When interviewing for a TEFL position, it is essential to discern the professionalism and credibility of potential employers. Key questions to pose include:
- What is the curriculum structure, and how much flexibility do teachers have?
- What teaching resources and materials are provided?
- Are there continuous professional development opportunities for teachers?
- How many educators are in the English department, and what is their tenure?
- What is the average class size and student age range?
- How is teacher performance assessed and feedback provided?
- Are there opportunities for advancement within the institution?
By strategically asking these questions, TEFL candidates can ensure they are aligning with reputable schools and positions that fit their career aspirations.
Table of Contents
What tasks will I be expected to undertake outside of normal teaching hours?
What is teacher turnover like at the school?
What kind of classes will I be teaching?
What teaching resources do you have?
Don't forget to adjust your questions to suit each specific job!
What tasks will I be expected to undertake outside of normal teaching hours?
Exactly what is expected of teachers varies considerably from one school to the next. You may be expected to complete reports on your students, attend regular staff meetings, consult with student's parents, provide lesson plans in advance or even undertake lunchtime duties etc. Some schools will pay for these extra responsibilities and some will not, so it is important that you are fully aware of your workload before taking the job.
What is teacher turnover like at the school?
The volume of turnover can be a good indication of how well teachers are treated by their employers. Although teachers in this field do often change jobs on a regular basis, you should be wary if no one stays for more than one contract. If you are unsure of the interviewer's answers, you can ask to speak to teachers who are currently working at the school.
What kind of classes will I be teaching?
This may require a few questions to get a full picture of what your classes will be like. What is the average class size? What age are the students? Is the curriculum set or will I have to prepare my own? There are generally pros and cons to each different classroom dynamic and most teachers have their own preferences.
What is the payment schedule?
Although this can sometimes feel like a tricky subject to bring up, it is essential to know what the starting salary is and whether there is any set policy for pay increases in the future. You will also need to know how and when the salary is paid so you can ensure you have the funds to cover your stay until the first paycheck arrives.
What teaching resources do you have?
It is important to know what resources and teaching aids are available to you as this may well affect how you plan and deliver your lessons. Is there access to internet connected computers, printers and photocopiers? If so, are they free to use? Do the classrooms have interactive whiteboards, overhead projectors or plain whiteboards? Is there a budget to cover any extra materials you want to include in your lessons?
Don't forget to adjust your questions to suit each specific job!
These are just some of the more important questions you should ask at any interview you attend, however, there are sure to be others that are important to you and specific to the individual job or location. Just remember that you have lost nothing if you walk away from a potential job because it just didn't feel right. Better that than to find yourself wondering ?why didn't I ask about that before I signed the contract?.
