Job Discussion Forums

[misskaty]

I've just finished a CELTA course and I have four months teaching experience.

I have two job interviews on one morning next week and am wondering how to prepare.

I am a confident teacher and received positive feedback about my lessons. The only thing I'm not so sure about is grammar. I am ok when I am teaching a lesson and can research it and feel sure about it beforehand. But I'm worried that the interviewers may put me on the spot with some obscure grammar questions.

How likely is this? And if I screw up the answer, which I imagine is a high possibility, due to nerves and being put on the spot - is there any chance of still being offered the job?

Does anyone know a good website where I can brush up on my grammar?

Thanks for any advice.

[Justin Trullinger]

As a reasonably new teacher, you CAN'T know all there is to know about grammar. (even as an extremely experienced one, in fact.) And a decent employer will know this.

A more important question might be how well prepared you think you need to be. If you get a grammar stumper in the interview, which you probably won't, be sure to mention that you are newish, and don't expect to be able to answer everything on the spot, but that you have resource books, and plan to go into the class prepared for the grammar you have to teach.

Also work on your "delay" tactics. If a student stumps you with a classroom grammar question, do NOT repeat NOT improvise an answer. You'll be wrong, have to go back and retract, and will look incompetent. Thank students for their insightful questions, explain that today's plan doesn't allow for all the time they would require, and we'll come back tomorrow. Then do, after you've had time to do your homework.

But don't feel that you have to be able to offer all grammar questions "off the cuff." And don't accept a job where the employer thinks so.


Best,
Justin

[johnnyappleseed]

I ask potential employees how they would explain present perfect to students who have no equivalent in their language.

I don't expect them to know everything about grammar, though--does anybody?

[Anda]

Um, only been in this game since 1990 but have yet to be asked grammer questions at a job interview. I don't teach grammer either or for that matter know it. I used to be employed as a conversation teacher but these day they call it oral English. I'm good at what I get employed for.

[fluffyhamster]

I was also going to mention present perfect for a start - nothing too obscure, just those points that apparently can cause students problems (and which were likely focused on during the CELTA that you recently completed, misskaty - such things should still be fresh in your mind, plus you have four months' experience on top of that, in which you probably came to a realization or two and began developing your own approach(es) somewhat). The interviewer is sorta asking you how you might approach (or rather, re-approach) certain points if you or more importantly your students hadn't seemed to benefit and "fully" learn from the treatment in say the textbook the class were using.

FWIW, my own answer to that specific question was that I'd highlight the experiential aspect ('Have you (ever)...?' (implicitly versus 'Did you...?))of the present perfect; here the form has a clearer and more essential/useful function than its other aspects/uses (such as worrying unduly about things like 'I've broken your pen' versus 'I broke your pen'). (The interviewer seemed very satisfied with my answer and more or less immediately offered me the job, but I then found a clause in the contract insisting that any deviation from the textbook and approved materials had to be OKed by the DOSs! Had to then turn them down, it would've cramped not only my style but also my thought processes and ability to prepare/"think outside the page"!).

Jack Richards has an interesting paper on teaching the present perfect in his The Context of Language Teaching (it can help to read around linguistically, beyond the general and often rather vague general methodology guides).

Regarding online grammar guides, I must admit that I can't think of that many good ones off the top of my head (although I have posted the odd glossary link or two over on the Teacher forums) - maybe I haven't been looking hard enough! - but then, sometimes the less-than-stellar don't make you think much (are rather basic and cut-and-dried) and can therefore end up being rather uninspiring. I generally prefer to use quality printed references for grammar; there are however some excellent and very accessible dictionaries (for general vocab) available online.

[denise]

I've been asked to do impromtu mini-lessons on grammar in some interviews. I couldn't stop myself from thinking, "What if I am screwing this up?!?!?" the entire time, but I just hoped that they were focusing more on how I coped with what was basically a winging-it situation. I'm sure they knew that it was awkward, I was being put on the spot, etc., etc.--I wondered if that was the point. Rather than blushing and apologizing and telling them that in a real class setting I would delay it, do research, etc. (which I would if I were truly stumped in class), I just jumped to my feet and went for it, feigning confidence. Did it work? Well, it happened in the interview for my current job, and they offered me the job the next day!

d

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

You should probably know at least the tenses and aspects as well as active and passive voices. They're sort of the basics. There are about a billion sites for it, and about the same number of books that will explain it for you as well.

[Kaspar Hauser]

[Anda]

I am what I'm employed for, meaning a English conversation teacher or as they seem to call it here in China an oral English teacher.

Nearly all the places that I have worked have had grammar teachers. It takes me 40 to 60 class hours over four to six week to get my students speaking simple English.


I know how to get my students speaking English fast which is something that grammar teachers don't seem good at.

..................................................................................................
An example of what I write and use for class to add interest while at the same time being practical. It doesn't post here however that well.


The Prank. By Anda.

1. Sue: I�ve been thinking Kate, and I think things are too boring (无聊) around here
( 这儿 ) at the moment. ( 此刻)
2. Kate: You got any ideas ( 主意 ) on how we could make things ( 使事情 ) a bit
more interesting ( 更有趣点 ) Sue?
3. Sue: Um, how about we get Sid to call up (phone up) Miss Kim our
math teacher and pretend (假装) that that he�s interested ( 感兴趣) in
taking her out ( 带她外出) on a date. ( 约会 ) I have her cell phone number
already. ( 已经 )
4. Kate: Huh, that sounds like (听起来) a fun idea ( 一个有趣的想法) as Sid isn�t from
our school. He also sounds like a young business man
( 年轻的商人 ) doesn�t he?
5. Sue: Yes he�s got an interesting sexy voice (声音) plus he sounds very intelligent.
( 他听起来很聪明)
6. Kate: That�s cause he always gets top of his class ( 他经常得班级第一 ) at Nanjing
Number One Middle School. He is great at math especially. ( 尤其) He�ll
be a businessman one day ( 有一天 ) for sure!
( 肯定 )
7. Sue: Yep, he could even pass for twenty two couldn�t he?
8. Kate: You�re not thinking of getting him to actually date Miss Kim are you?
9. Sue: Why not, Miss Kim is pretty (漂亮) and Sid gets plenty of pocket money
( 足够的钱 ) off his father. His father is a very successful businessman
( 十分成功的商人 )
10. Kate: I thought ( 想) that you really liked ( 你真的喜欢) Sid yourself. ( 你自己)
11. Sue: I do, but as a friend not a boyfriend. Anyway this is just for laughs ( 玩笑而已 )
as nothing will happen. ( 没事的 ) Like Sid is not going to fall in
love with a teacher ( 她不会爱上一个老师 ) and get married (结婚) is he?
He�s only eighteen so he has to wait another four years ( 他不得不再等四年)
before he is of legal age ( 法定年龄 ) to get married ( 结婚) anyway.
12: Kate: I don�t suppose so! ( 我不这样认为 )
13: Sue: Okay then I�ll give Sid a ring ( 戒指) and get him to meet me after school
(让她放学后见我) today. I�ll put it to him; ( 给他戴上) I mean ( 我是说 )
the idea ( 想法 ) of trying to date ( 尝试约会 ) Miss Kim. I�ll challenge
him (我要考验他) like (for example) ( 比如 ) �I bet you couldn�t date
one of our teachers, ( 我打赌你不会约到任何一个老师 ) like young Miss
Kim our new first year teacher! She�s only twenty two still!
14. Kate: It�s worth a try, ( 值得一试 ) as you say ( 如你所说) it would be (那将是 )
a great laugh if it worked out! ( 如果行得通 )
15. Sue: Yes that�s right! I�ll get Sid to wear a good suit if he can get Miss Kim to meet
him. He can pretend (他可以假装 ) to be doing (正做着) a trainee management
course ( 管理培训课程) at his father�s company. ( 在他父亲的公司 )
16. Kate: Well go on ( 继续 ) phone Sid and get this prank on the go ( 是这个恶作剧继
续 ) then!

After School That Day At A Coffee Shop.
17. Sue: Hi Sid! Sit down I�ve got a challenge for you! ( 我对你有疑问 ) Kate
and I reckon (think) that you couldn�t pull off (accomplish) ( 你不能)
pretending to be a twenty three year old trainee manager (实习经理) and date
( 约会 ) a young lady teacher from our school called Miss Kim.
18. Sid: That would be pretty hard (fairly / reasonably difficult) ( 困难) but I like a
challenge. ( 我喜欢挑战) Dad�s been training me (teaching me) for some time
(a while) ( 一会儿) now to work as a (象 一样工作) manager for him. Are
you sure (你肯定) this Miss Kim is pretty and young, not some 30 year
old woman that can�t find a husband ( 找不到对象) because ( 因为) of looks
(appearance) or something?
19. Sue: I wouldn�t do that to you ( 我不会那样对你的) Sid! Miss Kim is in her first
year out of university. (大学毕业一年) She pretty and dresses well (穿得好)
and has a nice personality. (有人格魅力)
20. Sid: Um, then why are you setting her up for a prank?
21. Sue: Because she�s a slave driver. (Makes us study real hard)
22. Sid: She sounds interesting! Do you have here cell phone number?
23. Sue: Yes its 3631 994 2936.
In Class A Week Later.
24. Kate: Well what happened, (怎么了) Miss Kim looks very happy.
25. Sue: All I know is that Sid dated her and went on a date with her. He isn�t saying
anything else but he looks happy too.
26. Kate: You don�t think she kissed him do you?
27. Sue: I hope not. ( 我希望不会 ) I�m starting to fell jealous I think!
( 我想我开始感到嫉妒了 )
28. Kate: It sounds a bit late to start feeling jealous. This was your idea
after all! ( 毕竟这是你的主意 )
29. Sue: Oh, I shouldn�t worry as it won�t last once she finds out Sid�s age!
Four Years Latter.
30. Kate: Hi Sue did you get an invite (你被邀请去) to Sid�s wedding（婚礼）?
31. Sue: Yep, I can�t believe it. ( 难以相信 ) They�re actually getting married!
( 他们真结婚了 )
32. Kate: Huh, yes you should set up as a match maker. ( 你可是个大媒人 )
33. Sue: How was I to know (我怎会知道) that they were made for each other
( 他们是天生的一对 ) with their interest in math (对数学感兴趣) and each
other? Sid told me he knew on the first date ( 第一次约会她就知道 ) that
Miss Kim was the right woman for him. ( 金小姐就是他的另一半 )
34. Kate: You really did want to marry Sid yourself didn�t you? (你确实你想过娶她不
是吗？)
35. Sue: Of course I did, who wouldn�t want to marry him! ( 谁不愿嫁给他 ) He�s
handsome, good personality, ( 有魅力 ) rich parents and now a manager
( 现在是经理) for his father�s company.
36. Kate: I think you could have married him too as you were his best friend at school!
37. Sue: You don�t have keep to reminding me of that (你没必要告诉我那些) Kate!
38. Kate: Yeah, I know, fancy giving your boyfriend away like that!
39. Sue: Oh, shut up will you!
40. Kate: Okay I know how you must feel! That boyfriend you have now is rubbish
( 垃圾) compared ( 比起来 ) to Sid! Ouch! You didn�t have to
kick ( 踢 ) me like that!
41. Sue Shut up then if you don�t want another kick! ( 不想被我踢就闭嘴