A pen is mightier than a machine gun. Well, swords are not used nowadays, and we must move with time. It is an established fact that education is supreme and has the ability to transform the life of every individual no matter at what age it is received and appreciated. However, young age is the perfect time to enjoy education, which is imparted by elementary schools and the teachers working over there. Highly virtuous and knowledgeable, elementary teachers receive excellent remuneration and gain huge respect from the members of society. Obtaining a job as an elementary teacher is tough but can be achieved with proper preparation that includes reading the best interview questions, which are covered hereunder:
21 Best Interview Questions To Study
1. How Does Freire Interprets “Knowledge” While Describing The Pedagogy Of The Opressed?
This question tests your knowledge and understanding of the core principles of Pedagogy, more specifically Chapter 2: The pedagogy of the oppressed.
Sample Answer
Sir, while discussing the pedagogy that every teacher must follow at the time of teaching the oppressed, Freire explains and defines “knowledge”. He states that the need or urge to acquire knowledge arises with a common perception to keep questioning the world. Further, he defines the teachers as the ones who have the knowledge and the students as the ones who lack knowledge but have the desire to acquire it.
2. Differentiate Between Banking Model and Problem Posing Model Of Pedagogy.
This question tests your knowledge and understanding of the various models of teaching defined by the principles of pedagogy.
Sample Answer
Sir, a “banking model” could be defined as the rudimentary approach wherein students are termed as passive and teachers are active. The teachers are not open to learning in this model and provide less space for the students to practice freedom. However, in the “problem-posing” model there is a collaboration and union of both students and teachers, wherein they operate in an associated manner questioning the reality together.
3. It Is Widely Said What We Teach At School Does Not Come In Handy At The Later Stages Of The Professional Life Of A Student. How Much Do You Agree With This?
This question criticizes school education, which you as a school teacher must defend and protect.
Sample Answer
Sir, This world is moving at a rapid pace, with a huge possibility that the items produced today will be getting obsolete the next year. Then, how can you assume that education granted 20 years back will be used in professional life as well? However, this does not hold true for elementary education, as this will continue to hold its ground and relevance no matter how old you get. These are the basics of education and you will need them at every walk of life.
4. Define The Ideal Relationship Between The Students and Their Teachers.
Through this question, an interviewer wants to know how you define the relationship between the students and teachers.
Sample Answer
Sir, in my humble opinion, the relationship must be of a knowledge-provider and knowledge seeker, wherein both the parties respect each other and appreciate the level of intelligence that each has for another. Further, efforts must be laid to create an adjusting atmosphere, wherein students can liberate themselves and gain the freedom to express, ask doubts, and share feedback.
5. How Versed Are You With Latest Teaching Methodologies?
With the advent of technology, teaching has reached new levels and has adopted several methods to impart education in interesting and innovative ways. As an elementary teacher, you ought to have a good knowledge of these developments.
Sample Answer
Sir, teaching has certainly evolved from blackboards and chalks, with new and improved methods replacing it. I am completely aware of all the latest technologies and developments in the field of education, such as:
- Smart classes using a projector and screen
- Usage of Learning Management Systems
- Usage of different media tools, etc.
6. How Will You Manage A Student, Who Is Obscurant and Does Not Want To Study?
This question tests your practical working knowledge.
Sample Answer
Sir, as a teacher I am obliged to focus on each and every student and move together as a group instead of educating only a few bunches of kids. I am interested in holistic development, and would personally identify and counsel such students. I would communicate with them and try to understand their root cause of problems in a friendly manner. Post this, I would try to resolve them, and also take the help of the parents if the need arises.
7. Explain The Importance of Effective Communcation In The Classroom.
This question tests how much you rate the importance of communication inside a classroom.
Sample Answer
Sir, communication plays a major role in not only delivering lectures effectively but also enabling the students to grasp and understand them comprehensively. It is a consistent process, with always a scope of improvement. Further, using effective communications teachers can build a strong foundation for the students, ultimately leading to academic excellence.
8. Explain Semantic Noise As A Barrier While Teaching In The Classrooms.
This question tests your knowledge and understanding of the various barriers that impact your ability to deliver excellent classroom teachings.
Sample Answer
Sir, “semantic noise” refers to a situation in which the speaker and the listener are not on the same page and a listener draws different meanings to the words spoken, which are other than the intended. This handicaps a teacher to express his views properly, as the listener is simply unable to grasp the true meaning and interprets it differently.
9. How Can Teachers Make The Students Better Listeners?
This question tests how much you value teacher-student interactions and what measures you follow to enhance your efficiency.
Sample Answer
Sir, in my humble opinion, there could be several methods, but the one which I personally like and have even gained success during my previous tenures is “social interactions”. If teachers are able to engage in social interactions with the students then they feel “belonged” and show a better acceptance level, wherein they respond better and grasp the concepts fairly easily.
10. Imparting “Quality” Education Is What Separates Us From The Rest. How Do You Interpret The Term “Quality”?
This is a word-based interview question, wherein you are required to interpret the term “quality”. It is an important term and interviewers are interested in knowing your version of interpretation for it. In the context of schooling, “quality” is achieved when teachers are able to deliver lectures that conform with the established benchmarks and students are able to deliver excellent academic performances.
11. What is Your Ideal Company Culture?
Employees have to work in a set-up or a culture that belongs exclusively to a business organization. We all have certain expectations from our employers and some just fit easily in the company culture, while a few have their own reservations. Through this question, an interviewer wants to know, what are your desires from the management of a company in relation to the working environment. For example, you might want them to address all employee grievances in less than 4 hours.
12. What Are Your Weaknesses As An Elementary Teacher?
This is a common interview question and is asked in almost all the interview sessions held across the world. It is true that weaknesses are negative, and would surely create a negative image of yours. But, there is no escaping from this question, and you are required to attempt it. However, you can surely understand the true requirements of the job and share only those weaknesses that do not conflict with them.
13. We Are A Reputed Educational Institute And Hire Only The Best Talents. What Can You Offer Us That Someone Else Cannot?
This is a tricky interview question wherein you are required to share your unique features and skills that give you a competitive edge over the others. It is recommended that you neither exaggerate while delivering your answer nor become arrogant or haughty. Be calm, composed, and narrate your answer in a confident manner.
14. Describe Your Best Boss and Worst Boss.
We all work at several places and meet a wide variety of bosses and seniors. Some of them are really helpful, and we tend to enjoy working under them, while some are not, and they fail to enter into our good books. Through this question, an interviewer wants to know what is the reason or the basis using which you differentiate and segregate between your best and worst bosses. Be clear and crisp while presenting your arguments.
15. School Jobs Are Repititive And Boring. How Do You Keep Yourself Motivated?
In this competitive world, everybody needs the motivation to perform and deliver his best. These motivational factors are personal in nature and are largely influenced by the personal conditions, financial situations, and circumstances of an individual. An interviewer is always interested in knowing these factors for the purposes of personality evaluation.
16. Schools Are Not Easy For Both Kids As Well As Teachers. How Do You Manage Your Stress Levels?
Stress is a common issue, which not only strikes the working class but even the ruling class, which we imagine to be rich and very happy. It is an established fact that a stressed employee contributes practically nothing and delivers performances that are sub-standard. Hence, an interviewer is always interested in knowing the various strategies, using which you are able to manage your stress levels.
17. As An Elementary Teacher, You Will be Performing Tasks, Which Need To Be Executed Before The Deadlines. How Do You Ensure A Timely Submission?
Not only in schools, but even in a corporate office, you will be performing several tasks that need to be executed in a single working day. For this, you will certainly need a prioritization technique, using which you will arrange and order your tasks meaningfully. Most employees prefer to arrange the tasks on the basis of either the difficulty level or on the basis of time consumption. In case you have your own developed technique, be free to share it.
18. Dealing With Students Can Be Tricky and Hectic At Times With A Possibility To Fail At Your Workplace. How Do You Manage Your Failures?
Even Napoleon was defeated in his last battle. Even in history, there are only a few individuals who went unscathed. Yet, failure leaves a devastating impact upon the human mind and renders us virtually handicapped. This not only impacts our confidence level but also lays a negative effect on our working performance. Thus, an interviewer is always interested in knowing the various strategies and techniques using which you are able to manage your workplace failures.
19. There Is No Dearth Of Elementary Schools. Why Do You Want To Work With Us?
Through this question, an interviewer wants to check your level of seriousness and commitment towards the business organization. Prepare an ideal response by browsing the official website of the company and note down:
- The historical facts associated with the company
- The achievements and accomplishments of the company
- The number of employees, branches, countries served, etc.
Add your personal interests in the company to your answer and draft a structured response.
20. What Are Your Salary Expectations?
This is a non-technical interview question, but yet it has the ability to spoil the party. This can happen when you share a salary figure that is either too high or too low from the mean salary. Hence, ideally, research the fraternity to which you belong, which in the instant case is “elementary teachers”, and note down all the salaries offered to them. Calculate the mean, and share a salary figure that relates to it with a maximum permissible deviation of 15%.
21. Do You Have Any Questions For Us?
Be it an interview session of a school teacher or that of a college professor, everything concludes with this question, through which an interviewer wants to know about your apprehensions and doubts that you might be having in regards to the school. It is recommended that you always attempt this question and ask a few relevant counter-questions, which are based on the model questions mentioned below:
Model Questions
- What are various anti-harassment policies and rules that are followed by the educational institution so as to protect its employees from possible instances of teasing, bullying, and ragging?
- It is the policy of the company to offer paid leaves to its regular employees, especially during medical emergencies?
- What is your own experience with this school? Please share a few pros and cons of this establishment.
Download the list of questions in .PDF format, to practice with them later, or to use them on your interview template (For Elementary Teacher interview):
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0742051X21002304
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=gtRJEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=Top+21+Elementary+Teacher+Interview+Questions+in+2021+%5Bwith+Answers%5D&ots=EebS9QTcmQ&sig=tM6K4Ejcy2HcE-qQv49GcWgLv0g
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