Job Discussion Forums

TEFL · Joined: 27 Jan 2009 Posts: 12

Hi all,

I have to complete a telephone interview in a couple of days before I can be accepted into the CELTA course. Does anybody have any tips/suggestions on how best to prepare for this?

Thanks!

BootOfTheBeast · Joined: 13 May 2009 Posts: 45 Location: SE Asia

Hi TEFL (can't believe no-one already had that nick!)

It will probably vary a bit from centre to centre. Mine was about 45 minutes including an informal chat for 5-10 at the end, a lot of which (perhaps over half) was taken up with the interviewer reading out a spiel about what the course entails, some of the pitfalls etc.

In terms of my involvement, I was asked the usual interview qs about why I wanted to go on the course, previous experience etc (a lot of which I'd already been through on the enormous application form). I think they want to check the applicant can string a sentence together and seem serious about teaching.

The few teaching related questions were along the lines of:

'You are teaching a beginner class, how would you teach the word "skirt"?'

'You are teaching an intermediate class who are preparing to travel to your home country, what would you teach them about?' and then ask you to expand on one of the topics you mention.

For preparation just have a couple of ideas for those kind of scenarios; they are not looking for anything advanced - otherwise you wouldn't need the course! It was nowhere near as tough as I had built it up in my head.

Unless anyone else has any horror stories they want to terrify TEFL with? Smile

Best of luck, I'm sure you will sail through it...

Boot

BocaNY · Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 131

Hey TEFL,

I did my interview a few weeks ago. It wasn't bad. Lastedaround 45mins to an hour. The first part we went over the pre task..what could have been explained better and examples for doing so. Then we went over the course and what to expect. Finally I asked questions about stuff that i wanted to know or have explained more.

It really wasn't bad. I think I stressed more about having to do it then actually talking to the person.

Best of luck. Very Happy

TEFL · Joined: 27 Jan 2009 Posts: 12

Thanks Boot and BocaNY! I am definately not feeling as daunted as I was. Fingers crossed for tomorrow now!

globalroamer · Joined: 07 Jun 2009 Posts: 4 Location: Atlanta, GA USA

Would be very helpful if you could tell us how that went, TEFL! Good luck!