I was asked to teach a student, who needs to acquire fluency in answering journalist questions in English, because he got a job as a singer abroad.
I would say his level of English is lower-intermediate. I am trying to plan the course for him at the moment. I think we need to work on his listening skills a lot and on the proper reactions to the interview questions. I have some ideas on how to do this, but it is a very special need he has and the traditional textbooks do not offer that much help.I would like you to help me with inventing some activities that could help me prepare my student for the above described press interviews. It is so easy to become boring when the interview is in a way the only thing he needs, yet so many things need to be dealt with.
This question is from Alena Dobrovolná, Czech Republic
Comments
joe
I have been teaching since 1989 and I love tailor-made programs. You have the unique chance to do that, too. Well, I guess you should teach him set phrases and specific terms connected with job application, manners, polite ways of saying yes and no and then practice them over and over in different situations. I had such a case that I needed to prepare a student for an interview very quickly, so we role-played the interview many times, I was provoking him with difficult questions and encouraging every appropriate answer. Thus confidence was built in him and he improved his fluency. Then I asked a friend who is an HR at a large company to come for a real-life session and make an interview with him. I watched him and took notes, then we discussed the language, body language, techniques of reducing stress, etc. He was very encouraged.
George Steed, Polska
Most interviewers employ a standard set of questions. The questions have not changed in many years. Try listening to 'Larry King interviews'. Read a personnel handbook chapter about interviewing. Your student needs to know English words used in his profession. He/she must be able to give the interviewer personal information in English. Prepare some replies for use when he/she doesn't understand the question. "I don't understand the question". "Please, try it a different way". "Do you mean...".