Five Tips to Succeed in Your Interviews to Teach in the U.S.

Moving abroad and teaching in the U.S. is a big decision! As an Ambassador Teacher with Participate Learning, you will be sharing your home country’s culture while experiencing personal and professional growth. If you have started your application to teach in the U.S. or are considering it, you may be wondering about the admissions interview.

If your application is accepted, you will be invited to participate in a live, video interview to discuss your application and evaluate your compatibility with our program. It is a chance to showcase your classroom skills and teaching practices through a conversation with one of our interviewers.

Below we offer five tips from our admissions team to succeed in your interview and to set you up for success as you go through our application process!

1. Ensure that your English speaking and writing skills are proficient.

Your interview will be conducted in English to ensure that you are comfortable communicating in the language. Your English does not need to be perfect! However, it is very important that you can communicate with your principal, other teachers, and parents in English. Even if you teach in a dual language or world language classroom, you will be using English every day as part of your life in the U.S.

2. Display your creativity and teaching skills during your lesson presentation.

During the interview you will briefly present a lesson, giving the interviewer a good understanding of what the lesson would look like if they saw it in person. This is a chance for you to demonstrate your teaching skills! Engaging your audience and showing creativity in how you present the lesson will give your interviewer a better idea of your teaching style. Using any visual aids or other materials you would have used in the lesson is a great way to display your creativity.

3. Show professionalism in your background and clothing.

Since this is a job interview, be sure your background is professional. It is best to have a well-lit, quiet setting to do the interview. While some background noise is expected, don’t conduct the interview in a noisy space or where you will be interrupted. Be sure your clothes are also professional business attire, similar to what you would wear to school.

4. Be flexible and open-minded.

To have a meaningful and successful cultural exchange experience, a teacher must be willing to try new ideas and experiences. Being flexible and open to new ways of doing things will help you succeed in the U.S. education system. It is more important to have this mindset than to have a certain number of years of experience. You do not necessarily have to have many years of experience to be an effective Ambassador Teacher.

5. Make sure your technology is working.

Before your scheduled interview time, check to make sure the sound and video are working on your device. Check the lighting to ensure that your space is well-lit and your face is visible. Make sure the battery for your device is fully charged, and if possible, have a backup device ready in case you run into technical difficulties.

Now that you have these tips, you’ll be ready to succeed in your interviews! If you want to learn more about our program requirements, school locations, or teaching positions, see our website.