Interviewing for a position providing ESL support to university students--help!
October 20, 2009 2:38 PM Subscribe
In a few days I'll be interviewing for a job providing academic support to university-level ESL students. Help me prepare!
As far as I understand, the position entails attending classes with students as a non-participatory note-taker, then meeting with students after class to discuss any questions or concerns they have. I feel fairly well-attuned to this sort of thing--plus I've taught EFL to students with basic conversational skills, tutored both ESL and native speakers in academic writing at the high school and university levels, and lived/traveled abroad enough to empathize with the day-to-day struggles of living in a foreign language and culture. I don't have a TESOL certificate, but I do have an MFA in writing. I'm reasonably confident that, if I get the job, I'll do it well and enjoy it in the process.
The catch is that I'm kind of rusty at interviewing (and have only had one university-level job in the past). Also, for the past half-year I've been working outside my field (as a barista--the classic lousy post-MFA job). So I'm not quite sure how best to prepare. What kind of questions I should expect? What should I make a point to stress/downplay? Bonus: how should I dress (as a late-20s female in a liberal West Coast city).
As far as I understand, the position entails attending classes with students as a non-participatory note-taker, then meeting with students after class to discuss any questions or concerns they have. I feel fairly well-attuned to this sort of thing--plus I've taught EFL to students with basic conversational skills, tutored both ESL and native speakers in academic writing at the high school and university levels, and lived/traveled abroad enough to empathize with the day-to-day struggles of living in a foreign language and culture. I don't have a TESOL certificate, but I do have an MFA in writing. I'm reasonably confident that, if I get the job, I'll do it well and enjoy it in the process.
The catch is that I'm kind of rusty at interviewing (and have only had one university-level job in the past). Also, for the past half-year I've been working outside my field (as a barista--the classic lousy post-MFA job). So I'm not quite sure how best to prepare. What kind of questions I should expect? What should I make a point to stress/downplay? Bonus: how should I dress (as a late-20s female in a liberal West Coast city).
Your work as a barista gave you some pretty good qualifications for the job:
1) you can understand a wide variety of people when they speak, even if they are mumbling or rushed (which is how a lot of teachers speak);
2) you have an excellent memory (how can you all remember the correct way to order those different coffee drinks?? - it amazes me);
3) you never called in sick or were late (emphasize your dependability - nobody wants an unreliable notetaker).
Good luck - your actual academic qualifications will carry the day anyway, but don't discount what you learned as a barista too!
One thing I would be concerned about, were I hiring a notetaker, is that someone with an MFA in writing might be too worried about making their notes grammatically correct and/or some kind of creative masterpiece, and that this might slow them down or cause them to miss something important. Not sure if this is really an issue, but I know when I deal with interpreters for my deaf students, they are obligated to interpret everything I say for the student, without any editorials or omissions. I would imagine a notetaker would have the same guidelines?
Also, wear what a well-dressed student would wear, maybe some khakis and a nice blouse? ::shrug:: As with all interviews, avoid anything that's too tight, low-cut, ripped, has writing on it, or makes you look sloppy.
Good luck!
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:51 AM on October 21, 2009
1) you can understand a wide variety of people when they speak, even if they are mumbling or rushed (which is how a lot of teachers speak);
2) you have an excellent memory (how can you all remember the correct way to order those different coffee drinks?? - it amazes me);
3) you never called in sick or were late (emphasize your dependability - nobody wants an unreliable notetaker).
Good luck - your actual academic qualifications will carry the day anyway, but don't discount what you learned as a barista too!
One thing I would be concerned about, were I hiring a notetaker, is that someone with an MFA in writing might be too worried about making their notes grammatically correct and/or some kind of creative masterpiece, and that this might slow them down or cause them to miss something important. Not sure if this is really an issue, but I know when I deal with interpreters for my deaf students, they are obligated to interpret everything I say for the student, without any editorials or omissions. I would imagine a notetaker would have the same guidelines?
Also, wear what a well-dressed student would wear, maybe some khakis and a nice blouse? ::shrug:: As with all interviews, avoid anything that's too tight, low-cut, ripped, has writing on it, or makes you look sloppy.
Good luck!
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:51 AM on October 21, 2009
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posted by tastycracker at 1:32 AM on October 21, 2009