Job Discussion Forums

Nozka · Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 50 Location: "The City of Joy"

I've got five interviews next week at the TESOL convention in Denver (yeah!), and I've been slaving away these last few days (arrgh!) over potential interview questions and prepping my responses. I feel I've got it pretty well covered, but I'm wondering about those curveball questions that I just can't anticipate. So let's hear it. What are some of the weirder, tougher, most unpredictable, or most flabbergasting questions that threw you for a loop in a job interview? Any other brilliant interview advice? Wanna wish me luck?

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

If you were ever fired from a job, or quit because you just couldn't stand it any longer, the question "Why did you leave your last job?" could be a delicate one to answer. You don't want to complaint or make the previous employer look all that bad, because the interviewer may think you would be a chronic complainer, a storyteller, a screw-up, or someone who holds a grudge. Having a criminal record would also be ticklish to talk around, whether it was sexual harassment, drunkenness, or anything else.

Perhaps another tricky question would be something like, "If you and your superior disagreed on a teaching strategy, how would you approach the issue?"

Ariadne · Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 960

Hey, good luck!

I would certainly recommend that you be enthusiastic without implying that you want to start whipping things into shape at your new school. You probably have all the buzz words well in mind. They will likely ask about your style and methods of teaching. Depending on the schools, don't suggest that you rely too heavily on electronic assistance because some places don't have much more than a board and chalk.

Again, good luck.

.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I don-t like what are your weaknesses. Lots of time I get vague questions, like
Talk about classroom management
HOw do you handle discipline.

They-re vague because it depends on the situation, if you have teenagers, 50 kids or 2 business people.

rmcdougall · Joined: 28 Feb 2009 Posts: 71

Worst?

Why did you get into TEFL?

Argh. Tell my ex-wife.

BobbyBan · Joined: 05 Feb 2008 Posts: 201

I once went to an interview and was asked, "What's the strangest animal you've ever touched?" "What's the most surprising thing you've ever seen?" "What's the most frightening sound you've ever heard?" and various other questions like that.

I was completely thrown by them and my mind went blank. I told them that I think I am happy in my current job, got up and ran out of the door.

rmcdougall · Joined: 28 Feb 2009 Posts: 71

I just dislike the ageist and personal questions that would never happen in Australia.

basiltherat · Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Posts: 952

Two that I will remember being asked, the former in Poland; the latter in Jakarta:

"So, what do you think of the humanistic approach to language training ?"

("Excuse me ?")

and

"You look like you're a dope smoker. Are you ?"

("yes, I have my own private den. Wanna join me ?")

best
Basil Very Happy

ntropy · Joined: 11 Oct 2003 Posts: 671 Location: ghurba

....when being interviewed for entrance into an MA program at a uni smack dab in the middle of Bible Belt redneck country:

HE: "You really believe that?"
ME: "I must. I wrote it.
HE: "You commie pinko *beep*."

mmm, yes, universities, our last bastion of free, unfettered thought.

BTW, they accepted me and gave me a fellowship

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Taryn · Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Moscow

How would you teach the topic 'furniture' to a grpup of adults? Not the hardest of questions, but there's so much variety with food or something...threw me off for a few seconds!

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

Look up every single illegal question to ask in North American interviews (race, religion, political affinity, sexual orientation etc) and be prepared to answer every one of them. I was asked most of them for JET panel interview by a Japanese embassy official.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

johnslat · Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 1:19 pm Post subject:

Dear Is650,
Or she could have replied: "Well, I am admittedly addicted to caffeine."
Regards,
John

johnnyenglishteacher · Joined: 11 Aug 2006 Posts: 41

I've had a couple of interviews in Hungary, in which I was expected to sit and listen for about an hour while the interviewer talked about everything from the relative merits of communism and capitalism to the various regional dishes. At points I had to stop myself from bursting out laughing because I couldn't believe that somebody supposedly interviewing me for a job didn't even want to ask me any questions about teaching.