Have you ever found yourself in a situation in which you did not understand the language around you? If so, how did that experience shape your understanding of English and how you teach it?

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The interviewer wants to get a sense of your worldwide perspective with English. Even if you have not lived abroad, where have you traveled that connects with English should be shared. Give specific examples of how English helped you out and about.

"I have never lived abroad, but I have traveled extensively around the globe over the last ten years. I have spent time in Sweden, Costa Rica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Canada, and the Bahamas. When I was in Sweden, even though I did not know Swedish, many of the people there knew English. I was able to travel and get around just fine because of this fact on trains and buses."

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"I spent time in Mexico last summer. Luckily, I had a friend who handled all the communication. But, I appreciated the way the language flowed and have worked to create lessons that flow similarly in English, even thought the languages are different in nature."

Shane's Feedback

It is neat how an experience can help you get creative. Continue to look for experiences like this that will create more and more value in your class.

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How to Answer: Have you ever found yourself in a situation in which you did not understand the language around you? If so, how did that experience shape your understanding of English and how you teach it?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for an English Teacher job interview.

11. Have you ever found yourself in a situation in which you did not understand the language around you? If so, how did that experience shape your understanding of English and how you teach it?

How to Answer