The secret to acing an English interview? Preparation. In this guide to nailing an interview in English, we’ll share our top tips to help you prepare. Then, to help you prepare, we’ll go over some of the most common English interview questions.
You can talk with confidence and move forward in your career if you take the time to get ready for an interview. Good luck!.
If you want to work at Preply, you should be ready to answer some common interview questions that show off your skills and experience. We’ll look at 9 of the most common Preply interview questions in this article and give you some tips on how to write great answers.
Preply is an online language tutoring platform that connects students with tutors for 1-on-1 lessons. With over 22,000 tutors teaching over 50 languages Preply aims to make language learning accessible and personalized for students around the world.
When interviewing at Preply, you can expect questions that assess your:
- Language tutoring experience and teaching skills
- Ability to provide exceptional customer service
- Problem-solving skills
- Passion for education and language learning
Let’s look at some of the most common Preply interview questions and how you can prepare stellar answers.
1. Why do you want to work as a tutor for Preply?
This question allows you to express your passion for teaching and how Preply’s mission aligns with your goals, Emphasize your commitment to helping students learn and your excitement for Preply’s global community of learners and tutors
Good response: I’m excited about the opportunity to work as a tutor for Preply because I’m passionate about language education and believe Preply provides an innovative platform for connecting students and tutors. I love that Preply makes language learning accessible for students around the world. I’m inspired by the diversity of Preply’s global tutor community and student base. As a tutor on Preply, I look forward to helping students achieve their language learning goals through personalized 1-on-1 lessons.
2. What experience do you have teaching your language of expertise?
This question allows you to discuss your language teaching experience. Provide specific examples that highlight your teaching skills, experience level, and success helping students learn.
Good answer: I’ve been teaching Spanish to students of all levels for more than five years. I taught Spanish at the college level for two years, planning lessons and giving classes to first-year students. I also have 3 years of private tutoring experience. My students have ranged from beginner to advanced levels. The goal of many of my students to speak Spanish fluently has been met with my help. One student I taught for two years went from a very basic level to advanced fluency and now works in Spain. It’s easy for me to tailor my lessons to each student’s needs, strengths, and weaknesses.
3. How would you handle a student who is struggling to understand a concept you have tried to explain in multiple ways?
This question tests your problem-solving skills and creativity as a tutor. Showcase how you persevere to find new ways to explain difficult concepts.
Good answer: I use patience and creativity when working with a student who is having trouble understanding something I’ve explained more than once. First, I try to identify their exact point of confusion and provide clarification. I’ll explain the idea again, but this time I’ll use a different set of examples, analogies, or pictures. I get feedback from the student on what teaching methods work best for them if they are still not getting it. I use different ways of learning to try to connect with the way they learn. My goal is to find a way to explain things that works for that student. I can help students finally understand hard topics by being persistent and using a variety of methods.
4. How would you handle a technical issue, like connectivity problems, during an online tutoring session?
This question tests your ability to troubleshoot issues and maintain excellent customer service even when faced with technical problems. Demonstrate a calm, patient approach.
Good response: If technical issues like connectivity problems arose during an online tutoring session, I would first apologize for the inconvenience and assist the student with troubleshooting. I would ask questions to identify the source of the issue, like whether other sites/apps are loading slowly. I would walk through basic troubleshooting steps like rebooting devices or switching networks. If the issue persisted, I would suggest rescheduling that session so I can provide effective tutoring when connectivity is restored. Throughout the process, I would maintain a courteous tone and empathy for their frustration. My goal would be providing a smooth experience and open communication despite the tech issue.
5. Describe a time you had difficulty working with a student but found a way to resolve it.
This question allows you to demonstrate problem-solving, communication skills, and commitment to student success. Focus on how you turned the difficulty into a positive outcome.
Good response: One student I worked with struggled with staying focused during our sessions. They were easily distracted by their phone and other apps on their laptop. I noticed they made limited progress session to session. I decided to kindly but directly address the issue. I explained that I wanted to make sure our time together was as productive as possible and asked if we could try turning off notifications during class. The student was receptive so we implemented a new rule of silencing phones and closing extra tabs. This made a huge difference in their engagement and productivity during lessons. It turned a difficult situation into greater success working together.
6. Why do you feel you would provide an exceptional experience as a Preply tutor?
This question allows you to summarize the qualities and skills that make you a standout Preply tutor. Highlight your teaching strengths, commitment to students, and ability to provide personalized instruction.
Good response: I believe I would provide an exceptional tutoring experience on Preply because of my student-focused approach. My top priorities are understanding each student’s goals, tailoring lessons to their needs, and providing ongoing encouragement. I have a proven track record of helping students achieve success. For example, 95% of students I’ve tutored have rated my teaching 5 stars. I’m passionate about language learning and committed to my students’ development. I combine effective teaching techniques with patience and empathy. These qualities allow me to develop connections with students that foster their engagement, enjoyment, and progress. My student-centered approach helps me provide an exceptional learning experience.
7. Tell me about a time you successfully adapted your teaching style to meet a student’s learning needs.
This behavioral question allows you to demonstrate student-focused instruction. Discuss how you assessed a student’s needs and adjusted your approach to improve their outcomes.
Good response: *One of my students was struggling with Spanish listening comprehension. During our lessons I noticed they needed more time to process the spoken language. So I adapted my teaching approach. I:
- Slowed my speech pace and enunciated more clearly
- Provided written transcripts of audio clips for extra reading support
- Built in more pauses when giving verbal instructions
- Asked more frequent comprehension questions
- Gradually increased speech pace as their skills improved
The student gave really positive feedback on these adaptations. Their listening scores showed measurable improvement within just 2-3 weeks. This demonstrated to me the importance of continually evaluating students’ needs and adjusting my instruction techniques accordingly.*
8. Describe your approach to lesson planning. How do you develop customized lessons for students?
This question allows you to demonstrate your organized and student-centered approach to lesson planning. Highlight how you collaborate with students and personalize material.
Good response: My approach to lesson planning begins with thoroughly consulting with each new student to understand their language goals, current abilities, preferred learning style, and interests. I develop customized lessons and materials based on the student’s unique objectives and needs. For example, if a student needs interview prep, we may roleplay job interviews and work on industry-specific vocabulary. If a student loves soccer, I weave in examples and texts related to soccer. I use a curriculum scope and sequence to track progress over time while regularly checking in to update lessons based on the student’s evolving needs. My lesson plans combine engaging exercises and authentic materials to keep students motivated. I collaborate on an ongoing basis so students actively participate in shaping our lessons.
9. What is one goal you have to improve your tutoring skills and how would you accomplish it?
This question shows your commitment to continuous improvement as a tutor. Share a realistic professional development goal and the concrete steps you would take to achieve it.
Good response: One goal I have to improve my tutoring skills is expanding my repertoire of interactive activities to engage visual learners. I would accomplish this by researching best practices for teaching languages visually. I would look for insights from other tutors through communities of practice. I would curate a bank of visual aids like charts, comics, and videos tailored to my students’ proficiency levels. To measure my progress, I would solicit student feedback on my new visual activities. Their input would help me refine techniques that maximize engagement and comprehension. Pursuing continuous improvement through professional development ensures I provide dynamic tutoring that adapts to diverse learning needs.
Preparing responses for commonly asked questions will get you ready to present yourself as a top contender during the Preply interview process. Be sure to customize your answers based on your background and the specific tutor role you are applying for. Highlight the qualities that make you the ideal candidate to provide exceptional instruction and motivate Preply learners.
With the right preparation, you can show both your language tutoring expertise and fit with Preply’s mission. That will help you stand out and land the role of your dreams tutoring awesome students worldwide!
How to Prepare for a Job Interview in English: 10
What are your strengths?
This question is an opportunity to make a good impression. There are two key components to answering it effectively. :
- Every word you use to describe yourself should be backed up with a clear example from your work.
- While writing your strengths, make sure they all have something to do with the job you’re applying for.
Below is an example of how you might respond:
One of my strengths is that I am very organized. When I was a temporary assistant manager at the Four Seasons in Oslo, I changed how the administrative office was set up. It may seem like a small thing, but it hadn’t been done in years and made a big difference in how well administrative work got done every day. No one realized how many unused staff uniforms we already had buried there. We didn’t need to order any more for months! .
What are your weaknesses?
Everyone has weaknesses. Your interviewer wants to know if you are aware of yours and willing to work on them.
If you want to answer this question well, choose something you used to be bad at and show how you have recently worked to get better at it.
Here’s an example:
I sometimes struggle to speak my mind at work because I worry about upsetting people too much. However, I have been taking steps to overcome this. I read a great book by James Oliver called “The Power of Positive Confrontation” that helped me understand why it’s sometimes important to be honest. I’ve started using some of the tips with my co-workers. I already think my communication skills are improving, and I plan to keep working on it.
Preply Tutor Interview with Joanna H.
FAQ
Is there an interview in Preply?
What is the best answer for “Tell me about yourself”?
How to answer why do you think we should hire you in a job interview?
How do you introduce yourself in an interview?
How long did the Preply interview process last?
I interviewed at Preply The whole process lasted 2 months in total. While it’s nice that there wasn’t an unpaid task to complete per se, the process was painfully slow with at least a full week of waiting time in-between each step. There were 5 steps in total: 1.
What is the interview process like at Preply (Barcelona)?
I interviewed at Preply (Barcelona) in Aug 2023 – HR – asking you about your career and goals – Live Coding – initial contact in the technical part and some questions about the projects you have worked on They are quite direct, so study hard for it. There was a live coding where I needed to perform a fibonacci in Python and a database query.
How to prepare for an interview in English?
If you wake up at night after an interview and realize you forgot to mention a crucial point, you can always mention it in a follow-up email! The most effective way to prepare for an interview in English is to plan your answers to common questions. Luckily, English interview conversations usually follow a standard structure.
What’s it like working at Preply?
The process has been impressively seamless and efficient, with a clear sense of purpose throughout. What I particularly appreciated was the opportunity to engage with various team members at Preply, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of both parties. This dual understanding has been key in forming a solid foundation for the journey ahead.
