Job Discussion Forums

[aaaronr]

I have been asked to prepare a 5-10 minute demonstration for a school that teaches communication skills.

The school specializes in training corporate clients and tailors its courses for English used in various professions. The demo is for beginner students.

I've taught lessons for beginner and intermediate students in my CELTA course, but I'm not sure what to do for this demo.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Aaron

[father Mackenzie]

You could try a socialising role play using simple greetings and phrases.

[Peter Wales]

The best way to demonstrate your teaching skills is to refuse to do 'demo lessons'. Don't become a performing monkey. Be a pro instead.

Who will 'observe' this lesson? What are their quals and what experience do they have?

What the hell are you meant to 'demostrate' in 5 to 10 mins? LOL!

You have a CELTA, so will the observer have at least a DELTA.....?

And what is the point of the lengthy observed teaching element of the CELTA if after getting it you simply have to do demo lessons all over again? Tell them to take a hike!

If you do a demo lesson then they will know what you are - down on your luck/lacking in self-respect.

[matador]

Having done a few demo lessons before they are a valid platform for people to get an idea of your style of teaching. 5-10 mins seems a bit silly. Go for 30 mins then give them something great to remember! Good luck, dude! Make sure you do something student centered and interactive...

[spiral78]

I think a demo lesson of 5-10 minutes is entirely appropriate in this context.

It's all about style and tone, and mannerisms.

You'll need to demonstrate that you can interact with professional adults in a way that shows both your own competence and respects theirs, even though their basic language skills may force them to speak 'childishly' and with many errors.

I agree with the meet-and-greet idea above.

If there are 2 or fewer students, I would start by having them stand with me, and introduce myself as a businessperson would in a real situation, including handshake and eye contact.
"Hello, my name is William Newbie, and I'm a new English Teacher for the ABC Corporation."
Wait for response, assist as needed
Then continue by asking questions regarding job and needs for improving English. Again, assist speakers as needed.

If more than 2 students, I would model the above with a student, then ask all to stand and do this together (in English, obviously) while I floated from group to group, joining in or assisting appropriately.

I think you could probably wow your potential employers by making mental note of a few vocab/grammatical points you think will need improving in such a context, and suggesting after the demo lesson what your next lesson with these students might likely focus on.

Good luck - we'll be interested to hear how it goes, no matter what you decide to do!

[spiral78]

By the way, before someone says 'that's not a lesson!"...

Goals and objectives:

Language (grammar and vocabulary)

Practice basic phrases used in business/social situations
Talk about current job, using appropriate vocabulary and primarily present simple tense

If they're strong beginners
Talk about past jobs, using appropriate vocabulary and primarily
simple past tense

Culture (inseparable from language in business contexts!)

Demonstrate and practice appropriate body language for interacting in 'western' business contexts

You may think you're not going to actually teach much in 5-10 minutes - your potential employers are obviously aware of that. It should be plenty for you to model and students to practice both verbal and non verbal communication, while you isolate potential target areas for future lessons.

[matador]

...I would still ask for more time. Maybe 20 minutes? 5-10 mins will not allow you to teach THAT much and you might feel rather pressured by time! If this is good job on the line, do not undersell yourself!

[Ariadne]

I think that if you are going to prepare and present
a lesson.. even a short one.. you should be paid for
your time and talents.

.

[matador]

It would be nice but if a company asks you to do a short demo and you say "Only if you pay me", then you are outta there! In an ideal world I agree with you. In the real world...

[spiral78]

It's unrealistic to make any demands of a company that's offered to let you teach a demo lesson. The company has absolutely no commitment to you at that point.

As for asking to be paid - c'mon. It's even somewhat common that the 'student's are actually staff, playing a role. Even if they are real students, the goal is not for you to teach something - it's for you to show them the style, tone, and mannerisms you would use in their teaching context.

Asking to be paid for a demo is like asking to be paid for your time at a job interview. Non-starter.

[sharpe88]

They just want to see you speak clearly and are not unmanageably crazy.