Teaching interview ?

lalyssalou

I have a BA in Linguistics with a TESOL certificate.  I graduated last May, but have been unable to find work in my field, so I've been trudging along in retail.  I decided to use my "maternity leave" to job hunt, and voila!  I have an interview on Thursday to teach ESL to adults.  Here's my question:

What do I bring to my interview?  Naturally, I need a copy of my resume, but do I need to bring mock lesson plans or teaching philosophy or anything else?  A friend teaches 2nd grade and said she never brought anything but her resume; is it different for TESOL than K-12? or that I don't actually have a teaching license?

Christina_Diane

When I was in my credential program, the professors advised us to take a portfolio containing some lesson plans in case our potential employers wanted to see it. About 50 percent of the interviews I went on were interested in looking, the others didn't care. In my opinion, it doesn't hurt to have a small portfolio.

For a job teaching ESL to adults, I'd think they would be more interested in asking about your experience with teaching adults or how you can adapt and modify what you've done to fit the needs of the adults rather than your classroom discipline philosophy. Good luck. 

katie4253

I don't know that you'd need lesson plans. I'd focus on your experience teaching adult learners and how you engage adult learners.  Because the people you are teaching make a choice to be there, talking about behavior probably isn't super important.

I don't know that I'd bring a teaching philosophy.  Again, I'd focus on talking about why you are want to teach adult learners. 

cwm11985

I don't know that you'd need a portfolio of lesson plans per say, but I'd be prepared to talk about how you plan to engage and motivate adults, how you will reach out to them to ensure their success, and how you will differentiate your teaching methods. Good luck!!

bumpuser4307348

I'm lurking from the Oct '11 board bc I am returning to work in a few weeks...  I think that you need to do whatever you can to make yourself stand out.  There may be a ton of people interviewing for your position, so you want them to remember you when you leave.  If you can bring some things with you to just throw in at any appropriate spots, you might make your interview more memorable.  Good luck!

CrazyToast

First - I don't know what TESOL is, so I can't help there.

I've been teaching 10 years and have my single subject credential.  I have worked in 3 districts.  I have interviewed in 5 districts and was offered the job every time (it's been something like 6 years since I had to interview last, though).

I always brought my "idea binder."  It contains lesson ideas, plans, etc.  I also always had to send a letter of intent ahead.  So they knew WHY I wanted the job.  I always believe that being over-prepared is better than under-prepared.   You never know what you might want to reference.

lalyssalou

CrazyToast:

First - I don't know what TESOL is, so I can't help there.

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

 

 Thanks for all the input, ladies!

walkermai9999

Also be prepared to do a small teaching presentation. When I applied for my current job ESOL to adult learners, I had to do a 15-minute demonstration of how I would teach a grammar lesson. They provided me with the grammar point and the book and gave me about 15minutes to prepare. 

I did bring some samples of my lesson plans and student teaching surveys that my mentor did on me when I was student teaching. Although they didn't ask to see them, it wouldn't hurt to be extra prepared just in case.

Good luck!!! ^^