Job Discussion Forums

sakhan2 · Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2003 1:57 pm Post subject: JET Interview: Teaching Demo

I'm scheduled for a JET interview in about 10 days and am starting to get pretty nervous about the "teaching demo" that I've been told about...I feel completely unprepared for this part of the interview,

I've heard they ask "unusual questions" that they think a student might ask and give you a couple of minutes to think before answering but is this the teaching demo? Or do they just ask you to teach part of a lesson? I'm really feeling unsure about this section of interview can anyone help me with specific advice/info?

Also, someone previously posted that the interview was 45 min long, but I've called the embassy and was told 15-20 minutes (incase anyone is interested)

Thanks in advance,
Saman

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I also read where someone said the interview was 45 minutes. When I had the interview in Seattle a couple years ago, they had so many people lined up, that they booked a hotel with several rooms to conduct them. Each one lasted 15-20 minutes.

So, you're sweating over a teaching demo? Bear in mind 2 things:

1. As a JET, you are not considered a teacher, but an ALT, so you won't have to plan lessons and manage the class by yourself. You assist the Japanese teacher of English in whatever he/she plans.

2. This "teaching demo" is about 2 minutes long. You are asked something by the interviewers as if a bunch of kids had asked it, then you are given about a minute to prepare your answer (longer than real life). You can use a note pad which they provide to simulate a blackboard, and then give your answer over the course of one minute. They asked me about bad treatment of American Indians today and how they are segregated in schools. Don't sweat this, but be prepared to think on your toes. Remember, you are applying to be a representative of your country more than as a teacher. JET was established as a means to promote internationalization, not to teach English.

Evil Giraffe · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 32 Location: Kofu, Japan

i, too, have an interview soon and this part of the interview has got me wondering as well.

glenski, what did you say about the american indians?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

What I said is pretty much irrelevant. I'm sorry, but my answers are my own answers, whether they got me the job or not (it didn't, and I'm glad). Besides, there is so much more that JET considered.

There is no formulaic answer to such questions.

Evil Giraffe · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 32 Location: Kofu, Japan

sorry, i wasn't looking for your politics on the subject. i was just wondering if you gave them your politics in depth or much less than that. i was wondering what THEY were looking for, not in the manner of a particular answer but in the manner of how deep one is to go into such subjects. i mean if they were to ask me whether or not i think we (the US)should go to war with iraq, i would have a lot of trouble ansering that question. i'm not sure such questions belong in a simple interview because if i think one thing and they think another, will that blow my chances of getting a job i am otherwise very qualified for?
maybe i'm just thinking too much, but questions like this can be quite loaded.

Mariana · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Posts: 26 Location: Bavaria

When I did my JET interview I didn't have to do any teaching demo. I just had to answer the usual questions along with a lot of questions about British politics, which I thought slightly odd. The interview was definitely only twenty minutes long though.

sakhan2 · Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2003 10:52 pm Post subject:

Mariana,

when did you have your interview? (i.e. how long ago was it?)

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Evil Giraffe,

No need to say you're sorry. I'm not offended. I hope I didn't upset you, either.

There is no "set answer", or to use your words "but in the manner of how deep one is to go into such subjects". The way that is written, it sounds like there is a special answer that JET is looking for. I have no idea if that is true. It probably varies from interviewer to interviewer.

Put yourself on the other side of the interview table. You are recruiting people to assist Japanese teachers in a high school setting. You know Japanese students are shut off from the world in a large sense. They only know America, for example, from movies and the Internet. So, kids are naturally curious about any little facet of culture that they don't know. Given the fact that you are recruiting people to be ambassadors of international cooperation, not lecturers of grammar, what would you expect a candidate to answer appropriately? Honesty. Clarity. Perhaps sharing a bit of reality/enlightenment. Whether you want someone to give his personal opinion on such topics, I can't say, but my gut feeling is no. Personal experience, maybe, but no opinions. Remember, the kids are theoretically asking this question in the middle of a lesson on English, not in a social studies class.

Bear in mind, that such kids will have a limited vocabulary, too, despite studying English for several years. And, their own speech will be pretty weak. Personally, I think the question on Indians was way off base, considering my experience in a high school here.

Celeste · Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2003 12:05 am Post subject:

I had my JET interview last year, and the interview lasted about 20 minutes. There was a panel of three middle aged Canadians (possibly former JETs?), two men and a woman. They mostly chatted with me about my past teaching experiences (I have taught in Korea and Vancouver in the past) and asked me how I would deal with the fact that I would be an ALT rather than the main classroom teacher. They also asked me to give an example of how I had resolved personality/ cultural conflicts during my time in Korea. It was fairly laid back, and I did indeed get the job at the end of it. Be confident, be friendly, and when they ask you why you want to go to Japan; be honest.

Mariana · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Posts: 26 Location: Bavaria

Sakhan2, My interview was 2 weeks ago, in Edinburgh! Smile

Evil Giraffe · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 32 Location: Kofu, Japan

no no, glenski, you didn't upset me. i just thought i needed to clarify what my question was meant to say. i wasn't trying to pry into personal philosophies or anything like that.
but thanks for your answer. i have thought about this and figure i will just wing it if i am asked questions such as this one. no need to fret over it.
i was just wondering about this kind of questioning because up until now the jobs i've had have not been of the "professional" type. i am just about to graduate from college and this will be my first real job that isn't just a job, if you know what i mean. anyway, thanks and maybe we'll talk in the future.

sakhan2 · Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2003 11:28 pm Post subject:

cool Mariana! hopefully I'll see you in Tokyo! Wink

Good Luck Everyone!

pixierox · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 9

If I'm asked to make up a lesson on the spot, I'm just gonna stick with the beginning "Hi! My name is____." They might expect something more since I've been volunteer teaching ESL for a while now, but without my usual pile of handouts, that's what I'll congure.

The_Prodiigy · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 252

Being in control will ensure that it works well.

Others have done well . . .