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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 Potential Red Flags
-My ESL instruction is content based and -The Common Core is not ELL friendly.
aligned with the Common Core. -I look more at the ESL standards than the
-I scaffold instruction to meet both the Common Core.
language needs of my ELLs as well as the -I am more of a language expert than a
Common Core learning standards attached Common Core expert.
to the content. -The Common Core is too complicated for
-I look at the Bilingual Common Core ELLs because their grade level doesn’t
English as a New Language Standards and always equal their language level.
align my instruction to them.


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

Potential Elements of Model Responses Potential Red Flags
-Students would be working on different -My classroom would not look very
products. different.
-There would be more visual aids/graphic -The content would look very different
organizers/realia/music/chanting. because ESL instruction is very separate
-As the teacher, I would be doing more from what other classroom teachers teach.
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.




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

Potential Elements of Model Responses Potential Red Flags
-Making difficult content accessible -Having students move up levels on the
through scaffolding and differentiation NYSESLAT
-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

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 Potential Red Flags
-I would schedule a time to have a -I would defer to the classroom teacher.
conversation with them about it. -I would immediately contact a supervisor.
-I would figure out why they didn’t want -I would immediately contact the parent.
the ESL services for their student and then
offer some solutions (more data sharing,
different scheduling, etc.).

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 Potential Red Flags
-I would examine the classroom supports -It’s a very nuanced issue and would
in place. depend on the student.
-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.



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

Potential Elements of Model Responses Potential Red Flags
*Note: This question is not so much about -Unable to express a preference
which model they choose but the reasons -Unable to provide reasons
why they like it.

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 Potential Red Flags
-I embed some NYSESLAT specific skills -I match everything I do to the NYSESLAT.
(because it looks so different from other -I don’t pay any attention at all to the
exams) in every day instruction NYSESLAT.
-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.



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 Potential Red Flags
-Scheduling will be challenging, but I can -Working with other teachers
look at the master schedule/group -Any challenge listed with practically no
students by proficiency instead of solution given
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.

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

Potential Elements of Model Responses Potential Red Flags
-Personal connection -By default
-Passion for language -Not sure
-Passion for different cultures
-Passion for being an advocate
-To help the ‘gap within the gap’