How to Prepare for a Job Interview in English: 5 Tips from a Business English Instructor

Suitable for CEFR intermediate (B2+)


#NewJob #Success Job interviews can be nerve-wracking for anyone, but how should you prepare for an interview if English is not your first language?


Here are 5 golden rules to help you land your dream job

1. Research the organisation's history, values, and mission statement

You should also take care to determine your travel time, organise any materials or documents you will need, and choose an appropriate outfit.


Be aware that some companies may require that you take an English skills test during your interview, or ask you to provide certification of your English level (such as an IELTS certificate).

2. Anticipate potential questions

Most interviewers have a standard list of questions they use to determine whether you would be a good match for the position and the organisation. Questions might include:

 How would you describe yourself? What are your strengths?
 What are your weaknesses?
 Why do you want to work here?


Make a list of potential questions and take some time to think about how you would answer these in English using real-life examples that reference your job history.


Make sure to read the job description carefully, as it will often highlight the essential and desirable criteria that the interviewer will be looking for. It's a good idea to have at least one real-life example you can use to explain how you match each criterion, and persuade the interviewer that you are the right person for the job.


If you find yourself struggling to answer a question, do not be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat or reword their question. This is completely normal, and happens in many interviews between fluent English speakers. It's better to avoid memorising your answers in order to sound as natural as possible during the interview.

3. Role-play 

One way to practise your language skills is to role-play the interview. Find an English-speaking friend who can act as the interviewer and give feedback on your answers. Alternatively, record yourself (on your mobile phone, computer or other recording device) asking and answering the questions in English. Play back the recording to see how you can improve your responses, or send it to a friend for suggestions.


During your role play, pay attention to the speed and clarity of your speech to ensure that your answers are easily comprehensible and convincing. Individuals tend to speak faster when nervous, so by practising speaking slowly and clearly during the role play, you will feel more relaxed and confident during the actual interview.

4. Consider the importance of body language

Research shows that most communication is non-verbal. Posture, eye-contact, facial expression, and gestures can all influence how you are perceived during an interview.


Also, pay attention to your tone. It's unlikely that your interviewer will penalise you for pronouncing a word incorrectly, but if you smile and speak with confidence during the interview, you can be sure to make a positive impression.

5. Be proud of your language skills 

In the global market, the ability to speak multiple languages is a major asset. In fact, many recruiters actively seek individuals who understand more than one language, so you can rest assured that your language skills will be highly valued.


Learning a new language also takes patience and dedication, two important attributes that can help set you apart from other job applicants. If you don't have a lot of experience in the job you're applying for, you might even consider sharing examples from your language-learning story to demonstrate some of the skills and personal qualities you could bring to the organisation.





In summary, you should prepare for your job interview in English in pretty much the same way as you would for any other job interview.


But above all, when preparing for interview success, remember the 5 Ps

Proper preparation prevents poor performance

Essential Everyday English: 30 English Words for Beginners

• 
  

Suitable for CEFR beginners (A1) +

#English #LearnEnglish Learning a new language is challenging and can sometimes feel overwhelming, but the secret to learning any language is simple: speak as much as possible! 

Don't worry too much about grammar in the beginning. Reading about complicated grammar rules shouldn't get in the way of what you actually want to do: speak English. Of course you will make a lot of mistakes to start with, but that's how we learn. 

Start by learning 10 common nouns, 10 common verbs and 10 common adjectives and with just those 30 words you can make around 1000 sentences! It's possible for anyone to learn 30 words in just a few days. 

Here are my top 30 words in English to help you get started

Nouns

Use with definite article (e.g. the man) or indefinite article (e.g. a woman)

1. Man

2. Woman

3. Child

4. Car

5. House

6. City

7. Time

8. Food

9. Money

10. Book

Verbs 

with conjugations

1. To be

• I am 
• You are
• He is
• She is
• It is
• We are
• They are

2. To have

• I have
• You have
• He has
• She has
• It has
• We have
• They have

3. To go 

• I go 
• You go
• He goes
• She goes
• It goes
• We go 
• They go

4. To come

• I come 
• You come
• He comes
• She comes
• It comes
• We come
• They come

5. To do 

• I do 
• You do 
• He does
• She does
• It does
• We do 
• They do

6. To need

• I need
• You need
• He needs
• She needs
• It needs
• We need
• They need

7. To see

• I see
• You see
• He sees
• She sees
• It sees
• We see 
• They see

8. To know

• I know 
• You know 
• He knows
• She knows
• It knows
• We know 
• They know

9. To make

• I make 
• You make 
• He makes
• She makes
• It makes
• We make 
• They make 

10. To get 

• I get 
• You get 
• He gets
• She gets
• It gets
• We get
• They get

Adjectives

1. Good 

2. Bad

3. Beautiful 

4. Horrible

5. Big 

6. Small

7. Old 

8. Young

9. A little

10. A lot of

Did you learn them? Here are some examples of what you can say

• The house is big 
• We see a small car 
• The man makes a lot of money 
• I know the city
• The child needs food
• They need to get to the city 
• The woman has a lot of books

Can you make a sentence with these words? Write in the comments below. 

How to Find a Good Language Teacher: Top 5 Qualities to Look for When Choosing an English Teacher

Suitable for CEFR upper-intermediate (B2+)

#EFLTeacher #ELT With all the free content available to learn English online you might wonder whether you really need to make the effort of finding a teacher at all. If you log into You Tube, for example, there are literally hundreds of videos posted by teachers and others learning English, covering everything from correct use of prepositions to how to improve your IELTS score.


Online language sharing platforms like italki also mean it is now easier to practise your language skills with native speakers. Whilst these are all great methods to improve or maintain your language knowledge and conversation skills, it's easy to underestimate the value of finding a good English teacher to take your language learning to the next level.


In today's global society and with the spread of English as a linguafranca around the world, quality of communications and English language skills can make all the difference between success and failure, whether that be in academic study or in a professional context. In this digital age of economic instability it has perhaps never been so important to stay ahead of your competitors, and finding the right English teacher can help you achieve just that.

So what exactly is a good English teacher and how do I find one?

Here are my top 5 qualities to look for when choosing an English teacher

1. Good teachers are highly qualified 

The best teachers are experts in their field that have studied for a number of years to achieve the linguistic knowledge and understanding that will help you take your communications in English from mediocre to first-rate. A teacher with expert subject knowledge will be able to challenge and stretch the most able students and make lessons more interesting because they have more knowledge and content to be interesting about. With this in mind, look for a teacher that has the highest qualifications.

Specialist teaching certificates such as the Cambridge CELTA or Trinity TESOL give you assurance that your teacher has at least 100 hours of observed, high-quality teaching practice; whilst a degree in the field of linguistics ensures that the teacher will have sufficient knowledge to answer any questions.

Be aware that many unscrupulous online English teaching organisations employ unqualified native speakers under the incorrect assumption that a native speaker has sufficient knowledge and skills to teach English language content effectively. The simple answer is that they often do not, and you may end up taking many more lessons than you really need, or make very little progress. To make matters worse, the lesson content may be poor quality or riddled with mistakes.

If you see English lessons being offered at a very low price, be sure to ask the provider what qualifications their teachers have before parting with your well-earned money. A good English teacher will not undervalue their services, and although the hourly rate may be higher, you will save money in the long-term by having fewer lessons.

2. Good teachers have a fun-loving personality

Personality is probably the most often cited quality of a good teacher identified by language learners. Language structures, skills and grammar can be very dry and uninspiring when read alone from a course book. But in the hands of a highly skilled teacher, this material can come alive and be made relevant to contexts that are most important to you.

Great teachers are creative, and will use a variety of methods and resources to keep their lessons fun and interesting. They're adaptable, approachable, and they'll also do their best to create a welcoming and safe learning environment where your individual contributions are respected. Building strong relationships with learners enables the teacher to create a sense of community that you'll want to be a part of, and where you can feel supported to achieve.

Look for a teacher that makes you smile, respects your values and skills as a learner, and who will offer individual support to achieve your specific learning objectives.

3. Good teachers are organised and prepared for their lessons

Effective teaching involves meticulous planning. Choose a teacher that puts time into selecting the most appropriate resources for you, and who puts effort into preparing their lessons thoroughly.


Unless you have specifically asked for a more naturalistic conversation lesson, a great teacher will explain learning objectives at the beginning of the lesson, teach you how to use the language in a structured way step-by-step, and check that you have achieved these objectives at the end of the lesson.

4. Good teachers never stop learning

It may seem obvious, but the best teachers have a passion for learning, are students themselves, and truly understand what it's like to study. The passionate teacher will be better equipped to help you overcome any challenges or obstacles that may present themselves during your learning journey.


Great teachers actively seek collaboration with other teaching professionals and do not assume that there is only one way to answer a question, or that their way of answering it is the best way. Although professional teachers are experts in their field, only the best teachers understand that there is always room for improvement, keep up-to-date with the latest research, methodology and practice, and ask for regular feedback to continue to improve the learning experience for you, the learner.

5. Good teachers inspire self-development and have high expectations of their students

Do you remember having a favourite teacher in school that inspired you to achieve more, showed you that you could do something even when you were sure you couldn't, or whose lessons you looked forward to every week? Chances are that you achieved better grades in those subjects too.


Excellent teachers know that it is a combination of student effort and teaching quality that delivers learning outcomes; not an individual's perceived ability. For that reason, the best teachers will have consistently high expectations of their learners. Through a process of regular assessment, feedback and creative mentoring, teachers with the highest expectations are determined that all learners will master their subject, and know that even less able learners can achieve subject mastery with the right attitude to learning.


Find a teacher that challenges and inspires you to become the master of your own success.


Is there anything else you look for when choosing an English teacher? Let me know in the comments below.