroughly about the country you are going to live and work in.
Suggestions for answers
Learn about the culture and people of the country you will be teaching in. Thereby, show your curiosity, love to explore and your harmony with the people of that country. Because the profession of a teacher is to interact with many children of many ages. Don’t forget to show that you’re a pretty good grasper of human psychology and always be patient with children.
7. How you can manage a classroom with students with different personalities? – Check if you are understanding how to manage student.
Question purpose
This is a common question when you are interviewing for a teacher position. Through the answer, the employer will evaluate how well organized and managed your class is and how effective it is. Especially when you’re interviewing for a children’s teacher position.
Suggestions for answers
The interview experience when being asked this question is that you should mention the management methods that you have used and organize classes that are diverse, not boring but still effective. In particular, always emphasize that you are a funny person, always bring humor to the class. And always make them feel that learning English is really interesting.
8. How can you help your students to improve their English Language Skills? – Test your interest with students
Question purpose
In addition to expertise and experience, employers want to know that you have a passion for the profession or not. How often do you research and research more effective teaching methods? Do you care about your students and have a mission to help them learn to communicate well in English?
Suggestions for answers
You can answer this question by stating the methods you have used in the teaching process. And how has it helped your previous students change and improve their English skills
With this answer, you will prove to the employer that you have spent a lot of time researching and regularly updating new and effective methods during the teaching process.
9. Do you think a learning method that combines learning and playing is right? – Test your teaching style
Question purpose
This is a question to help employers know if you are an English teacher in a traditional, mechanical way? Do you focus on the feelings of the academy or just teach it through books? Do you create many activities for your students?
Suggestions for answers
The answer is definitely yes. For young children, sitting still and staring at a board, or a book full of words, is a very boring thing. They not only help children feel bored in learning but also scare them when it comes to English.
The common feature of most adolescents is activity. They are always active, dancing, talking and exploring. Therefore, combining teaching and playing games is the right thing to make it interesting for children
10. What do you expect from us in helping you become a successful English teacher? – Assess whether you share the same direction with the organization
Question purpose
The question inquires about the candidate’s requirements so that the candidate can work to the best of his ability. At the same time evaluate the compatibility with the current working environment of the center or school.
Suggestions for answers
This is a question that only you will know the answer to. Because no one will understand your needs better than yourself. However, your needs should also be relevant to the organization you are applying to. And in line with their vision and mission.
So the above article has shared a lot of useful things for you before the interview. Always remember, you also need to choose polite attire, attracting the employer right from the first meeting. And always be confident, smile a lot and calmly answer English teacher interview questions.
Hope the article about English teacher interview questions above will be useful to you. And hope you find the job you want soon.
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