Quick answer: To help English learners answer interview questions, work on three layers: predictable questions (tell me about yourself, strengths and weaknesses), the language to structure answers (past tenses for experience, would/could for scenarios), and confidence under pressure – including the odd curveball question. Role-play mock interviews, record and review answers, and build a bank of ready-made phrases.
“If I gave you an elephant, where would you hide it?”
Although that’s one of the strangest interview questions we have heard, your students might need to expect something similar, as employers often throw you off guard with unusual questions. So, along with the usual questions about their career, aspirations and why they want to work for the company, how else can you help prepare your learners for success at interview?
Which interview questions should your learners prepare for?
Most job interviews in English draw on a predictable core. Practising these gives your learners a solid base before you add surprises:
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why do you want to work for this company?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Tell me about a time you solved a problem / worked in a team.
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
- Do you have any questions for us?
Then mix in one or two curveballs (like our elephant) – not because the answer matters, but because thinking aloud calmly in English under pressure is exactly the skill the interview is really testing.
What language do learners need for interview answers?
Interview English clusters around a few structures, which makes it very teachable:
| Interview task | Language focus | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Talking about experience | Past simple and present perfect | I have worked in retail for five years. In 2021 I led a small team… |
| Describing strengths | Adjectives + evidence | I’m well organised – for example, I… |
| Hypothetical questions | Second conditional, would/could | If a customer complained, I would… |
| Future plans | Going to, hope/plan/intend to | I plan to develop my English for… |
| Structuring an answer | Situation – action – result linkers | Initially… so I… and as a result… |
A simple three-part answer shape (situation – action – result) transforms rambling answers into confident ones, even at intermediate level.
What classroom activities build interview confidence?
- Mock interview role-plays. Students rotate through interviewer and candidate roles – interviewers get a question card, candidates get thinking time first, then none. Swap partners so learners face different questioners.
- Curveball rounds. A quick-fire game with odd questions (the elephant!) where the goal is a calm, structured attempt, not a ‘right’ answer. Great as a warmer – see our 5 TEFL warmers for the format.
- Record and review. Learners record a one-minute ‘tell me about yourself’ on their phone, listen back, then re-record. The second version is nearly always dramatically better.
- Question-writing. Students research a real job advert and write the questions they would ask – interviewing each other builds both question formation and answer skills. This works beautifully as a full speaking lesson using the structure in our tips for TEFL discussion classes.
- Phrase banks. Build a class bank of openers, fillers and recovery phrases (That’s a great question… Let me think for a moment…) so silence never panics them. Free practice material on interviews and jobs is also available at BBC Learning English and American English.
Where can you find ready-made interview lesson materials?
We think we have the answer...
At Global English we have taken time to craft great worksheets on helping learners with interview questions. We have these, along with several other key English language areas, in our Teaching English Starter Packs – and interview-themed lessons also feature in our 30 ready-to-print instant TEFL lessons. So, if you are struggling for materials to inspire your students, then look no further. Our fantastic teaching packs are designed to help any new or experienced TEFL teacher. Let’s take a look:
The TEFL Starter Pack
Ideal for any English language teacher, in this pack you'll find three practical and accessible PDFs designed to develop your essential teaching skills and save you hours of preparation.
The TEFL Starter Pack contains:
* Big Grammar eBook
The essential English grammar presented in bite-size chunks with stop and think tasks to help bring the concepts to life.
* 30 instant ready-to-print lessons
Saving you prep time and giving you super resources at your fingertips, with themes like hobbies, making small talk, survival English, interviews and driving. These are set across a range of levels.
* English Teaching to Beginners Guide
A packed 12-page guide with lesson plans, a syllabus outline plus tips and resources for teaching this most challenging of levels. No need to search the internet for ideas, we've done all the hard work for you.
All are easy to read and use, illustrated and practical.
Alternatively, if you are mainly teaching online, then check out this option…
The Teaching English Online Starter Pack
The Teaching English Online Starter Pack is perfect for any TEFL teacher who is starting out or considering teaching English online. Get top teaching tips and jobs advice in our guide, enjoy 20 ready-to-go lessons and access links to hundreds of online jobs and companies.
The Teaching English Online Starter Pack contains:
* Instant Ready-to-teach Online Lesson Pack (20 lessons)
These are designed to provide you with super resources on your computer screen that you can share with your students. Topics include more on jobs and interviews, along with ordering food, the best city in the world, social media and the use of AI.
* Guide to English teaching online
Using elements of our Teaching English Online course, we look at how to set up a great bio if you are planning on teaching independently, and a review of some of the best companies to work for if you are thinking about teaching online for regular employment. Links to thousands of companies seeking native and non-native teachers worldwide.
* Big Grammar eBook
All the essential English grammar presented in bite-size chunks with stop and think tasks to help bring the concepts to life.
All delivered in PDF format – and we regularly run promotions where a pack comes free with course enrolment, so check the product pages for the current offer.
View the packs here: TEFL Starter Pack / Teaching English Online Starter Pack
Frequently asked questions
How can I adapt interview practice for beginners?
Strip it back to the essentials: name, current job, one strength, one goal. Drill a four-sentence self-introduction until it is automatic, use question cards with picture support, and keep interviewer questions to a fixed script. Even beginners can leave a lesson able to introduce themselves professionally in English.
Does interview practice work in online lessons?
Extremely well – many real interviews now happen by video call, so an online lesson doubles as authentic rehearsal. Run mock interviews in breakout rooms, practise camera presence and greetings, and use recordings for self-review. Coach learners on joining calls, checking audio and handling ‘can you hear me?’ moments in English.
How do I help students handle questions they don’t understand?
Teach recovery language explicitly: ‘Could you rephrase that, please?’, ‘Do you mean…?’, ‘Let me think for a moment.’ Practise it in curveball rounds so asking for clarification feels normal, not shameful. Interviewers respond far better to a composed clarification than to a panicked answer to the wrong question.
What level of English do learners need for a job interview?
It depends on the role, but a solid B1 can already handle a structured interview with preparation, and strong preparation matters more than raw level. Focus on the predictable question set, a rehearsed self-introduction and the situation-action-result answer shape – targeted rehearsal beats general fluency work for interview success.
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Oh, have you decided where you would hide your elephant yet?