How to Impress the Interviewer in a Demo Teaching Lesson!

Getting ready for a demo teaching lesson!

Congratulations! You are halfway through. Give yourself some credit for making it this far. It will help to boost your confidence. Like many other jobs in a teaching interview, there are few steps the interview needs to follow to finally decide on a suitable candidate. You need to –

• Get shortlisted
• Crack one-on-one interview
• Rock the teaching demo lesson

The final stage – the demo lesson, is going to seal the deal. For many teachers, the demo teaching lesson brings out a lot of anticipated anxiety. We understand the feeling can be terrifying, and we strongly believe a prepared mind is all it takes to perform well in the demo lesson while embracing the process.

What is a demo teaching lesson?

A demo lesson is where you demonstrate your teaching abilities. The purpose of a demo teaching lesson is to ensure you are competent for the job role the interview committee is looking for. Your job is to plan a lesson for a group of students, particularly an age group, and execute the same exactly how you are supposed to perform in a classroom.

For teach English online, you will be needing to prepare a virtual lesson, the school can either offer you a prompt on the topic or they may give you the liberty to choose. Two ground rules you need to keep in mind–

• Time Duration – 15 minutes to 30 minutes in general
• Age Appropriation – the grade level of students

Think of your lesson as an audition. Can be a little intimidating but if you are well prepared your body language will automatically speak the language of confidence. Whether you are sending a pre-recorded video or performing live, focus on the current teaching skills and methodologies. Your demo teaching lesson should reflect your ability to teach in a 21st century learning setting.

So, what the recruiter is assessing during a demo teaching lesson?

The demo lesson for a teaching interviewis the final stage of selection. The recruiting committee is going to assess your teaching qualities, how you practically implement effective teaching in an actual learning setup. This is where you need to prove yourself for the certificate you earned and the course you have undergone to become a teacher.

For teach English online, the online tutoring company evaluates similar qualities, however, you also need to demonstrate your virtual teaching skills. There are several differences between a physical classroom and an online classroom, but the major highlight is the scope of engagement. Also, the strategies for behavior/classroom management vary when to come to the medium of lesson delivery.

Nonetheless, a demo lesson is an opportunity to understand what to expect in an online classroom that you are signing up for. Remember, the recruiter is not looking for perfection, they want to know –

• How organized you are – do you understand your learners and prepared the lesson to maximize the outcome.
• Can you meet the needs of the learners – attaining to different learning styles and learners with cultural and developmental diversities!
• Managing the online classroom in a single space.
• Being spontaneous – ready to meet challenges and adjust as and when required.
• Technological skills – how familiar you are with technological equipment.

The dos and Don’ts of a demo teaching lesson!

Whether you are making a pre-recorded video or actually preparing to do it live with mock students, make sure it looks real. You may have to pretend that it is an actual classroom, but that’s okay! You can do this effectively, just focus on your objective.

Do This –

• Prepare a setup by particularly assigning a space
• Check your technology: the audio-video is properly functioning or not
• Be presentable by following the dress code
• Practice the lesson you prepared prior to the interview session
• Make sure to interact with the students, ask questions, anticipate problems
• Illustrate your classroom management skills

Avoid –

• Assuming that everything will go according to your plan
• Bypassing students questions for the sake of delivering the lesson in time
• Being critical to yourself, what you are not doing right!
• Dwelling in the errors, instead, keep moving to the next phase
• Getting caught up with the idea of perfectionism, relax and be flexible

Giving a demo teaching lesson is a lot of things but it sure is your ticket to the job you want. The good news is you nailed it in the first couple of rounds so you realize you can do this too; successfully. Demo lesson is the perfect reflection of who you are as a teacher and what you are bringing to the table. Enjoy your performance, bring positivity into the learning space, and above all be sure to add a pinch of your personality.