You’ve completed your TEFL Course and you’ve used our Jobs Centre to find a fantastic new opportunity.
It’s all going swimmingly – but here comes the nerve-wracking part: a job interview . Sure, you’ve done these before. That said, if you’ve retrained or are seeking new experiences with a TEFL certification, it’s still new territory.
Don’t worry, though. Eighty percent of our students find work within three months, which is a very exciting precedent. If they’ve done it, so can you!.
So what should you say in a teaching interview? What should you have thought of? To help you, here are 5 common interview questions and good ways to answer them.
But first, let’s talk about what to expect from a TEFL interview and what the interviewer will be looking for.
Interviewing for a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) teaching position can seem daunting, especially if you’re new to the field. With cultural nuances, language barriers, and a roomful of inquisitive employer eyes on you, it’s easy to feel intimidated
However, going in prepared and knowing what to expect can set you up for success. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the top 30 TEFL teacher interview questions, along with tips and sample responses to help you craft winning answers.
Whether you’re a seasoned ESL instructor looking for a new adventure abroad or hoping to land your first TEFL job, understanding these pivotal interview topics is key to getting hired.
Why TEFL Interviews Are Different
Unlike a traditional teaching interview at a school or university closer to home, TEFL interviews have some unique considerations:
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Cultural Adaptability: Since most TEFL jobs involve immersion in new cultures and environments abroad, interviewers want to know that you can adjust to different cultural norms, foods, living conditions, and classroom settings.
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ESL Teaching Ability Demonstrating your ability to break down complex grammar, vocabulary, and linguistic concepts in a way students can understand is crucial
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International Experience: Many employers look for some experience living, working, or studying abroad as it shows adaptability. Highlight any exposure you’ve had.
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Language Proficiency: A high level of English fluency is required, usually from native or near-native speakers. Accent reduction experience can be beneficial.
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Classroom Management: Managing a diverse group of students with varying motivations and language levels is par for the course, so highlighting your strategies is key.
By being aware of these unique requirements, you can better prepare relevant experiences, skills, and anecdotes to share.
30 Common TEFL Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
Let’s explore some of the most frequently asked TEFL teacher interview questions, along with tips on how to craft winning sample responses:
Why Do You Want to Teach English Abroad?
This question gauges your motivations and commitment to teaching English internationally. Interviewers want to know what’s compelling you to take the leap into this career.
Sample Answer: My dream has always been to live and work abroad while helping others learn. Teaching English allows me to immerse myself in new cultures and make meaningful connections with students. I also relish the opportunity to gain a new perspective and grow both professionally and personally.
What Appeals to You About Teaching English to Non-Native Speakers?
Here, focus on your passion for language learning, working with culturally-diverse students, and helping others overcome challenges.
Sample Answer: I’m fascinated by language acquisition and passionate about empowering non-native speakers. I love deconstructing complex English concepts and making them graspable. Seeing students gain understanding and proficiency is incredibly rewarding. I also enjoy learning from my students’ cultures and perspectives.
How Would You Describe Your Teaching Style and Philosophy?
Share your approach to instruction, classroom management, and student engagement. Demonstrate student-focused values.
Sample Answer: My teaching philosophy centers around nurturing a supportive learning community where students feel safe, valued, and encouraged to take risks. I incorporate a lot of collaborative dialogue, hands-on activities, and interactive technology to make lessons engaging. Fostering student confidence is crucial, so I provide plenty of positive reinforcement.
How Do You Adapt Your Teaching to Different Learning Styles?
Highlight your ability to differentiate instruction and modify activities to reach visual, auditory, tactile, and kinetic learners. Share examples.
Sample Answer: I use differentiated instruction strategies to adapt for learning styles. For visual learners, I incorporate graphic organizers, images, videos, and diagrams. Auditory learners benefit from discussions, listening exercises and pronunciation practice. Tactile methods like hands-on activities, manipulatives, and writing practice cater to kinesthetic learners’ needs.
How Do You Incorporate Technology into Teaching?
ESL teachers often leverage technology for engagement, accessibility, and supplemental learning. Discuss tools you’ve used successfully.
Sample Answer: I’m a huge proponent of thoughtfully integrating technology into instruction. For example, I’ve used Quizlet for vocabulary building and Kahoot for competitive review games. Tools like Google Classroom and Edpuzzle help flip lessons for student-paced learning too. However, I’m careful technology enhances, rather than replaces, rich classroom interactions.
How Do You Differentiate Instruction for Various Proficiency Levels?
Adaptability is key when students have diverse language skills. Share how you provide support while still challenging more advanced learners.
Sample Answer: Catering to different proficiency levels starts with assessment, so I can group students and tailor activities accordingly. Beginners may focus on vocabulary and phrases through visuals, games, and oral repetition, while intermediate learners practice writing and reading comprehension. Advanced students may lead group discussions or have supplemental reading materials for further enrichment.
How Do You Motivate Students Struggling with English Language Learning?
TEFL teachers must be creative cheerleaders, able to encourage students through inevitable challenges. Discuss strategies you’ve used successfully.
Sample Answer: If students are struggling, I first build an encouraging teacher-student rapport through one-on-one mentoring. I create highly engaging, multisensory lessons focused on their interests to rebuild their confidence. We set manageable goals and celebrate small wins. I also encourage peer collaboration, which provides motivation through shared experience.
How Do You Manage Classroom Discipline/Behavioral Issues?
Share your approach to setting expectations and addressing issues in a culturally-appropriate manner. Give an example if possible.
Sample Answer: I proactively set clear guidelines for classroom conduct and model desired behavior. If any behavioral issues occur, I have private conversations to understand and resolve the situation respectfully. Parent outreach is key for ongoing concerns. However, I also aim to make learning engaging enough to prevent misbehavior in the first place.
What Methods Do You Use to Assess Student Progress?
ESL assessment balances formal tests with informal observation. Discuss your preferred methods or tools.
Sample Answer: I utilize a mix of formative and summative assessment strategies. Quick in-class checks for understanding give me real-time feedback to immediately adjust instruction if needed. Exit slips and writing samples offer ongoing formative insight. For summative assessment, I use traditional quizzes as well as alternative options like project-based learning and multimedia portfolios that better capture language proficiency.
How Do You Support ESL Students’ Cultural Transitions?
Cultural sensitivity and understanding is pivotal. Share how you help students adjust while valuing their own cultural identity.
Sample Answer: My role involves both English instructor and cultural ambassador. I teach students practical information to ease their transition, like etiquette norms, using transportation, and money. In class, I promote cultural exchange through open dialogue and student-led discussions on traditions. However, I emphasize additive acculturation, where we retain pride in our own cultures while learning from each other.
How Do You Prepare Students for Standardized English Tests?
Success here demonstrates your familiarity with essential exams like TOEFL or IELTS and ability to train students strategically.
Sample Answer: Test preparation starts with helping students understand each test’s format, content, and scoring. I develop personalized study plans targeting any weak areas while practicing time management and test-taking strategies. We utilize many official practice questions and simulate testing conditions. My goal is to build skills while also boosting confidence through consistent review and feedback.
Tell Me About a Time You Handled a Difficult Student Interaction Successfully.
Recount a specific story of a difficulty you faced (culture clash, language barrier, disengagement, etc) and how you resolved it constructively.
Sample Answer: When I was TEFL teaching abroad, one student struggled to engage due to homesickness and cultural dissonance. Through gentle encouragement and one-on-one mentoring, I learned more about his challenges. Together we found ways to incorporate his interests into lessons which improved his motivation significantly. This experience taught me the importance of cultural sensitivity when facing challenges.
Where Do You See Yourself Professionally in 5 Years?
Articulate your long-term TEFL teaching aspirations, whether that’s continued international adventures, curriculum development, or training other TEFL teachers.
Sample Answer: In the next 5 years, I hope to continue teaching English abroad at various international schools to keep expanding my multicultural perspective. I also aim to eventually transition into training other TEFL teachers, sharing the knowledge I’ve gained through workshops and mentorship programs. My end goal is to develop culturally-adaptive TEFL curricula.
How Do You Ensure Students Continue Learning Outside of Class?
Quality ESL instruction means supporting learning beyond the classroom walls. Share ideas you’ve used or recommend.
Sample Answer: I create multimedia playlists of English songs, shows, or books tailored to their interests. We do projects involving practicing English skills around town through scavenger hunts or interviews. I also
5 questions to expect in a TEFL interview
Typically, this is amongst the first questions you’ll be asked in a job interview situation. Don’t panic.
Everything counts. There are many companies that are willing to hire new teachers who have never been in a classroom before.
That doesn’t mean you don’t have anything up your sleeve, though. Perhaps you’ve had a role where you’ve given presentations. Or, you’ve helped to train new members of staff. You could have given talks or helped make educational materials. You could be a parent, an older sibling, or a child care worker. It doesn’t matter what it is!
Most importantly, though, link what you learned on your TEFL course to the job you’re applying for. As an example, if you took a module on how to teach kids, make sure you talk about that in the interview. Instead of talking about what you haven’t done in your career, talk about what you know thanks to your TEFL course and what you can bring to a new job.
What to expect from a TEFL Job Interview
Most likely, you’ll have an interview over Zoom or Skype if you applied for a TEFL job online or abroad. For a video call, make sure you have a quiet place to talk to your potential employer and a background that is easy to see. Make sure to test out your audio and video prior to your interview.
Firstly, there’ll be a question and answer session, for which we’ve prepared you later in this article.
On the other hand, interviewers may want you to show them a lesson plan or even teach a practice lesson during the interview. Alternatively, an employer may request a pre-recorded demo lesson, which they’ll talk about with you during the interview.
The best plan, then? Prepare, and prepare again. Every day is different when you teach English as a foreign language, so the interview might be the same way! Most importantly, you should expect chances to show off your personality. Employers don’t want to hire a robot, so show them what you’re all about. You’ve done the course, now it’s time to put the learning into action.
How to ACE your ESL Teaching Job interview+Interview questions & demo answers#roadto14k #eslteacher
FAQ
Why do you want to be a TEFL teacher?
Why should I hire you as an ESL teacher?
How do you answer a TEFL interview question?
Most teachers have a good idea of how to answer this question, especially because they are prepared for it in their TEFL course. The best way to answer this question is to review the advertisement for the job and focus on the qualities mentioned in the job description.
What TEFL questions will I be asked?
Whether you have a lot of teaching experience or you’re totally new to the industry, you’ll be expected to answer quite specific TEFL questions about grammar, cultural awareness, classroom management and teaching techniques. There will also be a range of ‘what would you do if…’ questions to test your ability to think on your feet.
Are TEFL interviews stressful?
TEFL interviews can be understandably stressful, but we’ve collated all the expertise from recruiters here at Teaching Abroad Direct who do this every day so you can get some insights for your next interview. The following are 4 common examples of questions you might be asked in your TEFL interview
What responsibilities do TEFL teachers have besides teaching?
When you answer this question, make sure you consider the different responsibilities of a TEFL teacher besides teaching, such as classroom management, discipline style, rapport and communication. How would you deal with discipline in the classroom?
