How to Prepare for a Demo Class - TEFL English Teacher Job Application Tips

After passing your interview, you are likely to be asked to conduct a demo class – to show your teaching skills. This is not something you should dread but take as a good opportunity to highlight your skills. Good preparation is all you need and your demo class is sure to be smooth-sailing. Just follow the tips below:

Photo by NeONBRAND

1. Identify who your students and introduce level-appropriate lesson material.

Are they children? What age group do they fall in? Finding out the age group of a class will give you a clue on how best to approach them based on their developmental stage.

For instance, children in pre-school tend to play while learning. Approach the lessons as creatively and as engaging as you can to hold their attention.

Photo by heylagostechie

For primary school kids, incorporate games in your lessons. This allows them to explore their identities in relation to others and foster friendships. Make them use their group work skills.

Meanwhile, adults learn best if they see the purpose behind the lesson. Prepare practical lessons that clearly show why they need to learn English and tailor the lessons to meet their needs.

2. Select the material for the day’s lesson. Have a well-thought-out lesson plan and provide a copy for each of your observers during the demo lesson.

You can explain briefly why you made the children do the activity to the observers, while the children are busy doing an activity. This way, you show your observers your lesson flows according to plan.

Photo by Jeff Sheldon

3. What materials should you prepare? Discuss teaching materials as effective learning aids that provide learner's progress.

Never assume the school will provide materials for you. Have your own visual aids – posters, crayons, markers, paper, or a print-out of an anecdote for your English lesson.

Make sure your class is interactive by knowing their names, asking questions, and engaging your class in the activity. Keep in mind that while you are actually in a demo class, your goal is for the class to learn your lesson.

Websites where you can get teaching materials:

• The Stacks

• Crayola

• Scholastic Book Wizard

• Scholastic Daily Starters

• Wordsmyth

• Google Earth

• National Science Teachers Association

Are you on Pinterest? Pin these!

READ OUR OTHER ARTICLES: