For the most part your interview will be an informal chat over the phone or via Skype (perhaps video). Here are some tips on how to get the most out of this opportunity and how to properly sell yourself. They will most likely ask you why you are interested in coming to work in that particular country and what you enjoy about teaching English. If this is your first time to teach abroad they may ask you why you want to teach English. You may want to think about this question before the interview.
A typical answer may be because you want to travel. Perhaps you have heard that the country you are applying to teach in was excellent for living and working abroad in. Perhaps a friend or acquaintance told you about their experiences in teaching abroad. You also may be interested in writing about another culture and want to experience this first hand. You may want to try teaching as a calling and also save money.
Most of the time the school may not be able to speak English well over the phone and even may be more nervous about the interview than you are. Most interviews may be done by the recruiter. If you feel more comfortable about speaking with the school, it is always OK to ask. In the case of public schools, placement in a particular school is done later, after being hired and there would be no contact with a school prior to starting your first day. Usually the first day in a public school is an opening ceremony followed by a week of introduction classes.
The interview offers a great chance for you to come across as a potentially well organized and informed teacher of English as a second language. Try and learn something about the local culture you may soon be living in, such as a few words in the language. This is sure to impress the interviewer. This keen interest also shows your open mindedness, willingness to learn and that you are possibly hard working and enthusiastic.
The school may provide you with all of the information you will need about the job such as salary, living conditions and more. However, you may still have questions relating to other aspects of the job such as textbooks used, style of teaching, other foreign teachers that may already work at the school - you may want to speak with them. Other questions may be about dress code expectations, apartment furnishings, and so on. It is a good idea to ask questions to get a good feel for what the job will be like and to show your interest as well. You may also want to ask about restaurants, transportation, or what the night life is like nearby your apartment area and more.
Try and relax during the interview. Be yourself and be as professional as possible. Some humor is great as well. Teaching ESL usually requires a good sense of humor along with professionalism. Let the interviewer know you are serious about teaching well and enthusiastic. Using words like excited or looking forward to teaching and living abroad will help show your interest and enthusiasm.
Interviewers will usually be concerned about a candidate's ability to live abroad in a foreign country for a year at a time (usual contract term). If you live abroad you will become the foreigner. Personally, I don't care much for the word, especially the word alien. You will hear things like, "be sure and get your alien card." Perhaps in the near or not too distant future these words will not be so relevant to our societies, as the world grows smaller through technology and common language, closing gaps and chasms between nations. For now you will be the foreign teacher.
At first this was quite strange for me. Perhaps living in another nation may always seem strange at first. One friend informed his very posh and English mother that he was a foreigner in Korea. She replied, "No you are not, you are an Englishman." She is a very kind and dear woman but as you can see she has a certain view point that may not mean much to locals where you live abroad. By all means make the interviewer feel that you will be comfortable living abroad and that you are open to new cultures, food and other aspects of life abroad. Being easy going and adapting to change certainly helps and you may want ton inform the interviewer of this. Perhaps you may relate a previous experience of adapting to a new environment.
If you do feel nervous or uncomfortable abroad at first, remember all things pass, even our problems and before long you will feel comfortable. It may come to feel like a second home for those who spend years abroad in a certain country. Try and enjoy the interview as part of the adventure of teaching and living abroad. It is usually a very short process, sometimes taking only a few minutes, to allow them to hear your voice and ask a few questions.
A typical answer may be because you want to travel. Perhaps you have heard that the country you are applying to teach in was excellent for living and working abroad in. Perhaps a friend or acquaintance told you about their experiences in teaching abroad. You also may be interested in writing about another culture and want to experience this first hand. You may want to try teaching as a calling and also save money.
Most of the time the school may not be able to speak English well over the phone and even may be more nervous about the interview than you are. Most interviews may be done by the recruiter. If you feel more comfortable about speaking with the school, it is always OK to ask. In the case of public schools, placement in a particular school is done later, after being hired and there would be no contact with a school prior to starting your first day. Usually the first day in a public school is an opening ceremony followed by a week of introduction classes.
The interview offers a great chance for you to come across as a potentially well organized and informed teacher of English as a second language. Try and learn something about the local culture you may soon be living in, such as a few words in the language. This is sure to impress the interviewer. This keen interest also shows your open mindedness, willingness to learn and that you are possibly hard working and enthusiastic.
The school may provide you with all of the information you will need about the job such as salary, living conditions and more. However, you may still have questions relating to other aspects of the job such as textbooks used, style of teaching, other foreign teachers that may already work at the school - you may want to speak with them. Other questions may be about dress code expectations, apartment furnishings, and so on. It is a good idea to ask questions to get a good feel for what the job will be like and to show your interest as well. You may also want to ask about restaurants, transportation, or what the night life is like nearby your apartment area and more.
Try and relax during the interview. Be yourself and be as professional as possible. Some humor is great as well. Teaching ESL usually requires a good sense of humor along with professionalism. Let the interviewer know you are serious about teaching well and enthusiastic. Using words like excited or looking forward to teaching and living abroad will help show your interest and enthusiasm.
Interviewers will usually be concerned about a candidate's ability to live abroad in a foreign country for a year at a time (usual contract term). If you live abroad you will become the foreigner. Personally, I don't care much for the word, especially the word alien. You will hear things like, "be sure and get your alien card." Perhaps in the near or not too distant future these words will not be so relevant to our societies, as the world grows smaller through technology and common language, closing gaps and chasms between nations. For now you will be the foreign teacher.
At first this was quite strange for me. Perhaps living in another nation may always seem strange at first. One friend informed his very posh and English mother that he was a foreigner in Korea. She replied, "No you are not, you are an Englishman." She is a very kind and dear woman but as you can see she has a certain view point that may not mean much to locals where you live abroad. By all means make the interviewer feel that you will be comfortable living abroad and that you are open to new cultures, food and other aspects of life abroad. Being easy going and adapting to change certainly helps and you may want ton inform the interviewer of this. Perhaps you may relate a previous experience of adapting to a new environment.
If you do feel nervous or uncomfortable abroad at first, remember all things pass, even our problems and before long you will feel comfortable. It may come to feel like a second home for those who spend years abroad in a certain country. Try and enjoy the interview as part of the adventure of teaching and living abroad. It is usually a very short process, sometimes taking only a few minutes, to allow them to hear your voice and ask a few questions.
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