Mastering the Art of Pre-Screening: Essential Questions to Ask for Undefined Roles

Your Previous Experience Teaching English

Knowing your tutor's experience provides insights about their capability and familiarity with teaching English as a subject. Experienced tutors might have already faced and handled the various challenges associated with teaching English, which can definitely be a plus.

Comfortable Age Group in Teaching

Comfort level with a specific age group is essential as different age groups have different learning dynamics. The compatibility of a tutor with a specific age group can optimize the learning experience. It's essential to understand their comfort level to ensure fruitful interaction between the student and tutor.

Past Experience in Online Teaching

In this digital age, online teaching has become a norm and having experience in this domain signifies the tutor's versatility index. So, it becomes vital to ask whether they have past experience of tutoring online.

Teaching Philosophy

The teaching philosophy of a tutor shapes their methods and approach towards tutoring. It impacts their interactions with students, vice versa. Knowing this can provide a glimpse into the value the tutor will bring to the learning process.

Experience Preparing Students for English Proficiency Tests

Having experience in preparing students for major English proficiency tests showcases the tutor's adeptness at strategically equipping students towards achieving targeted results. It indicates their understanding of the specific challenges these tests pose and the tactics to handle them.

Academic Qualifications

Academic qualifications are crucial as they provide an assurance of the tutor's subject knowledge and pedagogical training. A graduate in education or a relevant field signifies their grounding in teaching methodologies, learning theories, and the subject matter itself.

TEFL, TESOL, or CELTA Certifications

Asking a potential tutor about their TEFL, TESOL, or CELTA certification could be beneficial. These certifications reflect the tutor's training in teaching English as a second or foreign language. They are well-recognized qualifications, thus ensuring their teaching quality.

Managing Different Learning Styles

Every student has a unique learning style, and a competent tutor must be able to adapt to these differences. Asking this question provides an understanding of the tutor's sensitivity towards individual learning styles and how they accommodate them into their teaching methods.

Comfort With Online Teaching Tools

The move to virtual education implies dealing with multiple online platforms like Zoom or Google Meet. It is crucial for tutors to be comfortable using these technologies to ensure smooth, uninterrupted classes.

Proficiency With Online Educational Tools

The adeptness at using online educational resources significantly adds to the tutor's ability to prepare meaningful and dynamic lessons. This question checks the tutor's readiness to exploit the digital environment effectively to enhance the students' learning experience.

Approach to Managing Online Classroom Behavior

Online classrooms pose unique behavioral challenges, and tutors must have strategies in place to deal with them. An understanding of their approach can reveal how well they can handle and maintain discipline, focus, and engagement in an online setup.

Strategies to Engage a Discouraged or Disinterested Student

Keeping every student engaged and motivated might be one of the biggest challenges for tutors. A skilled tutor should have strategies to reignite the interest of discouraged or disinterested students and be able to salvage their learning experience.

Capability to Adapt Teaching Methods

At times, certain teaching methods might not work for a specific student. A capable tutor should be able to adapt and turn the tide towards a more suitable teaching method in such scenarios. This question probes that adaptability quotient.

Main Methods For Language Practice and Reinforcement

The methods used by tutors for language practice and reinforcement signify their teaching strategies. Clear insight into these methods can help visualize the learning journey that awaits the student.

Feedback Providing System

Regular and insightful feedback is instrumental in ensuring students' learning progress. This question throws light on the teacher's feedback mechanism, helping to imagine how the evolution of the student would be tracked and guided.

Experience Designing Lesson Plans

Designing a curriculum or lesson plan requires pedagogical understanding along with subject knowledge. The question explores this aspect of a tutor's expertise.

Keeping Students Motivated

Motivation fuels the drive to learn. A tutor's ability to keep their student motivated significantly determines the learning outcome. This question verifies the motivation strategies that the tutor employs in their practice.

Most Rewarding Teaching Experience

Asking tutors about their most rewarding teaching experience can give you a glimpse into what success looks like for them. It helps you understand their aspirations and goals as a teacher.

Measuring Students' Progress

Understanding how tutors measure their students' progress is crucial. This can provide a clear measurement of the efficacious result of learning. Here, the ability of the tutor to conduct assessments is paramount.

Handling a Student Who Is Having Trouble Understanding

Lastly, ask how they would handle a student who is having difficulty understanding their lessons. This will give you an idea of their patience, empathy, adaptability, and problem-solving skills, invaluable qualities for any tutor.