Hello there anyone who accidentally stumbled on this post as they were researching for the TESL interview. Greetings. I am about to share my experience on the interview, but keep in mind this is what I faced. And not everyone will face the same thing. This is mostly my thoughts and feelings on the interview. And let me tell you this, I have no idea how well or badly I did.
So before we get to the interview, we (the candidates) had to sit for a written test. There will be 15 reading comprehension questions, where they will give you a passage and it's a multiple choice question, which means you just have to choose A,B,C, or D. And then you have to write an essay about 250 words long (two pages) about whatever topic they gave you.
I already knew the reading comprehension questions would be difficult. And it was. But I somehow managed to understand the questions and hopefully I answered correctly. It was a bit like the NSW test but less about grammar. For the essay we had to write about how to cope with stress. Not a very hard topic, but I haven't wrote anything for months and even when I got all the points down, I stopped. How the hell do you write an intro for an essay again? I was lost for a few minutes. In the end I just wrote some weird ass intro and just continued with the weird ass essay. I did managed to finish it. Btw wear your wristwatch if you have one. There was no clock in the hall so I just had to rush as I didn't know how much time we had left.
After that, we had to go to our respective panels for the interview. I was in Panel 1 and I was lucky because Hannan and Bella were on the same panel. But, I don't know whether I'm lucky or unlucky, but I was the 4th candidate to go through the interview. I was actually no. 5 but a girl was absent so I was moved up. So, the interviewer explained briefly how the interview will be done and then immediately he called the first candidate to enter the room. Okay, did not expect that.
I was still calm at the time and chatted with my friends. And then time goes by and I was next. This is where all the butterflies come in. My hands and feet were shaking, partly due to being nervous, but also because I was hungry. Anyway, the girl before me exited so I stood up to get ready in front of the door. We had to wait till the bell ring only then we could enter. And when the bell rang, my heart dropped. I was not ready so I opened the door hurriedly and gave a soft greeting. Which was probably a bad first impression dammit.
I was just closing the door when he (yes, both the interviewers were male) asked me whether I was Fatin Amira, just to make sure. I answered yes and he asked me... okay you know what let's just make this in dialog form it'll be easier. Please note that these are only from what I remember and is not 100% accurate.
I : So do we call you Fatin or Amira?
Me: Fatin.
I : Okay so Fatin have a seat. (after I gave all the documents)
I : Okay we don't want to waste any time so please speak louder so that we can hear you.
M : Okay.
I : So Fatin, please introduce yourself.
M : My name is Fati-
I : Speak louder please.
*gulp* (relax man I was just getting there sheesh. This really made me extra nervous)
M:*introduces myself*
I : What are your hobbies?
M: I like to read, but when there are no books to read I like to play games.
(this was the start of the bad idea. Why the hell would you say you like to play games? Just freaking say you love to read and that's it but nooo, you wanted to be different and say you like to play games. I even did the keyboard-typing sign with my hand)
I : Games?Online games? But wouldn't you say it is a waste of time?
M: Not really, I usually have a time limit so... yeah I manage my time. (I was really nervous here and kept stuttering. What the heck, I stuttered through the whole interview)
I : What do your parents do (or something like that)
M: My Dad-oops, sorry. My Father blablabla (I said Dad. DAD. I don't know if that was acceptable but it seemed pretty street-like language so yeah....)
I : Earlier you said you were the youngest child. What are the disadvantages of being the last child?
M: *was semi-prepared for this* *still answered weirdly with a lot of aahhs uumms and yeahs*
I : What about the advantages?
M:*also prepared* *answered better than before hopefully*
I : So tell me about your strengths?
M:*so not prepared for this* *silence for a while and my eyes were on the ceiling as I tried to find my own strength. How sad*
M: *finally making up my mind* I can perform. (WHAT?! THIS WAS WHAT YOU DECIDED TO SAY?)
I : Perform? Please explain
M: *tries so hard explain and mentioned that I could play the piano*
I : You can play the piano? (He looked surprised, or maybe impressed? Yes!)
I : Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
M: 10 years? Hopefully I would be working as a teacher. If not a teacher, then maybe a writer? Or a translator. (I know right? Not imaginative at all. I mean, I could have said that I surely won't be married yet)
I : So, do you read the newspaper?
M: No, not really, not like, everyday. (tries to cover up that I really don't read the newspaper)
I : What about the news on TV? Do you watch it?
M: *does not want to sound ignorant so I said sometimes*
I : What are the current news that is happening blablabla basically asking about current issues
M: *only knows a little about GST, have no idea about anything else*
I : So tell me about GST
(I told him whatever little knowledge that I know. I kept looking up as if trying to remember something which I was. I only read about GST the night before. I hope he didn't think I was memorizing my answer)
And then the other guy who was browsing through my certificates file started to ask questions too.
I : So, I see that you spend a lot of time in band. Why don't you take music instead? Be a music teacher? Why did you choose TESL?
M: Because I am very interested in English. And I see music as a hobby and not something I want to pursue (wish my answer was this beautiful. It was in fact very rocky and I can only hope they get my point)
I : Even music teachers are successful you know? (Hah! Take that people who think taking music won't get you any successful job. This was a UiTM lecturer speaking. He knows what he's saying)
M: I know, but I'm not interested in getting a career in music (again, wish my answer was this beautiful)
I : *browses through the file. Saw the BSK. I think they giggled. Not cool man, I didn't know how else I should bring it* What is this Bintang Semangat Kedah? Can you explain?
M: *explains how all our band member receive the medal as we performed internationally. Says we went to Nanchang and won best performance, when we were the only high school band performing*
I : Yes, so why don't you take music?
M: NO. I want to take English. I play the marimba, and it is not as well-known as clarinet or saxophone, so I think the chances are not as high as a clarinet or saxophone player (again! I wish my answer was this beautiful. But I hope they got my point. I REALLY want TESL)
I : *concludes the interview* Is there any question?
M: What do you look for in a TESL student? (I prepared this question for a while cos I think it would made me look different hah!)
I : What do you think we look for?
M: Confidence?
I : See, you answered your own question. (What the... you tricked me! But he smiled anyway. He made a counting sign with his hand meaning I had to guess even more) What else?
M: Umm.. outgoing?
I : Yes, you will be involved in many activities so you have to be outgoing (or something like that)
(waits for me to answer again)
M: I don't know that's why I'm asking. (I was getting back at him because he said I answered my own question)
I : What we look for is an all-rounder. (I nod but he explained anyway) All-rounder meaning you could be involved in games, or in a band *gestures to my certificate file*
M: Okay. *bright smile*
(We both stared at each other. Feeling awkward I just decided to nod meaning I understood.)
And that was it. After an awkward thank you, I took back my files, added even more awkward thank yous, and exited the room. I wanted to say something but I was too nervous and wanted to get out ASAP so just exited.
So the conclusion? I have no idea if I did well or horribly. The first few questions were answered really badly, and I umm a lot. I somehow did not expect them to ask me all those generally asked questions like "Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?" or "What are your strengths?". So I answered pretty badly.But I think it went better towards the end so I hope it was good. The only hope that I could get was from that all-rounder comment because he gestured to my files so he somehow meant someone like me? I sure hope so. I can only pray for the best.
