Top Ten Interview Questions for ESL Teachers 1. 2. non-ESL ...

Top Ten Interview Questions for ESL Teachers

ESL teachers have to be master pedagogues, authorities on second language acquisition, and experts at relationship building. That's a tall order, and while certainly schools can coach their teachers toward this ideal, you want to make sure you're hiring teachers with a strong base. Below are the top ten interview questions to ask when hiring an ESL teacher.

1. How does the Common Core guide your work with ELLs?

2. If I were to walk into your ESL classroom, how would it look different from your non-ESL colleague's classroom?

3. What has been your great success in working with ELLs?

4. What would you do if a colleague said they did not want you to pick up their student for ESL instruction?

5. A colleague comes to you and says that they believe an ELL student needs a referral. How do you respond?

6. What is your preferred ESL delivery model and why?

7. What supports need to be in place for you to be a successful ESL teacher?

8. How does the NYSESLAT influence your instruction?

9. What do you think will be the biggest challenge as an ESL teacher here and what could you do to address that challenge?

10. Why did you want to become an ESL teacher?

Top Ten Interview Questions and Answer for ESL Teachers

While you will want to keep in mind your school's philosophy, mission, program model and ELL demographics when evaluating an applicant's responses to these questions, I've outlined some potential elements of model responses and red flags below.

1. How does the Common Core guide your work with ELLs?

Potential Elements of Model Responses -My ESL instruction is content based and aligned with the Common Core. -I scaffold instruction to meet both the language needs of my ELLs as well as the Common Core learning standards attached to the content. -I look at the Bilingual Common Core English as a New Language Standards and align my instruction to them.

Potential Red Flags -The Common Core is not ELL friendly. -I look more at the ESL standards than the Common Core. -I am more of a language expert than a Common Core expert. -The Common Core is too complicated for ELLs because their grade level doesn't always equal their language level.

2. If I were to walk into your ESL classroom, how would it look different from your nonESL colleague's classroom?

Potential Elements of Model Responses -Students would be working on different products. -There would be more visual aids/graphic organizers/realia/music/chanting. -As the teacher, I would be doing more explicit modeling/slowing speech/repeating/rephrasing. -The unit would be paced differently. -There would be a greater focus on developing oral language, as well as reading and writing. -There might be some native language used.

Potential Red Flags -My classroom would not look very different. -The content would look very different because ESL instruction is very separate from what other classroom teachers teach.

3. What has been your great success in working with ELLs?

Potential Elements of Model Responses -Making difficult content accessible through scaffolding and differentiation -Building relationships with students and families -Helping students reach the learning goals I/the school set and that they set for themselves -Creating a culturally responsive learning environment

Potential Red Flags -Having students move up levels on the NYSESLAT

4. What would you do if a colleague said they did not want you to pick up their student for ESL instruction?

Potential Elements of Model Responses -I would schedule a time to have a conversation with them about it. -I would figure out why they didn't want the ESL services for their student and then offer some solutions (more data sharing, different scheduling, etc.).

Potential Red Flags -I would defer to the classroom teacher. -I would immediately contact a supervisor. -I would immediately contact the parent.

5. A colleague comes to you and says that they believe an ELL student needs a referral. How do you respond?

Potential Elements of Model Responses -I would examine the classroom supports in place. -I would look at the student's past schooling experiences. -I would examine the tier 1, 2, and 3 supports. -I would look at the culturally responsive practices in place. -I would try to determine the student's performance in their native language.

Potential Red Flags -It's a very nuanced issue and would depend on the student.

6. What is your preferred ESL delivery model and why?*

Potential Elements of Model Responses *Note: This question is not so much about which model they choose but the reasons why they like it.

Potential Red Flags -Unable to express a preference -Unable to provide reasons

I like ______________ because... -it supports student achievement. -it allows for more collaboration. -it supports social emotional learning.

7. What supports need to be in place for you to be a successful ESL teacher?

Potential Elements of Model Responses

Potential Red Flags

-Co-planning time

-Nothing

-Being part of grade planning/department -Textbooks and workbooks

meetings

-A dedicated workspace with walls for

visual aids, anchor charts and student work

(if doing pull out groups)

-Coaching

-Communication in place with other teams

(teachers and operations)

8. How does the NYSESLAT influence your instruction?

Potential Elements of Model Responses -I embed some NYSESLAT specific skills (because it looks so different from other exams) in every day instruction -I familiarize myself with the data from the NYSESLAT report as a way to determine trends and proficiency levels within and across students (RLAT in ATS) -I familiarize myself with the NYSESLAT and occasionally conduct activities that look similar to expose students.

Potential Red Flags -I match everything I do to the NYSESLAT. -I don't pay any attention at all to the NYSESLAT.

9. What do you think will be the biggest challenge as an ESL teacher here and what could you do to address that challenge?

Potential Elements of Model Responses -Scheduling will be challenging, but I can look at the master schedule/group students by proficiency instead of grade/group students by skill instead of grade, etc. -Making sure students have supports throughout the entire day, even when I'm not physically in the room, will be challenging, but I can help embed strategies throughout units/meet with classroom teachers/share best ESL practices/conducts PD, etc.

Potential Red Flags -Working with other teachers -Any challenge listed with practically no solution given

10. Why did you want to become an ESL teacher?

Potential Elements of Model Responses -Personal connection -Passion for language -Passion for different cultures -Passion for being an advocate -To help the `gap within the gap'

Potential Red Flags -By default -Not sure

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