REFLECTION: Preparing for a Job Interview

This assignment has two parts. In Part 1, you’ll spend time reflecting on a few broad themes to prepare
for your interview. These themes will help you identify the most important strengths and stories you want
to highlight in your interview. In Part 2, you will brainstorm specific responses to interview questions.

PART 1: Reflecting on themes

Theme Thoughts/Brainstorms
Consider what strengths you have and think of a
specific example or story that could illustrate
those strengths.

Personal Story and Cultural Influence:

● Share who you are and why you are
passionate about teaching in the U.S.
● As an international teacher, how will you
benefit U.S. students, schools, and
communities? How will your international
experiences strengthen and enrich the
schools instructional goals as it relates to
the curriculum?
● What do you hope to accomplish as an
international teacher?

Relationships with Students and Families

● What is your classroom instructional style
and how do you communicate with
students?
● What are your behavioral expectations for
students and your management
strategies? Interviewers want to know
what you expect of students, how you go
about setting expectations at the
beginning of the school year, and how you
maintain a classroom community that is
conducive to teaching and learning.
● How do you plan to involve parents in the
areas of communications, academics, and
discipline?
PART 2: Plan your response for each of the following questions below. When you are finished, we
recommend you save or print this page for future reference. This will be a valuable tool as you prepare
for your phone interview.

Describe a lesson or project that is an example of how you motivate students and relate the
content/subject to their everyday lives and interests.

Explain how you would deal with a group of students in your class who have been persistently
disruptive.

Share about a time when a lesson or activity did not go as planned. What happened and how did
you adjust course?

Share about a time when you received constructive feedback from a colleague or a supervisor.
What was the advice and how did you respond?

How would you adjust your teaching strategy if you were asked to use a more student-centered
approach?