Demonstration Lessons for EFL and ESL Jobs
Basic Concepts
Many
employers will ask you to perform a "Demonstration Lesson"
as part of the interview process when they are considering
you for a teaching position. While an uncomfortable
proposition, often with "fake' students, this is not
something to be feared. In fact, it is a chance to show off
what you know.
Schools
are not necessarily looking for a perfect teacher as much as
they are looking for someone who is friendly, outgoing,
smiles, and is able to structure a decent lesson.
When
you have a demonstration lesson requested, ask for whom the
lesson is intended, their skill level, the intended target
language or topic, and the length of the time of the
lesson. Often you will be allowed, within reasonable
boundaries, to determine most of these things.
Once
you know who, what, and how long you are to teach, design a
simple lesson plan for that lesson. Be sure to take two
copies of it (with any handouts attached) to the
demonstration lesson. One for you, one for the
interviewers.
Follow
your lesson plan carefully, make sure your boardwork looks
sharp, and be sure to minimize teacher talk time - put on a
big smile, dress appropriately and, most likely, the job
will be yours. You may teach the full lesson - but many
times the interviewers will see that you know what you are
doing and will tell you to stop within ten or fifteen
minutes.
Practice your lesson repeatedly before going to the
demonstration lesson - and you should do just fine. |
