All about you:– Why do you want to teach at our school? Why should we hire you?– What has been your most positive teaching experience?– What has been your most negative teaching experience? What would you change?– What is your philosophy of education?– What have you recently done in education of an interesting or innovative nature?– What motivates you?– What professional books, blogs, or journals have you read to keep abreast of educational news and best practices?– How would your students describe you?– What is your greatest strength/weakness as a teacher?– What are 3 words that your students/admin/close friends would use to describe you?– Describe a typical lesson in your classroom. (Going through the step by step overview)– Describe a successful lesson and how you knew it went well.– Why did you want to be a teacher?– What is a difficult situation you faced and how did you deal with it?– What do you want to teach__________(grade level) students? What do you like about them?– How do you use technology in your classroom?– How do you use assessment in your classroom? Describe how you used the information you gained from an assessment in your instruction.– How do you address the needs of English language learners?– How do you integrate other subjects into your units?– How do you approach classroom discipline?– What is your favorite essential question (UBD model)?Parents– How do you communicate student progress to parents?– How do you normally communicate with parents?– How have you involved parents in the learning process?Students– How do you handle the different abilities of students in your class?– What techniques have you found useful in individualizing learning in your class?-Describe one or two techniques you use to motivate students. How do you motivate a student to learn a concept they do not do well in?– Describe a difficult student you had and how you handled it.– How do you handle a student who is a consistent behavioral problem in your class?– If you met your students 20 years from now, what would you want them to remember about you?School– Why do you want to teach at __________ (school)?– How have you contributed to the development of the total school program in your current position?– How do you structure your classroom to achieve maximum benefit from teacher/student contact?– What kind of extracurricular activities would you be interested in being part of?– What are the talents/expertise you can bring to your team?– Why are you leaving your current school?– What did you like the most about your current school?– What was the most difficult thing about your current school?–How would you implement the school’s core values into your classroom?– What are your thoughts on collaboration with other staff?Country/City Specific– Why do you want to live in __________ (country)?– Tell me what you already know about the country and culture.– What kinds of things do you like to do outside of school?– Do you have any concerns about moving to this country?The End of the Interview– Is there anything else you feel that you want me to know about you, that we haven’t had a chance to talk about?– Do you have any questions for us?Questions to ask during the interview:What are the nationalities of the student body? What is the percentage of each nationality?How many students are in the school and what are class sizes? How many current foreign teachers are working for them?Are students admitted with little or no English skills?What percentage of the teachers renews their contract for a third or fourth year?What expectations are there for teacher participation beyond the regular school day?What is the frequency of faculty meetings, committee meetings and other meetings teachers must attend on a weekly basis?How long is the school year? When are holidays/breaks? (you should be able to find this on the school website, but if you can’t, then ask).Are teaching materials readily available? Technology? Internet? What are the classrooms like? Desks for every student? Do teachers use chalkboards or a projection system?How involved are parents and the PTO?Do teachers work together?Does the administration side with teachers or parents?Is the curriculum open or closed? Do teachers have freedom in the classroom when approaching the lessons?How much time do I get with my students?What is the dress code at the school for teachers and students? What support services are provided to students? Is the curriculum aligned with particular standards?I’m very interested in building my sk ills as a teacher. What staff development opportunities are offered?How is the reading program organized?What new programs or activities are being considered for the coming year?How would you describe the atmosphere and culture at your school?Why do people like to work at your school?Is there a yearly budget provided for continuing education/professional development?Person Questions:How safe is the area where you will be living and how safe is the city in general?What will housing be like?What is the level of health care in the country?How long will it take to get to school?What do teachers do weekends and after school?Does the teacher salary cover all living expenses?Are foreign employees welcomed?What is the social life like both at the school and local community? Is the mail system reliable? Can I easily send and receive packages?How easy is it to travel within and out of the country?Be Prepared for ToughInterview QuestionsCredentials, enthusiasm and a burning desire to teach overseas describes nearly 100% of recruiting-fair candidates. So, how do you set yourself above the bar with so many high caliber candidates competing for the same positions?A Director’s gut feeling about how you’ll fit into and adapt to their school and geographi cal location certainly plays a big part in the decision-making process. For some hardship locations, a “good fit” may be more important than actual years of teaching experience and advanced degrees. But when it comes to competing for the most desirable schools, your answers to some unexpected interview questions can easily make or break the deal:Tell me about yourself. What’s your greatest contribution to your last school? If I walked into your classroom, what would I see? How will your past or current Director describe you when I dial them up? How would your students describe you? Teach me something right now! What’s the last article or book you read on teaching? Which educational journals do you subscribe to? Tell me about a conflict you resolved.Answering tough interview questions is something you definitely don’t want to do impromptu. Of course, if you’re thrown a curve ball you have to swing at it, but anticipating and honing your answers to possible interview questions is obviously the best way to prepare for a successful interview. You just might be Teacher of the Year material but if you can’t convince the interviewer of that, all is for naught.There are many international schools considered to be amongst the most progressive and well-respected schools in the world. But don’t be daunted by that. They need great teachers, and good schools will support their teachers to become part of their learning-focused ethos. So what do these schools look for when hiring new teachers? Here are the top 10 qualities that most international schools look for in the teachers they hire:Enthusiastic teachers who love working with young peopleNothing compares with your passion for learning and teaching. So if you’re enthusiastic and committed to meeting the learning needs of each and every student, you’re half way there.Responsible teachers who do their researchFinding the right school is important, for both you and your employer. Show that you have done your research, that you know the school, its focus, its philosophy. Demonstrate that you have thought seriously about the location, how you’ll respond to the move, and how you’ll cope with leaving home. Be prepared to explain why you want to move abroad.Teachers who are internationally mindedYou may be choosing to live and work in a location very different to your home country, and within a culture very different to your home culture. You will be working with students and families from many different countries and backgrounds, and with teachers and school staff who have very different training and experience to what you may be used to. You must be willing to accept and value differences, to respect the country you are living and working in and to be truly internationally minded, in and out of work.Flexible teachers who are able to adaptInternational schools vary dramatically – in location, size, student intake, staffing, curriculum, philosophy, and more. The best international teachers are willing and eager to adapt, and to embrace new circumstances and unexpected challenges.Teachers who have much to offerIf you can teach a range of subjects or age groups, and have specialist skills, you’ll stand out from the crowd and be a real asset.Teachers who want to be fully involved in the life of the schoolInternational schools are more than just places of education. Many students and st aff are expatriates and turn to the school as their ‘family’. It is the social hub and the source for extra-curricular activities; for the students, staff and their families. Schools are looking for teachers who are happy to get fully involved in school life and its community.Teachers who can lead extra-curricular activitiesMost after school activities for international school children happen through the school. This means that extra-curricular activities are an important aspect of international school life. Being able and willing to lead or support anextra-curricular activity is expected of international school teachers. It shows you have true commitment to the school, and more importantly to the children, outside of the classroom.Teachers who are loyalInternational schools are renowned for their short-term contracts, meaning that teachers can often move on to another school in another country after two years. However, international schools also value loyalty and often look for teachers who have commitment and staying power, who have extended their contracts in previous jobs and value the benefits that a more established teaching staff can bring.Teachers who can work with second or third language learnersMany students at international schools speak English as a second or third language. This means adapting your teaching methods to help students fullyengage in the learning. Teachers who have EASL or Mother Tongue training orgood experience are valued.Teachers who want to develop professionally and are lifelong learnersInternational schools offer great opportunities for both career and personal development and love teachers who show a desire to keep learning. Activelyseeking professional development opportunities and sharing your learning and specialist experience with your colleagues is valued by schools, especiallythose that are isolated and where external training opportunities may berestricted.You don’t need all of these qualities to become a teacher at an internationalschool, but having some of them will help, particularly enthusiasm andinternational mindedness, and don’t forget to work with TIC who will help youfind the best job for you!。
