The Ultimate Explorer Jane : TheWorknPlay

The Ultimate Explorer

Jane

Hello, my name is Jane. I have lived in Korea for 10 years now and I am here to give you the inside story of life as it is. Tips on how to correctly navigate through culture and some survival skills especially to newcomers.

Posts : Recruitment process (2)

All The Korean Journey (1) Recruitment process (3) E-2 Visa for ESL teachers (7) Covid and Quarantine updates (2) ESL Education (3)

ESL teachers' most common interview questions.

by Jane

Recruitment process (3/3)

ESL teachers' most common interview questions.

ESL teachers' most common interview questions. This interview usually has three parts, basic, career, and in-depth educational questions. While teaching English to other language speakers, you interact with a diverse range of students. This interview allows you to talk about your unique teaching techniques which you think are useful to students. The interviewer is also able to evaluate if you are suitable for their students. ESL Interviews are conducted on skype or zoom. If needed, in-person interviews are conducted for instructors already residing in Korea. (Covid-19 terms and conditions apply) Here are some of the commonly asked questions. Employer to Instructor Basic questions Career questions In-depth educational questions -Tell me a little about yourself -What do you like about being a teacher? -What are your strengths and weaknesses? -Why Korea? Is there a specific reason you want to teach in Korea? -What interests you about our school? -What do you like to do when you are not working? -What qualities do you have that will help you teach at our school? -What are your teaching techniques? -How would you motivate students? -How do you handle demanding parents? -What are your professional goals? -Do you have a mentor o someone you look up to? -How do you relieve your stress? -How do you handle negative responses from students? -What do you think are the advantages of knowing a different language? -What are our expectations for living and working in Korea? -What are your salary expectations? -How would your past colleagues describe your teaching methodology? -Why did you choose ESL education? -What kind of students do you think you could work with the most efficiently? -Have you ever taught in another non-native country? -What do you consider as your biggest teaching achievement? -What aspects of your teaching have changed with experience? -Which other languages are you fluent in apart from English? -Where do you see yourself in 5/10 years? -It can be challenging learning a new curriculum in a new country, how will you adapt and cope with these changes? -How would your approach with a 1:1 student differ from that of a group? -How would you go about establishing the needs and objectives of a student? -How do you think you can manage a class with students who don’t speak English well or at all? -Give an example of your most challenging student and how you handled the situation. -What factors would you consider in lesson planning? (e.g., topic, level of students, strengths of students -How is teaching online different from teaching in a classroom? -Have you ever been in a situation where students question stumped you? How did you handle that? -How do you feel about having another teacher in class while teaching? -Would you be comfortable in performing additional day duties like substituting? -Have you ever had an in-class emergency? How did you respond to that? -What do you believe is the hardest thing to teach? -How would you rate your ESL lesson planning abilities? -Have you ever disagreed with the higher management? Explain -How technology efficient are you? -What do you do to ensure you are understood in class? Instructor to Employer -What kind of resources are available to help in lesson planning? -Are there senior members/mentors to guide new teachers? -Apart from teaching, are there any additional duties I might have? -How many English levels are there in your school? -Is there any procedure for students to move up or down a level? -If there is no set curriculum, what kind of teaching preparation is expected? -Is class preparation part of the working hours or not? -Are there any professional development or internal growth opportunities? -What is a typical day like for a teacher in your institute? -How is the culture between teachers at the school? -Are there opportunities for professional and social interaction among colleagues? -What types of technology do you have/use in your classrooms? -What type of anti-bullying measures are you taking at your school? -What are some of the inevitable challenges one is expected to face at your school?

by Jane

Recruitment process (2/3)

How to film Self-Introduction Videos

How to film Self-Introduction Videos While filming a short intro video may seem time-consuming, if you follow this guide closely, this video should help schools want to hire you. The first impression is the most important! Therefore, your video is a crucial part of getting hired in Korea. The introduction video should be around 2~3 minutes long and must be submitted as a link or as a .wav, .mp4, or .mov file. Setting Up Your Appearance Keep things professional in business casual clothing with no visible tattoos or facial piercings and make sure your hair is neat and uncovered. Video Presentation Shoot your video in front of a neutral background (like a wall or bookshelf) and stabilize your camera (or phone) in a safe place 2-3 feet (60 cm) away from you. Do not hold your phone. Make sure that there’s enough lighting to clearly see your face and that the mic can pick up your voice clearly. Try to film the video in ONE take. Speaking Look directly into the camera and practice what you’d like to say before shooting to make sure you meet the video time requirements. Do not read from a piece of paper! Speak loudly, clearly, and confidently. Be animated and speak enthusiastically in a friendly way. Caution: Try not to use “um” or “ah” when speaking and don’t speak too formally. Putting it All Together When reviewing applicant videos, school directors focus on how you present yourself. Smiling and acting energetic will help them picture you working with their students and increase your chances of being hired. What to Talk About As you are applying for an English teaching position, directors want to hear what you sound like in English. 1. Introduce yourself, including your background and education 2. Why you want to be an English teacher in Korea 3. Why you’d make a great teacher 4. Your experience teaching, tutoring, and/or experience with children Note: If you don’t have any experience with teaching, talk about the work experience you do have and how those skills apply to teaching. Do not start out by saying, “I do not have teaching experience . . .” 5. An interesting fact about yourself that makes you stand out. My Checklist The video is stabilized and not shaky My face can be seen well and the lighting is good I am smiling and speaking clearly without many “ums” or “ahs” I am speaking at a good pace; not too fast or too slow The audio is clear and in sync with the video Unless specified the video should be at least 2~3 minutes long.

by Jane

Recruitment process (1/3)

An ESL interview guide

ESL self-introduction Video submission Nowadays, when you apply to a language company, you may be asked to introduce yourself through a self-recorded video. This recording, which usually runs for not more than two minutes, is a quicker way of showcasing your qualifications, skills, and even your personality to your potential employer. These videos help you stand out among a multitude of teacher applications. Take note that some companies will not require an intro video from you during the application process. However, you may still need to make one for your teacher profile when you begin teaching. Why is an introduction video important? It makes it possible for recruiters and students to know a new teacher in person before the beginning of a course. With this, the most effective and quickest way to give an idea of who you are and how you teach is through an intro video. When it comes to screening applicants, an intro video is a real-time saver. Instead of conducting interviews, many companies these days simply review candidates’ intro videos. This, in turn, hastens the hiring process and could get you started teaching sooner. Meanwhile, an intro video is a great way to spark the intrigue of your future students or their parents and make them feel connected with you, whether it's for your class activities, your fun teaching background, or even just your amazing personality! It is also through the intro video that you can give a good first impression without pressure (absence of the interviewer). The employers can also check your English proficiency like pronunciations.