Teacher Screening Interview Questions

Although a large percentage of ESL jobs are filled following face-to-face interviews, there are many countries where it is common practice for schools to recruit teachers from within their home country. This scenario can be a very convenient option for teachers without any previous experience and anyone who is new to international travel. All contact is usually done via email, with the actual interview taking place via phone or webcam. One big benefit of getting a job in advance is it usually means the employer will take care of the paperwork such as visas and work permits. In many cases they will also provide free or subsidized airfares, health insurance and accommodation. The one main downside of this recruitment method is the time it can take to complete the whole process. You...  [Read more]

An interview for an ESL position is much the same as any other interview situation. It can be a scary prospect for many people, but if you have prepared for the most likely questions you should have little to worry about. Although it is impossible to predict exactly how an interview will unfold, most will be based on a similar range of questions that are designed to assess whether you would fit into the existing workforce. One of the main purposes of any job interview is to get some understanding of you as an individual person, so you should expect questions such as: What do you like to do in your spare time? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Where do you see yourself in five years? If, like many ESL teachers, you are applying for jobs outside of your home country you should...  [Read more]

In some situations, ESL teachers are recruited from within their own country via an interview using a phone or webcam. However, in many countries employers prefer to interview potential teachers in person within their own school complex. Although every interview is likely to vary to some degree, there are a few simple rules you should stick to in order to have the best chance of success. It is commonly believed that people form a first impression of someone within the first seven seconds of meeting them. With this in mind, it is very important that you get a few basic interview techniques right to avoid ruining your chances before you have even started answering any questions. It may seem obvious, but being late for the interview has been the downfall of many job hunters. Once you...  [Read more]

Preparing for a TESOL job interview is crucial to stand out as a candidate and increase your chances of landing the position. Here are some key tips to help you get ready for your TESOL job interview: Before the interview, take the time to research the school or institution where you are applying. Familiarize yourself with their teaching methodologies, curriculum, student demographics, and any recent news or developments related to the organization. This will show your interviewers that you are genuinely interested in the position and have taken the time to understand their requirements and expectations. Carefully review the job description and make sure you understand the specific requirements and responsibilities of the role. Be prepared to discuss how your skills, qualifications, and...  [Read more]

  Being interviewed for a TEFL related position is much like any other interview situation; it can be an intimidating prospect. However, if you do your homework and prepare for some general questions in advance, you can remove a great deal of worry from the whole process. Unfortunately you cannot predict exactly how any interview will unfold but most will include a similar range of questions that are aimed at assessing your suitability for joining the existing workforce. So what questions should you expect to be asked? The employer will certainly want to form an impression of who you are as a person, so expect questions such as: What do you like to do in your spare time? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Where do you see yourself in five years? If the job is outside of your...  [Read more]

Although it is common for some ESL job interviews to take place over the internet or phone from within the teacher’s home country, many employers still prefer to interview in person on the school premises. Each job interview you have is likely to be a little different from the last, but there are a few simple guidelines you can follow to ensure you give yourself the very best chance of success. It is a well known idea that we form a first impression of someone within seven seconds of the first meeting. Because of this it is crucial that you are aware of some basic interview techniques to avoid blowing your chances before the interview has really begun. The first thing you should always do for every interview is turn up in plenty of time. Once the interview begins don’t forget to...  [Read more]

If you conduct some simple online research about teaching English abroad you might well come across teachers talking about bad experiences they have had with employers. Although the vast majority of schools worldwide treat their teachers well, there are always going to be a few badly run establishments that you will want to avoid. One of the best ways to do this is to ensure you ask the right questions during your job interview. So what are the right questions to ask the employer during an interview? Every school has its own expectations when it comes to the amount of extra work that is required outside of normal classroom hours. You might have to write regular reports on your students, attend staff meetings, meet with parents to discuss progress, present lesson plans to management...  [Read more]

  Now here are some teaching ideas for the future continuous tense. Here, we have an activity where we'll be asking students to spontaneously make some excuses based upon some invitations. We can do this in pairs or small groups. The teacher will have cut these cards up and the students will place them into a pile, randomly picking up a card. So one student might pick this card up and say 'Would you like to play tennis with me tomorrow?' The other student will be challenged to come up with an excuse as quickly as possible, which might be 'No, I'm sorry I'll be working.' Then, we have the next student pick up the next card and we challenge an additional student to make an excuse. Here we have another teaching idea for the future continuous tense and this involves two students trying...  [Read more]

  Our next main issue is going to be that of giving students individual attention. Here many classroom management and leaving potential discipline problems can be avoided by applying some simple rules to giving your students attention. The first one is to think about the way in which you ask questions. Don't ask questions in a predictable order. If you just go around the class asking questions from one person to the next then the person at the end of the class will know that it's going to be some time before you actually get to them. So try to mix up the way in which you're asking questions. In terms of answers to questions don't allow individual students to dominate all of the answers. One of the things that we can do to help this particular issue is to use the students names as...  [Read more]

There is no single answer to this question as it can refer to different areas of the English teaching world. However, below we try to answer the most likely questions regarding the purpose of TESOL. The simple fact is that the vast majority of ESL employers around the world expect their teachers to have the minimum qualification of a 120-hour TESOL or TEFL certificate. There are three main reasons for this: Teaching is a profession and as with all professionals, we can expect that they have at least had the minimum required training to do what they do. The main purpose of a TESOL certificate course is to give you an introduction to language awareness (English grammar and so on) and some basic teaching skills. Under these two headings a typical 120-hour course will include: There...  [Read more]

This question is one of the most common asked by TESOL course trainees and one of the most difficult to answer as there are so many variables that can affect it. The main thing to realise when considering this question is that the vast majority of our TESOL course graduates go on to find a teaching job either at home or overseas within a reasonably short space of time. Your choice of destination is one of the most significant factors as demand for ESL teachers varies from one area to the next. In countries such as China, the demand far outweighs the available teachers in many places which is great news for first-time teachers who have no experience to put on their application form. The simple fact is, if you are TESOL qualified and would like to teach in China, you will have little...  [Read more]

  Take a look at any online TEFL forum and there is a good chance you will come across stories of unscrupulous employers taking advantage of their teachers. Due to the huge number of English language training providers operating in countries all over the world, it is inevitable that there are some that are badly run. The good news is that by asking a few simple questions you should be able to avoid the jobs you don't want and greatly increase your chances of landing the right position to suit you. Whether you are an experienced EFL teacher looking for a new challenge or a newly qualified TEFL graduate looking for that all important first teaching position, it is vital that you ask the right questions during the job interview process. Although you can never guarantee that any job...  [Read more]

If you are looking to secure a teaching job in Saudi Arabia, there are several steps you can take to increase your chances of success. The demand for English teachers in Saudi Arabia is high, particularly in international schools, language institutes, and universities. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to land a teaching job in Saudi Arabia: To teach English in Saudi Arabia, you typically need a bachelor's degree in a related field such as English, Linguistics, or Education. Many employers also require a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification. Some institutions may prefer candidates with a master's degree or teaching experience. Before applying for teaching positions in Saudi Arabia, research potential...  [Read more]

The Southeast Asia region continues to boom in terms of demand for foreign ESL teachers and Vietnam is no exception. In recent times the salaries being offered have begun to improve as schools look to attract more teachers to the country. Within just a few years, Vietnam is likely to become one of the most popular teaching destinations in the region. Official work permits for teachers in Vietnam are restricted to native English speakers who have a bachelor?s degree. It is also common for individual employers to insist on teachers having a TESOL certificate of at least 120-hours duration. Classroom experience might also be required when applying for jobs at the very top end of the pay scale, although these are small in number. Often you can bypass this requirement if you conduct a...  [Read more]

When applying for a TESOL scholarship, there are several important steps to consider. Firstly, research and identify the scholarships available for TESOL programs. Many organizations, universities, and government agencies offer scholarships for individuals pursuing a TESOL certification or degree. It's essential to review the eligibility criteria, application requirements, deadlines, and any specific instructions provided by the scholarship provider. Before applying, make sure you meet the basic requirements such as having a bachelor's degree, a strong academic record, and proficiency in English. Some scholarships may also require letters of recommendation, a personal statement, or proof of English language proficiency through exams like TOEFL or IELTS. When preparing your application, pay...  [Read more]

To apply for TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) teaching positions, you will need to follow a series of steps to ensure a successful application process. First, it is essential to have the necessary qualifications to be considered for TESOL teaching positions. Typically, a Bachelor's degree is required, along with a TESOL certificate or a related certification such as TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). Next, you will need to prepare your resume or curriculum vitae (CV) highlighting relevant education, teaching experience, certifications, and any other qualifications that make you a suitable candidate for the position. Be sure to tailor your resume to the specific requirements of the...  [Read more]

  At ITTT one of our major commitments is to help all of our course graduates find a teaching job that suits them, in a location that they want to be in. Thanks to our lifetime job assistance program you can get all the practical help you need to find the right jobs and apply for them effectively. The job assistance program has a range of services that includes exclusive access to our huge database of potential employers, as well as leads on worldwide jobs that are not advertised anywhere else. We are also able to lend a hand when it comes to constructing an effective CV/resume and cover letter, which can have a big impact on your chances of securing an interview. Once you have compiled a list of the jobs that appeal to you, we can provide expert advice and guidance on interview...  [Read more]

To successfully secure a job teaching English in the USA, there are several steps you should follow. First, it's essential to have a strong educational background. Most employers require a bachelor's degree in English, Education, Linguistics, or a related field. Additionally, obtaining a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification is highly recommended and can significantly enhance your job prospects. Next, gaining teaching experience, whether through volunteer work, internships, or part-time positions, can make you a more competitive candidate. Many schools and language institutes prefer candidates with prior teaching experience, so gaining practical experience can set you apart from other applicants. Networking is also crucial in the job search process. Attending job...  [Read more]

  This video covers the difference between 'historic' and 'historical'. These two words often cause confusion for English learners. The word ?historic? refers to something or someone famous and/or important in history, such as historic attractions, historic figures or historic events. The word 'historical', on the other hand, describes history itself, such as historical events or historical evidence. These are simply things that happened in the past and they weren?t necessarily important or famous. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL certification course. Each of our online courses is broken down into concise units that focus on specific areas of English language teaching. This convenient, highly structured design means that...  [Read more]

  Moving further down our list of the parts of speech, we have our prepositions. Prepositions show a relationship between a noun or a pronoun and the rest of the sentence. We have three main categories: time, place, movement as well as a miscellaneous category that doesn't fit the other three. Here, we can have prepositions of time: before, during, in, at or on. If I said, "I work at eight o'clock," I'm sharing a relationship between the time "eight o'clock" to the rest of the sentence. We have our prepositions of place: in, at, on, under, in between. If I said, "The book is under the table," I'm showing a relationship between the table and the rest of the sentence. Then, we have our prepositions of movement. These show movement: towards, from, to or through. I could say, "He...  [Read more]