I just received an email from a school in Japan about a Skype interview and teaching demo. Does this sound odd to you? I have had loads of Skype interviews in the past, but only one in Japan-- I know little about this school except it is pretty new, small and PYP in Okinawa. (OIS)
The email just assigned a time, and told me to prepare a lesson and email it in advance and be prepared to teach it via Skype.
My question is: Do you think its worth the trouble? Is this actually common practice? Maybe its a Japanese thing?
Skype Interview w/ Teaching Demo
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wannateach
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2011 4:31 am
My current school had me do the same thing and I was also a little put off at first. It wasn't a big deal though. They emailed me some scanned pages from a book and I emailed them back a lesson plan. Then after our interview I walked them through how I would give the lesson.
Might be an Asian thing. My school is in China.
Might be an Asian thing. My school is in China.
At times
I've heard of teaching demos for schools in Japan, and several other countries as well. Its usually requested of new teachers or teachers with minimal experience. If its a good school appointment it might be worth doing. Usually a school doesnt request the demo unless they are serious about a candidate.
Whether its "worth it" to you is something you have to decide for yourself.
Whether its "worth it" to you is something you have to decide for yourself.
International schools in Japan tend to ask for a school demo. However, these are international schools that have a strong Japanese administrative staff who go by the book etc ( and showing a lesson, in their eyes, is part of being a teacher bc after all, aren't they hiring you to teach? ). Hopefully, you do get the job. Okinawa is a good destination / location for most. It's very " un-Japanese " and it's an entity on its own. It's beautiful ( as long as you stay in the beaches unspoiled by the American military and Naha, the capital ).