Sample Interview Questions for English Teachers (with Answers)

By practicing with sample interview questions for English teachers before the interview date, you will be able to excel and boost your chances of being employed.

When seeking a job as an English teacher, it is important to be well prepared for the interview so that you will be able to correctly answer the tough questions that you will most likely be asked.

The English teacher interview will likely cover areas, including your teaching philosophy, your understanding of grammar, and assessment strategies.

It is therefore imperative that you are well versed in these areas before taking the English teacher interview.

What do Interviewers look for in an English Teacher?

In finding the right person for an English teacher position, interviewers commonly assess candidates on how they are as an educator.

The interviewer would want to know if they will be able to work with you, and whether their goals for grammar, writing ability, etc. are in line with yours.

10 Most Common Interview Questions for English Teachers (and Answers)

Here are some of the most common questions asked in an English teacher job interview session (with suggested answers) to help in your preparation: 

1. What are your teaching methods?

I use a variety of teaching methods to encourage the students to learn English.

2. Do you have experience with grammar and analyzing essays?

I have experience with grammar and analyzing essays.

3. Can you speak to the importance of assessment in education?

Assessment in education is very important. It allows for students to demonstrate how they are progressing in their subjects.

Assessment has been around for a while now, but it is still one of the primary reasons people seek education.

4. What is your understanding of a holistic approach to writing?

A holistic approach to writing is one that allows for students to draw from their personal experiences and emotions in order to create a well written paper.

5. How would you assess a student’s ability to write an essay?

I would start by having the students write about a simple topic, which they will have to use a lot of description in. This way I can gain a better understanding of their writing abilities and go from there.

6. Do you think the subject of English is subjective? Why or why not?

I do not think that the English language is subjective, because it has been around for a long time and we have some strict guidelines on how to use it.

More Interview Questions for English Teachers (and Answers)

7. Do you have any teaching experience? What would you bring to the teaching staff?

I do not have any teaching experience, but I am highly enthusiastic about this course of study and I would bring that energy with me into the classroom.

8. Why are you interested in this particular school district?

I am interested in this particular school district because it has a lot of strengths and I believe that my teaching abilities would be a great benefit to the classrooms.

9. What is your background with _____________? (e.g., literature)

I have no background with literature, but I would love to learn more about it and incorporate it into my curriculum.

10. Where do you envision yourself in the next five years? Other than this job, of course.

In five years I see myself doing an excellent job and still enjoying what I do. I want to be able to reach students and help them become the best version of themselves that they can be.

More sample Interview Questions for English Teachers

Here are more sample English teacher interview questions to boost your preparation for the interview:

Sample Behavioral Interview Questions for English Teachers

1. How will you manage a disruptive student?
2. What is great lesson plan for teaching writing skills to students?
3. How do you motivate your students?
4. Will the class be too difficult for me/my child?
5. What are your thoughts about grammar and assessment strategies as an English teacher?

Sample Case Interview Questions for English Teachers

1. Can you give an example of your leading a student to independent learning?
2. Can you give an example of your teaching methodology?
3. Why do students need to study grammar in the classroom setting?
4. How often does one assign homework for English Class?
5. What is different about teaching ESL vs. Standard English classes?

Sample Competency Interview Questions for English Teachers

1. What makes you a good teacher?
2. How will you know if students are making progress?
3. What is your approach to grammar and assessment strategies?
4. Can you describe your teaching philosophy?
5. Can you give me an example of how you would adapt your teaching to meet the needs to a range of students?

Sample Problem-solving Interview Questions for English Teachers

1. How would you handle a student who doesn’t complete assignments?

2. What are some tips for effectively motivating students to read texts that are considered “boring” by students?

3. What are your tips for assessing students’ understanding of reading texts?

4. How would you teach students about punctuation/grammar rules?

5. How would you approach the study of Shakespeare in an English classroom?

Sample Situational Interview Questions for English Teachers

1. How do you teach spelling?
2. How do you correct their mistakes and fix errors with grammar or sentence structure?
3. Do you know what capitalization and punctuation marks are for, and how they work together to form a proper sentence: Periods, question marks, exclamation points, semicolons…etc.
4. What is your opinion on the inclusion of literature in the English curriculum?
5. How do you motivate your students?

Sample Communication Skills Interview Questions for English Teachers

1. Is grammar an important part of the English course to you?
2. How do you grade assignments in a typical grading period?
3. Will I get phone calls from parents during the school day if I am employed by this institution?
4. What is your strategy for assessing student performance at this level of education?
5. Do you teach with technology often?

Sample Interpersonal Skills Interview Questions for English teachers

1. How would your previous employers describe you?
2. What are some of the best qualities that an English teacher should possess?
3. What is one thing that sets you apart from other applicants?
4. How do you hope to be remembered after 10 years in the profession, 5 years in the profession and 1 year in the profession?
5. What are your goals as a teacher?

Sample Company Culture Interview Questions for English Teachers

1. What is one thing you like to do in your free time?
2. Use 5 words or less to describe yourself?
3. What are your 3 professional goals for this year?
4. Where does education rank when it comes to priorities, money wise and responsibility wise?
5. If you had a chance to develop an educational program that people could follow, what name would it be given and what would the goal of the program be (in two sentences)?

Sample Technical Questions for English Teachers

1. How do you deal with off task behavior during instruction time, are there any techniques that have worked for you?
2. What are some strategies to achieve academic success in underperforming students, or what teaching methods work best when teaching a struggling or unmotivated student?
3. What do you think the role of the English teacher is in 21st century America, and how can we improve it?
4. Would you say that your teaching style is more traditional or modern when it comes to incorporating technology into the classroom for education?
5. What kind of resources do you use in your lessons?

English Teacher Interview Success Tips

In order to be successful in an English teacher job interview, it is important that you do certain things.

Find here are some tips that will be helpful in passing your upcoming interview for an English teacher job:

1: Practice answering interview questions beforehand. You never know what will come up during an interview, but if you practice, then at least you’ll be more prepared than not.

2: Know your subject matter inside and out before going into an interview; this includes having the skills to answer the tough questions.

3: Be confident in yourself and your abilities when you are in an interview, but don’t be cocky.

4: Dress professionally for the interview; try not to wear anything too flashy or distracting.

5: Remember that a good teacher is a person who knows how to motivate their students, so show that you have such ability at the interview.

Conclusion

Good luck with your interview! Remember to practice the answers to the common questions provided in this post before the day of the interview so you are well prepared for any question they throw at you.