TEFL Interview Questions You Should Know!

You’ve finished your TEFL course, applied for your dream job and are just starting to hear back from all those great schools you’ve contacted. It could be a matter of weeks before you’re on that plane heading for your new life teaching abroad – but first you’ve got to ace that TEFL job interview!

Here are a few of the most common TEFL interview questions and how to answer them!

1)     Tell me about your teaching experience…

You’ll be hard pressed to find an interviewer who doesn’t ask you this question. If you’ve got a load of experience then great, if not then this is the time to sell yourself with your TEFL course!  Make sure the employer knows that your TEFL Course is from an accredited industry provider and talk about the different modules that you’ve covered. Remember to tailor your answer to the position you’re applying to, if you’re applying to a kindergarten they’ll be more interested in your young learner teaching skills than your business English certificates.

2)     How would you deal with a child who breaks the rules?

Your employer is looking to check two things here; 1) that you’re not about to lose the plot the first time a child disobeys the rules and  2) that you have good classroom management skills. So…how do you answer? An ideal answer would explain how you set out rules for your class and have obvious consequences for those who break them. It’s equally important to show that you’d try to identify the reason behind your student’s disruptive behaviour – are they bored, not challenged, is the work too difficult?

3)     Why do you enjoy teaching abroad?

Now is not the time to mention your love of travel, exotic holidays and cheap street food. Your new employer wants to hear that you care about their students and are passionate about teaching them English (which of course you areJ)!  Make your answer come to life by talking about the time that you helped a child or language learner to achieve something. This is another great time to bring up your TEFL course to show that you have already committed 100+ hours of your life to becoming a great teacher.

4)     What do you know about (Insert Country)?

The interviewer here wants to know that you are culturally prepared for life in their country. If you can show a little knowledge of their customs and culture then you’ll be on to a winner. Avoid any controversial, political or cultural hot topics and remember that in this instance, flattery will get you everywhere!

5)     Do you have any questions for us?

Remember that the TEFL interview is also the opportunity for you to ask any questions about the job before accepting it. What will the students be like, what kind of level of English can you expect to find? Will you have co-teachers who will help to manage the class? Does the school operate split shifts? As with any other job interview it’s best to avoid questions about holiday entitlements and pay – these can be ironed out /negotiated at contract stage.

If you completed your TEFL course with TEFL Zorritos, you will be prepared and have practiced answering all of the above questions during our intensive 160 Hour TEFL course.  Even better, we will have a guaranteed job waiting for you when you have completed our course.  

What could be better?  Study in a beautiful Peruvian beach town, free surfing lessons, great accommodations available, including delicious local food.  Fully accredited 160 Hour TEFL course that provides you with 5 advanced certifications at absolutely no extra cost!  And a guaranteed job waiting for you when you complete the course.

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Practical Teaching in a TEFL Course

Practical, observed teaching of real students is an integral part of any quality TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certificate course. Firstly, it is an indication of the course's value; if a TEFL course doesn't offer any practical teaching then the potential trainee should be wary of enrolling. This is because practical teaching is an immensely important part of a TEFL course, it is when trainees take all of the theory and teaching methods that they have studied and put them to the test. There is truly no better way to learn how to become a teacher than actually practicing being one.

Teaching as a career is a life-long learning experience and teachers will continue to learn and improve throughout their teaching life. This is part of the challenge but equally part of the appeal, as it means teachers are always learning in the same way that their students are.

This learning starts with a TEFL course and the practical teaching is often a trainee's first experience of standing up in front of a group of English language students. Because this practical teaching experience is so vital, it is equally important that they are teaching "real" students (ideally in a foreign country), in order for their experience to be as authentic and beneficial as possible.

Observation of these practical teaching classes is also integral to its success, as trainees will benefit as much from the constructive feedback as they will from the teaching experience itself.

In conclusion, the three main points that should be kept in mind for anyone looking for a TEFL Certificate course are as follows;

• Ensure your TEFL Certificate course includes a minimum of 6 hours of practical teaching 
• The practical teaching must be with real students (ideally in a foreign country)
• The observation of this practical teaching, and the consequent feedback, will be very important in the entire learning process.