Job Discussion Forums

[greystroke]

Hi All,

I am not sure if this is the forum on which to post the questions below, but i dont know where to post them. Anyway,

I am being interviewed for a teaching position this week.

I'd like to know the kind of questions that are likely to be asked----

A. On language
B. On classroom management .

I was reading( on another site) some of the questions that are likely to come up

What would you do if you had to teach without any materials? Have you ever taught without materials? Give me an example .

Since i havent taught without materials, the only answer i can think of is " The students are the best materials--- just a question like -- what is your favourite movie, what happened in it, describe it-- can generate a lot of discussion.-- the teaching points can be picked up from this-- + there is always the classroom -- a lot of vocabulary , points of grammar etc can be taught just by looking at/ naming classroom objects. --But it wouldnt be possible to teach for long without materials."

I don't know if thats the best answer. I'd appreciate some help.

2. what would you teach in your first class?

My answer: Have students introduce themselves, set up a code of conduct, teach them the verb to be-- my name is etc. Is this correct?

Again, I'd appreciate any help.

Thanks in advance,

Greystroke

[santi84]

[naturegirl321]

Don't forget personal issues, like your three best qualities, worst qualities, what you do in your free time, how you will adjust to life in a new culture. A tip: Don't say that bar hopping is soemthing that you like to do in your free time, They want to see that you will be able to adjust, I say I like reading, crocheting, knitting and painting, which are somethings that can be done basically anywhere.

You might be given a grammar point and be asked to explain, or a situation and be asked how it would handle it. Common sense works for the latter, for the former, you'll have to know a bit of grammar. I was asked the difference between "glance" and "glimpse" or "see" and "watch"

Teaching without materials, well, it IS hard and if you don't have materials, you'll have to make them, fast, like magazines, print stuff off the net. There's a limit on the time you can play hot seat or all change.

2. Yep, that's good. The TP game is good too. Where they take as much TP as they need, then have to say X things about themselves. So they take 5 squares, they have to say five things about themselves.

Again, I'd appreciate any help.

[greystroke]

Thank you- both Santi 84 and Nature girl.


Greystroke

[nickpellatt]

I work for an organisation that doesnt provide any materials, I have to make or provide my own. The question, if posed ... needs to be qualified first.

My sales background always says to answer a question, with a question LOL. This doesnt work so well with a DOS as I have found they dont like me doing this too much

I would qualify it further before offering an answer though ...

Does this mean you have to make materials prior to to the class, or is it in a situation where you are being thrust into a classroom without notice or warning. Does no materials, mean none issued, or totally nothing all the time (such as remote Africa for example)

I would also qualify the materials with regards to the students. Do they have materials, do they have books, do they have access to pen and paper.

I would also want to know more about the class before I offered an answer too. Its a fairly stupid question without further qualification I reckon, and the answer will depends upon the circumstances, class size and level.

If this information wasnt offered (during the interview when and if they ask this question), I would probably reply that I wouldnt work in such an environment, and that before I could possibly do a professional job, or be willing to attempt to teach ... I would expect my employer to give me this info.

Anyway ... that may not help LOL. So here is what I do (without fail) in the first of my new classes, which doesnt require any material other than pen and paper.

'Find someone who .........'

I dictate up to ten statements. Find someone who speaks another language at home. Find someone who used to look very different. Find someone who is a vegetarian. etcetc.

Students copy this down... I then set the task for them to interview their classmates, to 'find someone who'. With lower level students we model the types of questions they should ask...and subsequent follow up questions. Students with any level of fluency are encouraged to use each question as a starting point for more dialogue ... and we then do class feedback.

Ideal first lesson, with the minimum of material, and doesnt need any prep.

I do think it is perfectly fair to ask questions of this scenario though. If (during an interview) a DoS says to me, 'what would you do if you have a to teach without materials?' I am within my rights to ask how big is the class, what ages or levels are they, and what materials do they currently have, or are likely to have in the class?

If this interviewing DoS then said, 'Im not telling you, I dont know, just tell me what you would do?'

I would then say I would refuse to take this class, and I would not consider working for someone in this context. I personally dont think thats unreasonable.

if you arent as bold (or as foolish as I am) go with the 'find someone who' answer.