TEFL Interview Guide: How to Nail Your Demo Lesson
The demo lesson is the single highest-leverage part of any TEFL interview. A strong CV gets you in the door, but it''s the 20 minutes in front of real (or pretend) students that decides whether you walk out with an offer. Having sat on both sides of the hiring table at schools in Hanoi, Madrid, and Seoul, here''s what actually moves the needle.
1. Know the format before you walk in
Demo lessons usually run 15–25 minutes with either live students, interviewer-as-student, or a mix. Ask in advance: how many students, what level, what topic, do I need to bring materials? Schools that don''t tell you are often testing how proactively you ask. Always ask.
2. Use a clear, recognisable lesson shape
Hiring managers aren''t looking for genius — they''re looking for coherence. The shape they want to see is:
- Warmer (2–3 min): a hook that gets students speaking immediately
- Lead-in (2–3 min): brief context-setting for the target language
- Presentation (5 min): clear model of the target structure or vocab
- Controlled practice (5 min): gap-fills, matching, pair work
- Freer practice (5 min): role-play or mini-discussion
- Wrap-up (1–2 min): exit ticket or quick recap
If your demo hits these six beats visibly, you''ll out-score 80% of candidates by structure alone.
3. Get students talking in the first 30 seconds
The fastest way to tank a demo is to spend three minutes on introductions and instructions. Greet the class, ask one quick question that everyone can answer, and you''re already teaching.
4. Use methodology language explicitly
When you explain your rationale afterwards (most interviews include a short Q&A), use the terms hiring managers are trained to hear: PPP, TBL, eliciting, scaffolding, concept-checking questions, TTT vs STT ratio, recast, L1 interference. You don''t need to name-drop every term — one or two, used correctly, is more than enough.
5. Plan concept-checking questions in advance
If you''re teaching used to, write down the CCQs you''ll ask: "Is this in the past?" "Does he still play football now?" "Was it a habit?" Observers love seeing CCQs because they prove you understand how meaning is negotiated, not just delivered.
6. Anticipate student problems
A strong lesson plan includes a section called anticipated problems and solutions. If you''re demoing to Vietnamese learners, mention final-consonant deletion. If they''re Japanese, mention /r/ vs /l/. Schools hire teachers who think about students, not just content.
7. End with something memorable
A short, personal exit ticket ("Tell me one thing you''ll do this weekend using the new structure") works better than a formal test. It leaves the interviewer with the feeling that you care about the students as people, which is what everything actually hinges on.
Preparing in less than an hour
Most candidates spend two or three evenings building their demo lesson from scratch. With Tyoutor Pro''s Demo Lesson Builder, you can generate a fully-structured, methodology-sound demo in about 60 seconds — topic, level, school type, country — and then spend your prep time on rehearsal, which is where the real marks are won.