Job Discussion Forums

[CNexpatesl]

I landed an interview for a gig as an SAT teacher/Test Prep Instructor. They want me to do a demo basically covering only grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension.

I've never done a demo for this type of work before. Can anyone who has tell me what these companies are usually looking for in a demo? Appreciate any tips.

[buravirgil]

How much does it pay? I mean, how much are my tips worth?

[teenoso]

Don't know anything about SATs, but I've heard that students want a 'codebreaker' for these standardised tests - so I suggest you take one typical question format, and show in your demo how to answer as quickly and efficiently as possible.
There was a thread a while back on SAT teaching , where it seemed common practice in these schools that teachers were expected to take the test and achieve almost perfect scores to demonstrate their ability (!)

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

Followup to teenoso: If the OP takes this approach, I suggest that he bone up on the first few chapters of Princeton Review's prep book. It discusses strategies.

Kaplan and Baron go into strategies, but not to the same degree as Princeton Review.

It might be good to present the simple strategies (e.g.read the questions before reading the text). You'll find these suggestions in both Kaplan and Baron. This is one "trick" in gaining an advantage in Reading comprehension. Some questions will contain some actual words from a section of the excerpt. The one taking the test can remain alert to this fact. Anything beyond that really requires greater reading experience, and there's really nothing that can be done to improve comprehension in a few weeks. Most of the prep books exist to give the test taker experience working with material of similar depth and complexity.

For vocabulary, try to find a demo page from Word Power or any advanced vocabulary list. Create flash cards. (It would be better if you used actual words from Kaplan or Baron). Explain how students will retain more if they create their own flash cards and read the definition aloud repeatedly as they make more and more flash cards. Speaking the definition aloud reinforces the reading. Continual exposure also reinforces the learning process.

You should use the same approach for the Greek and Latin prefixes and suffixes and demonstrate how knowing the most common ones will help the student to make an educated guess regarding the meaning of a word.

Working with analogies: This really stumps a LOT of students, especially E2 students. Approach them by a process of elimination and skip the ones that they just can't figure out or make an educated guess. (This is true of ALL answers on the test).

BE SURE to point out to the people doing the interview that it is very important that one who administers the test (even practice tests) read the instructions aloud to the students. This is one small detail that they'll be listening for.

I was Kaplan certified, and I have six years experience working in this area. The students who performed the best began the program before high school and continued in the program until they took the test. A few weeks really won't make much of a difference.

If I still had my materials, I'd tell you more.

Caveat, when Xiao Wang fails the test miserably, be prepared. It will be your fault, not Xiao Wang and his video games.

[buravirgil]

[hdeth]

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

[hdeth]