Pre-interview tasks Name:

These tasks will help us assess your current awareness of teaching, the English language and your
writing ability. Then we will interview you, discussing your application form, your reasons for taking the
course and your plans for the future.

1) How do you think a TESOL teacher can best help the students? Put a tick, cross or question mark
by each sentence, to show how you feel about each suggestion.

(tick, cross, question mark)

Encourage the students to work together, independent of the

teacher.

Avoid mixing different nationalities.

Only teach language you think the students will know already.

Lecture the students about grammar.

Make the students repeat everything at least ten times.

Students should listen to the teacher and not speak.

Interact with the best students only: the others will be happy to
remain quiet.

Base the lesson around written, grammar translation tasks.

Make sure all the students speak, not just the ones who want
to.

Create a relaxed, friendly atmosphere so the students are

confident to speak openly to each other.

Pick on the weakest students for examples - they need the

practice more.

Do you have any further suggestions?

2) As well as teaching practice, the CertTESOL course involves two extended coursework projects, in
which you will be expected to analyse and discuss different aspects of learning/teaching a language,
and demonstrate a good standard of written English.
Think back to a specific time in your life when you were a student, or learning a skill. In the spaces given
below wed like you to describe one positive and one negative learning experience you have had.
Evaluate how you responded to these experiences and say how they might influence your future practice
as a teacher (those writing by hand can continue on a separate sheet if necessary).
A Positive Learning Experience

A Negative Learning Experience

3) Most applicants express concern about their language awareness - or lack of it!
We dont expect you at this stage to have a technical knowledge of this complex subject!
A) First of all, identify the errors in the following sentences, writing the correct form in the
space provided:

(i) I came here for study English

(ii) Where was you going when I see you?

(iii) What you are doing?

(iv) Shed never seen nothing like it

(v) I like very much London

B) There is one mistake in each line of the following passage - whether spelling or
grammar. Find the mistake and write the correct word under each line:

I learnt how to teach english communicatively on a four-week intensive course

last month. I had no idea it would be such hard work, but now its given me

a tremendous feeling of acheivement. I never realised there was so much to consider:

keeping the lessons student-centered;

trying to illicit things from the students instead of explaining all the time;

learning to moniter quietly, while the students practise;

getting to grips with all that grammer -

conditionals, auxilary verbs etc;

just finding a lesson proceedure that works!

If Id known it was going to be so difficult,

I would of studied more. Having said that,

its challenges have been character-building,

and very benefitial.

C) Look at the following two sentences:

1. Toms gone to Paris
2. Toms been to Paris

i) What is the difference in meaning between these two sentences?

ii) How could you effectively demonstrate this difference to a class of intermediate students?
(tip: think about pictures rather than words)

D) Next, and finally, read the following:

The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.

(i) Identify the subject, the verb and the object of this sentence.
(ii) Identify the adjectives.
(iii) Are there any articles?
(iv) What type of word is over?
(v) What can you say about the form of the verb?

Thats all for now - good luck in the interview