Key Prescreening Questions for Remote English Instructor Applications: Unlocking Opportunities in Japan

Tell us about yourself?

First impressions matter. This classic question allows candidates to share their personal narrative, including their personality traits, desires, and motives. It provides a glimpse into who they are beyond their academic and professional achievements.

Are you applying to teach online or in Japan? Explain your purpose.

This question helps to understand their work preferences and their motivations for choosing either the online or the overseas mode of teaching. Their answer can provide useful insights into their long-term plans and commitment to the role.

Do you have a specific call or yearning for Japan?

When hiring for an overseas assignment, it's essential to gauge the candidate's interest in the country's culture, language, and lifestyle. This question can help uncover their level of cultural adaptability and their expectations from the assignment.

If you received $10,000 and 2 weeks off, what would you do with every bit of that?

This question helps to understand the candidate's values, passions, and how they prioritize their time and resources. The way they plan and spend their hypothetical windfall can reveal a lot about their character and lifestyle.

What is the best way to reach you if a particular need comes up?

Efficient communication is crucial for remote teaching roles. By asking this question, you can understand their preferred mode of communication and their responsiveness to urgent matters.

Briefly, talk about a time when you overcame an obstacle.

This question helps to assess the candidate's problem-solving skills and resilience. Their answer can reveal their approach to challenges, their resourcefulness, and their ability to handle stress and setbacks.

Do you have any experience teaching English?

Experience is a critical factor for any teaching role. This question helps to understand their background in English teaching and the range of their teaching experiences.

Are you comfortable with teaching students of different age groups?

Comfort and skill in dealing with diverse age groups is an essential quality for any teacher. This question helps to assess their adaptability and their ability to cater to different learning needs and styles.

How do you adapt your teaching methods to fit the learning style of each student?

Every student learns differently. This question helps to evaluate the candidate's understanding of different learning styles and their ability to customize their teaching methods accordingly.

Can you describe a successful teaching strategy you have used in the past?

This question helps to understand their teaching strategies and their effectiveness. Their response can provide insights into their teaching philosophy and their ability to engage students in learning.

What platforms or technologies are you comfortable using for remote teaching?

Comfort with digital tools is a must for remote teaching roles. This question helps to assess their technological proficiency and their adaptability to different teaching platforms.

Are you comfortable with the potential of relocating to Japan if required?

This question helps to gauge their openness to relocate, their flexibility, and their commitment to the role. It's crucial for overseas assignments where the candidate may need to move to a different country.

How would you handle a situation where a student is struggling to understand a concept?

This question helps to assess the candidate's patience, empathy, and their approach to teaching complex concepts. Their answer can reveal their teaching skills and their ability to cater to different learning needs.

How do you incorporate cultural learning into your English teaching curriculum?

Culture plays a significant role in language learning. This question helps to understand their approach to cultural education and their ability to create a culturally sensitive and inclusive learning environment.