Job Discussion Forums

[Fresno2003]

I am a newbie and this is the first time I have applied for a job overseas. I was wondering what kinds of questions I will be asked?

I have two telephone interviews tomorrow. The first one is from a recruiting agency and the second one is from a school and both of them are in South Korea.

What kind of questions should I ask these people besides the basic about pay, accomodations, teaching duties?

Was there any questions that you regret not asking the recruiter or school during the telephone interview?

[Glenski]

Expect pretty much the same questions on the phone as you would in person. If you are doing it with a webcam, be prepared with proper grooming and clothes, plus background view from your computer.

If you are doing it without webcam, realize that the tone of your voice is crucial.

[johnsmither]

The telephone interview can be more difficult in some ways than being there in person, the tone and clarity of your voice is the only thing they will have to go on, I am presuming they have already seen photos of you and are aware of how you look, the Koreans are very aware of looks. ( they can be very superficial in that way).
The main questions will be about experience, and education, schools are run as a business in Korea and they may say you will get training when you arrive, for lots of new teachers this will be getting thrown into a class of kids and how you react will be your training.
Another question asked will be how will you discipline the students, in my experience there it depended on how much mummy and daddy had contributed to the school in fees as to how much their little darlings could get away with, (not that I would ever agree to any form of physical discipline). The school I worked in had cameras in the classrooms, it was supposed to record the students, but I always felt as though it was focused on me.

I had a good selection of materials for my lesson planning, but getting on the computer could sometimes be a problem.
Ask about your holiday entitlement, and get that in writing, I was supposed to get 10 days in the year i was there, I got three. (excluding Korean holidays) Any classes missed through holidays, Korean holidays have to be made up, read working Saturday in lieu of the missed day.

[naturegirl321]

You'll probably be given teaching situations and asked how you would teach them.

Ask to be put in touch with current teachers, also about teaching materials (do they have them or do you have to make them)