This post contains a set of commonly asked questions during an interview for a teaching position abroad. These questions can be used to practice before an interview.
At home or abroad, a teaching job is a teaching job. The questions you’re asked at interview for a teaching job abroad, are similar to the ones you’ll get back home. There’ll just be a few slight differences that you may not be aware of.
Most interviews for teaching positions abroad are over Skype. Don’t let that put you off. Prepare for your interview as normal and you will be fine.
I spoke to the senior management in my school and asked for a list of the different interview questions that they ask when interviewing potential employees. Below is a list of their responses:
1) What experience if any do you have of working in an international school?
2) Why do you want to teach in Qatar? (See this post for potential answers).
3) What can you offer to this school?
4) Our school is a multi-cultural school and respects all cultures that make it up. Are you able to support our policy of respect for different cultures and work with children who do not have English as their first language?
5) What are the qualities of a good primary school teacher?
6) Describe your teaching style and comment on how you keep children engaged in your lessons.
7) How do you help your students become independent learners.
8) What assessment strategies (formal and informal) do you use/ find effective indicators of your children’s understanding and progress?
9) What would we see if we came into your classroom 6 weeks after assuming this role?
10) How do you motivate your students? What positive behavior management strategies do you use?
11) A student is not handing in homework regularly. What would you do?
12) How would you deal with an angry and demanding parent?
13) What does good teamwork amount colleagues look like to you?
14) Professional Development is very important to us. What area of expertise do you have and which areas do you feel you’d like to develop further? (Want to sell your own resources? This is now seen as an area of PD- entrepreneurship).
15) Do you have any questions?
Of course, the interview questions will vary depending on the school you’re interviewing for. They may even have some school specific questions, so be sure to read an prospectus or school information pack they send you. Be aware of their school ethos and mission too just to come across prepared and eager to get a job at that school.
I find, the questions seem to stem from the teaching standards in England (see above). Therefore, if you’re looking to prepare more questions for your interview, expect to get at least one question based on each aspect or standard.
A short post today, but hopefully useful to someone anticipating an interview. Best of luck and if you’ve anymore questions or tips, I’d love to hear from you.
