Esl Teacher Interview Questions

The goal for a successful interview for an ESL teacher is to demonstrate their proficiency in the English language, showcase their teaching experience and methodology, and exhibit their ability to effectively communicate and connect with students from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Situational interview questions

• A newcomer student in your class appears disengaged and disinterested in learning English. How would you approach this student to understand their challenges and help them overcome them?
• Your school is experiencing a significant influx of students who have recently migrated from another country and have limited or no knowledge of English. How would you adjust your teaching style to help these students learn English effectively?
• One of your students is struggling to grasp a particular grammar concept. Despite multiple explanations, they still seem to be struggling. How would you approach this situation to ensure the student understands the concept?
• Your school is planning to organize a language exchange program where English-speaking students will get to exchange with students from Spanish-speaking countries. How would you prepare your class for this program?
• A shy student who has been doing well in class suddenly starts missing assignments and participating less in class. How would you approach this student to understand the reason for the change and offer support as needed?

Soft skills interview questions

• Describe a time when you went above and beyond for a student or a colleague. What was the outcome?
• How do you handle difficult situations with students or colleagues? Give an example.
• Talk about a time when you had to adapt your teaching style to accommodate a student’s learning needs. How did you assess their needs and adjust your approach?
• How do you encourage and build confidence in your students, especially those who struggle with language barriers?
• Give an example of a successful group project or activity you led in the classroom. How did you facilitate group communication and ensure equal participation?

Role-specific interview questions

• Can you describe your experience working with English language learners in a diverse classroom setting?
• How do you incorporate technology into your ESL instruction?
• Can you give an example of a successful lesson plan you created that effectively addressed the needs of students with varying language proficiency levels?
• Can you explain your approach to teaching grammar in an ESL classroom?
• How do you assess student learning and progress in your ESL classes?

STAR interview questions

1. Can you describe a situation where you had to teach a difficult grammar concept to your ESL students?

Situation: Teaching a difficult grammar concept.

Task: Responsibility to help students understand the concept.

Action: Procedure used to teach the concept.

Result: Results of your teaching methods and whether students were able to understand the concept.

2. Have you ever tried a new teaching method for an ESL class?

Situation: Implementing a new teaching method.

Task: Responsibility of teaching the class using this new method.

Action: Procedure used to incorporate the new teaching method.

Result: Results of implementing the new teaching method and whether it was effective.

3. Can you describe a time where you had to accommodate to a student with learning difficulties?

Situation: Accommodating to a student with learning difficulties.

Task: Responsibility to help the student learn the material.

Action: Procedure used to accommodate the student.

Result: Results of accommodating the student and whether they were able to learn the material.

4. Have you ever had to deal with a disruptive student in your ESL class?

Situation: Dealing with a disruptive student.

Task: Responsibility to manage the behavior of the disruptive student.

Action: Procedure used to handle the disruptive behavior.

Result: Results of handling the disruptive behavior and whether the student’s behavior improved.

5. Can you describe a time when you had to go above and beyond to support a struggling ESL student?

Situation: Supporting a struggling ESL student.

Task: Responsibility to provide additional support to the struggling student.

Action: Procedure used to go above and beyond to support the struggling student.

Result: Results of providing additional support to the struggling student and whether they were able to improve their performance.