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Shroob
Joined: 02 Aug 2010
Posts: 1339
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 Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 10:29 am Post subject: |
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| With regards to the demo lesson, does the potential employer provide an aim for the lesson eg. 'you should teach a lesson on .....' ? Or do candidates get free reign? |
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ecubyrd
Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 172
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| Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 10:31 am Post subject: |
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| Denim-Maniac wrote: |
Does the interviewer observe the class or actually join it as a student?
A couple of the people from the interview panel do act as students (the P and VP typically just observe); not all demo participants (teachers acting as students) are involved in the interview. Those doing the interview are the 2 departmental heads and the P and VP.
Maybe its just me but Id be quite happy to have the interviewer watch me teach a class (even if its not real students) but Id be ever so nervous if the interviewer was also playing at being a student.
Sure, I and others understand that and take that into consideration.
Id be interested to know what you are looking for too ... what's the criteria for a successful demo etc. I sometimes observe as part of the training process rather than selection process so its of interest to know what you look for. (and possibly useful for me if Im ever in the same demo situation!)
Candidates are given a topic from actual lessons taught at our school and are to prepare a lesson plan prior to coming in. Some of the things we look at are (probably the obvious):
*knowledge of the material
*presentation of material (clarity of explanation)
*ability to follow the lesson plan and transition accordingly
*student involvement
*classroom management
*personality
As I mentioned before, these are just standard things that most teachers should be/are capable of, but I've been completely surprised by a lot of demo lessons. |
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Denim-Maniac
Joined: 31 Jan 2012
Posts: 1238
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| Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 10:55 am Post subject: |
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Nothing surprises me anymore when watching others teach. 
Thanks for that though, as part of a training program the biggest thing we look at is probably how they've responded to feedback as its something that can be measured against previous lessons and observations etc. Slightly different mandate etc.
Id probably be a bit rusty in a demo now TBH. Its a long time since Ive had to do one, and my recent abject failure in a Skype lesson bothers me! My comfort zone has probably become a little too comfortable! |
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ecubyrd
Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 172
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| Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 11:27 am Post subject: |
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| Denim-Maniac wrote: |
Nothing surprises me anymore when watching others teach.
Thanks for that though, as part of a training program the biggest thing we look at is probably how they've responded to feedback as its something that can be measured against previous lessons and observations etc. Slightly different mandate etc.
I totally get this. I'm one to look at not only the positives/negatives of the demo itself, but at the potential to fit as a teacher for our specific school and age group taught by our dept even if the demo wasn't stellar.
Id probably be a bit rusty in a demo now TBH. Its a long time since Ive had to do one, and my recent abject failure in a Skype lesson bothers me! My comfort zone has probably become a little too comfortable!
Don't sell yourself short, I'm sure you'd do fine. We have to do open classes throughout the year for parents and/or peers. Some find that stressful, but I'm old/experienced enough that it doesn't bother me. There will probably come a day when others determine that "my comfort zone has become too comfortable" as well. When that day comes, I'll move on to something else, haha. |
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bestteacher2012
Joined: 22 Aug 2012
Posts: 160
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| Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Hope the schools requiring demos are offering decent salaries. |
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sPinkomania
Joined: 11 Mar 2013
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 1:51 am Post subject: |
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I ask for people for a demo sometimes when I interview. Sometimes when people talk to you one-on-one they answer all the questions 'correctly' but there are some things like changing your pitch, your intonation, how animated you can become, very simple things like that which are useful to see.
I've even heard from another guy in Taiwan who hired who would literally just ask potential teachers to repeat something after him. "Hello kids, are you ready!" Something like that. Believe it or not, some people are just so dry in terms of communication that it's hard for them to express themselves with a varying intonation or by showing enthusiasm in your voice. Especially with youngsters, a monotone voice is a real problem.
I personally ask for something very simple - like pretending that you're going through the alphabet with a young student. It's quick and dirty and I know it's limitations, but it's not without use. |
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GreatApe
Joined: 11 Apr 2012
Posts: 582
Location: South of Heaven and East of Nowhere
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| Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 11:29 am Post subject: |
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besteacher2012 wrote:
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| Hope the schools requiring demos are offering decent salaries. |
Derail much?
The topic is teaching demonstrations, Skype interviews, hiring practices and requirements. Your comment adds absolutely nothing to any of the above.
--GA |
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doogsville
Joined: 17 Nov 2011
Posts: 924
Location: China
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| Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 2:00 pm Post subject: |
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| bestteacher2012 wrote: |
| Hope the schools requiring demos are offering decent salaries. |
Why? Personally I just wouldn't apply for a job with a school if I didn't think the salary offered was decent. Would anyone? Demo or not if they aren't going to pay what I'm worth why would I want to work for them?
Are you implying that schools should offer higher salaries because they want to see you teach before they offer you a job? I think every school should ask prospective teachers to do a demo class. Teachers of subjects other than EFL have to give observed lessons, which is what a demo class is, as part of their training. In the UK teachers have to complete a probationary year, which is in effect a year long, paid, demo class. If you are confident that your teaching is up to scratch then there shouldn't be an issue with giving a demo class to show prospective employers you can do the job properly. |
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