What are ESL Job Interviews
for Korea Like?
Can you give me some tips? What
about telephone interviews?
ESL interviews
for English teaching jobs in Korea are like interviews
for just about any other type of job, except they
aren't!
Particularly if
you are a beginning teacher, don't expect trick grammar
questions or really difficult questions of any sort.
Usually, the
employer or recruiter is just trying to get a feel if
you are a friendly and pleasant person. These
issues are important to the employer, who is typically a
business person, running a school where it would be nice
if the customers (students) like their teachers enough
to keep signing up for more classes and earning him/her
a profit.
Professional Interviews
It would be
unusual to have what you might consider a really
professional interview. I've had precisely two - in
fifteen years. And I used to interview a lot as I liked
to "fish" for jobs - and often applied for something if
it sounded interesting to me even if I didn't have any
interest in taking it.
The notions,
mentioned above, of friendliness and pleasantness, are
generally what interviewers are looking for. If you are
applying for a job that requires some experience or
training, then you might expect a simple grammar
question - or a question about your teaching philosophy,
teaching methods - or how to deal with a discipline
problem. Of course, think about these things before the
interview.
The
Usual Interview
A typical
interview almost doesn't exist. So really, you probably
can't do much to prepare, except to put yourself in a
good mood, smile a lot, dress appropriately (if it is an
"in-person" interview) - and go for it.
Odd
Questions
Most teachers,
at one time or another, have been asked such oddities
as, "Do you like kimchee?" or "How do you feel about
hitting your students?" Answer honestly - you might as
well hit the issues before you get there! Be
realistic though and avoid too much brutal frankness,
which is a Western idea - not an Eastern one.
Speak
Clearly
One thing almost
all interviews are looking for, is your ability to speak
clearly and understandably. Do that purposefully during
the interview. Don't try to "WoW" them with your use of
the language. You are probably already light years
ahead of their English language skills anyway and they
know that. That's why they want and need a teacher.
They want to know that you can communicate well with
their students.
Telephone Interviews
These type
interviews are fairly common, for obvious reasons. Try
to speak clearly and slow down a bit as some connections
won't be good. Be polite if you can't understand what
is being asked (which will sometimes be the case!).
The
Role of the Teacher in Korean Society
Know that in
Korean culture the teacher is sometimes considered a
surrogate parent - and that even experienced elementary
school and high school teachers in Korea will sometimes
tell you the most important thing about any teacher is
that they "Love their students." While this would seem
an odd thing in the West - it is a bit refreshing
really. There is a nice warm old-fashionedness about
such thinking. From times before pedophilia became such
a fear. Before a teacher needed two witnesses before
talking to a student about a problem.
It's okay to
tell an interviewer that you enjoy teaching, enjoy
students, and have a strong interest in their success.
And, I hope you do!
Try to avoid
this:
|
"Twenty
years from now you will be more disappointed
by the things that you didn't do than by the
ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the
trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.
Discover." -- Mark Twain |
|
Raise your hand if you'd like to spend your "working"
time in a Luxury Resort . . . 
