QUESTIONS FOR TEACHER INTERNS

1. Have you ever teaching in school (primary, middle or high school)? Tell us a little about
your experiences ! When I was in high school I did some work experience for a week as
a teacher's assistant at the nearby primary school. That was a good experience because
it helped me to realise that teaching is something that gives me great satisfaction.
When I went to Cambodia, I spent December- January as a volunteer teacher for
children from primary age up to senior high school age.

2. What is the most satisfying thing about teaching?
I particularly enjoyed teaching older students as we could have much more advanced
lessons.
3. What is the biggest challenge in teaching?
I think the biggest challenge in teaching is trying to maintain a healthy class where every
student benefits. Some students will be very quick to understand new concepts whereas
others need more explanation. Of course, it is always up to the student to be willing to
learn what is being presented and study, but a good teacher can ease that process along
by not simply reading out the textbook word for word and keeping the class engaged at
all times.
4. What is the scariest thing about teaching?
I think the scariest thing is the worry that the class will lose respect for you and start to
talk among themselves. But actually as long as you keep a good teacher manner, not
being unprofessional but also not too pretentious and controlling, this does not happen.
In my experience only younger children require more care in this regard.

5. Are you interested in extracurricular involvement at your school?
sure, but I don't know how well I can do that.
I have some ability to play piano, and i was in the running and rowing teams in high
school, but as for coaching team sports I am not sure if I am qualified.
6. What are your interests outside of teaching? I like classic literature, scuba diving and
cooking.

7. Are you actively involved in any type of community service?

While not currently active in any community service, I have previously helped in a
nursing home for the elderly, cleaned vans for transporting disabled people and
providing them accessibility, plus being a student ambassador for UWA

8. Do you want students to like you? Why or why not?
I would like students to like me. Many of the best grades I got came out of classes with a
favourite teacher. However many did not, and here we have to come to a distinction
between like and respect. It is not a popularity contest, and you are not supposed to feel
as though you are putting yourself up in the spotlight to be judged. Rather, like an
actor, you are taking on a role, and this persona is what the students need to feel
confident in.

9. Are you a team player? Give us an example.
I enjoy working with others. For example, once I was part of a team where everyone
else was arguing about some puny details. It was causing a fracture in structure of the
team. I'm very good at seeing the big picture, so I pointed out to everyone that they
were getting stuck on irrelevant minutiae and that the main aim of this project was to
get this task completed. I think I have strong communication skills and, while I don't
yet have experience in a leadership role, I am able to liaise between different team
members and solve any disputes that may arise. Such conflict is seldom productive.

10. How do you allow students to express their creativity in your classroom?
Students in my classroom do not feel limited to the sentences given in the textbook. If
someone wants to express something and they don't know how to say it, I will find out
for them. Also, visual tasks such as illustrations for a certain category of vocab can
allow students to express themselves creatively.
11. How do you develop self-esteem within students, especially in talking English?
I think the main thing is not to correct every mistake you hear. Although I have an
excellent knowledge of prescriptive English grammar and spelling, I know to bite my
tongue because learners make many mistakes and if they are told "no, no , you're doing
it wrong" they will feel discouraged to try speaking in the target language again. If
'perfection' (which is usually unreflective of the great diversity of English language
speakers around the world) is sacrificed for the sake of fluency, and the students are
encouraged to attempt to speak to each other in English all the time in the classroom,
that will rapidly develop confidence.


12. How do you make learning fun?

Learning is always fun. The question should be, how do you avoid making it boring?
Word games, songs, roleplays, can make the learning of a foreign language a very
pleasant experience. Grammar needs to be taught, but it only sticks with reinforcement
that comes from forming synapse connections in the student's brain. Drilling them
repetitively with 'I am, you are, he/she is...' can be understood abstractly and then
forgotten, but if applied to a practical situation like a conversation exercise, it can
become second nature.

13. How do you handle your naughty student?
Naughtiness depends on the age of the student and the disruption they are causing.
Young children can be given gold star systems, sent outside to sit on a 'naughty step'
etc. When an older student is being disruptive, you have to give a reasonable indication
that their behaviour is inappropriate before taking any rash actions. Losing your
temper in front of a class will change their perception of you totally, and you may end
up being viewed as a fool to be baited


14. What if you student get bored with you materials when you are teaching ?
If students get bored, and it is always clear when they do because they start talking
amongst themselves or looking at their phones etc, then you need to take action. It is
pretty much always something the instructor is doing wrong. You need to establish a
good rapport with students early on, for example learning their names, always calling
them by their names, referring to them as such in the class, being friendly and
available by staying before or after class. You also need to use relevant examples, for
example a current event that was on the news could spark interest or a discussion. You
need to convince students that this subject matter is useful and relevant for their lives.
The other main point is your presentations skills, which may need to improve, eg.
movement, pacing, gestures, eye contact, such as video clips, small group work, slides
and individual reflective writing.