Interview for teaching post on Friday - first one for ten years - aaaargh!

[sphil]

Found out tonight that I have an interview for a senior school English teaching post on Friday ( the email went into my spam folder so I've already lost 24 hours preparation time). I have to teach a 25 minutes lesson to high ability year 9s on figurative language in unseen poetry. Have some ideas but would be grateful for more inspiration, especially from those teaching at the moment.

Am panicking because a) I have been out of the loop for ten whole years b) the job is at a public school and I've only ever taught in state. c) my current job is very part time, in primary school d) I have absolutely nothing interview- worthy to wear so will have to spend some of my precious two remaining afternoons shopping - aaaaaaarrrrghhh!

All help most gratefully received

A 25 minute lesson, not minutes. I AM a good English teacher, promise...

Don't worry too much about the outfit; I have had a few interviews lately (just finishing my GTP year ) and people have turnd up in all sorts. Not seen many suits tho I have always worn one (but a fairly low-key trouser suit).

WRT the lesson, I am not an English teacher so not much help there, but prep for the interview might want to include thinking about child protection, any recent developments in yr subject, behaviour and how you handle it if it's bad, extra curricular things you can offer.

Oh and make sure you have some reflection on yr lesson and any issues. My lesson at my last interview had a couple of students who didn't work very well, I felt a bit down about it but was able to reflect in th einterview how I might have dealt with them differently and that won me points. I got the job too

Good luck on Friday!

Good idea, tiggytape! I would go for fairly formal/conservative, e.g. trouser suit with blouse or t-shirt.

Just finished writing an application for my first teaching job in almost 10 years too, languages though, not English - I didn't know what to write anymore, and I would have to go shopping too if I got an interview.

Not much help though, sorry!

No, its all very helpful, thanks! Any English teachers out there to help me with my lesson?

Have decided to do Carol Ann Duffy's 'Valentine', focusing on extended metaphor. As I've only got 25 minutes, thought it was best to keep it simple.
Just wish it was February, not May, for maximum impact!

also be sure that you are fully aware of the changes within the curriculum/specifications/ofsted's latest fads as this will show that you are still reading etc rather than relying on 10 years ago information.

Whilst I am not languages, you will need to ensure that you have clear objectives which will stretch the most able whilst also differentiating for the lower ability, ensure that there is pace, ensure that you show that you are assessing their work, ensure that there is individual tasks, group/paired tasks, ensure that there is a clear plenary and that it is clear that all students have made progress in the lesson.

As Clary said, ensure that you fully reflect on the lesson afterwards in all aspects as it will come up in the interview.

Interview lessons whilst are graded are more for a picture of your personality with the kids, the type of teaching you do (i.e. are you a chalk and talk or more interactive), your ability to reflect and improve

for more specific lesson advice, why not post on the tes forum?

good luck!

apologies for my English in my post - been a tough day in a classroom more akin to an oven!

Lesson objectives displayed; good if you can differentiate them e.g.
All: will understand how an Extended Metaphor can be used in writing
Most:will be able to use Ext Met in their own writing
Some: will be able to use Ext Met creatively in their own writing

Refer back to objectives in your plenary - perhaps a to sk the students to identify which objective they think they achieved.

Valentine is a great poem (though they may already have seen it). I delete the word 'onion' each time it appears (twice?) and get the students to predict what the item is that has been deleted - gets them looking hard at the text/language. Maybe a starter with some images/words/phrases more typical of love poetry and ask students to name the genre.

If time, move onto an activity where students work in pairs to create 3 reasons why random objects could be given as love tokens (e.g. bath tap/whiteboard/frying pan etc) - follows theme of extending metaphor through.

Good luck!

Thanks all - have bought an outfit, planned my lesson and written it up. Tomorrow I have to catch up on 10 years of educational developments. Thanks so much for your input - will let you know how I get on.