Thread: Looking for advice, job interview Monday...

Hi all

I've got an interview Monday 10am. The Thai guy I've been speaking to about the position has been pretty vague about it all lol..he said they want me to do a short demo lesson of 15 minutes!! i was expecting at least a 30min demo, as the periods at the school are 50mins..anyway i'm gonna plan a 50min demo just be on the safe side...he said they just want to evaluate my pronunciation and classroom performance. He also said choose whatever topic you like..i had to ring him back to ask more questions as he was being so vague about it, and he just said "it's nothing don't worry relax" lol...he was more interested in selling the school to me..so i'm guessing they may be desperate, and i know there's multiple positions so hopefully i can land the job..Anyway so i have to plan something for 30, 15 year old students..i asked their level of proficiency..i guesses they would probably be classes as beginners..he just said "they know little bit so make easy"..so i'm thinking i might use the theme of hobbies and interests..adapt something out of my elementary headway book..start off with introducing the topic, and just checking they understand what hobbies and interests actually are. Then i was planning on pairing them up and getting them to interview each other briefly..asking thing like "what hobbies do you have", "why do you like them" etc..then hopefully get the students to tell the rest of the class and myself about their partners interests and hobbies...

Could anyone give me any input on my ideas? do they sound ok? Also how should i act in the class??? i'm guessing friendly and relaxed, which i am anyway..but should i be walking round the students checking they're ok etc..interacting with them? I just don't want to screw it up lol..i could do with landing this job ideally...thanks to anyone who replies...cheers all

to be honest your plan sounds a little optimistic to me. I wouldn't actually attempt to teach anything and just focus on introductions/ice-breakers. A good one (which I know has been posted often, but still worth a mention) is to write up some random facts about yourself on the board, in no particular order...

liverpool 36 17th August Pizza John Doe Mary Manchester

Go through each fact, asking them what they think it refers to... "so... what's my name??... mmm.... is my name liverpool? no? OK, so what is my name? Mary?? HAHA, no! Yeah, that's right. My name is John. So, what is your name?" (ask some random students)

"Ok, so why have I written Liverpool? No, i'm not from liverpool. No, that isn't my surname. Yeah, I support LFC. What about you guys? Who do you support?"

Hand out some blank paper and have the class write facts about themselves. Call on a likely looking student to come up, quickly put their facts up on the board and ask the student (with the class joining in) what they all relate to. "Ah, so your name is Nong Buriram? Nice to meet you Buriram." No? No Buriram? so, is your name som tam? mmm, can anybody else tell me, what is his name"

Thanks guys, i really like those ideas..i will scrap mine and go with one of your suggestions...thanks very much appreciate it.

---Update---

Damn i'm glad i asked on here for advice now lol...i will definitely simplify my little demo..hopefully they're happy with me and offer me a job, they've got multiple positions so i have a good chance i guess...thanks again for reading my longggggggggggggg post dudes....

---Update---

Oh 1 thing guys..will it be ok for me to call a students up to the front to tell the class about themselves or is that a no-no as they don't know me?? i'm thinking i would be better off just asking them to stand up from their desks, and speak from there...god i hope the classroom has a whiteboard, and the students at least have some paper!! it's a big school so i'm sure they will at least have basic resources...

Ok thanks all..i will take the advice on board..cheers

One of.my icebreakers is to shove introductory questions in balloons and blow them up. It gets loud but it has that element of sanook Thai schools love.

You have to quickly decide on what their level is Then go from there. Start off with my name is Write it on the board. Speak slowly do not use contractions. Move around ask some of them What is your name Ask them the day and date Write it on the board ask them to help you spell it That will give you some idea of their level If you get a good response go with some of other posters ideas Poor or no response may give some idea why the school is desperate Keep moving around the classroom Remember a moving target is harder to hot
Good Luck

thanks all..really appreciate it..i would of been so annoyed with myself if i went in with something that i thought was ok, but was actually way to complex..and everyone just sat there quiet and didn't respond at all lol..i will post here on Monday after it's over, hopefully i will be posting that i got the job!!

---Update---

also guys would it be fair to say that average Thai students of 15-16 would be classed as beginners? I'm sure it depends on the teaching they've received, and the type of school they go to..but in general would it be true to say that? I've only been here 6 weeks and this will be my first job if i get it, but I've met a fair few Thais round where i'm living and stuff, and alot of them seem to be fairly proficient, probably intermediate level.