20 51Talk Interview Questions and Answers

51Talk is an online English school that offers one-to-one foreign language teaching services. The company has a wide range of students, from those who are just starting to learn English to those who are fluent in the language.

51Talk interview questions will focus on your teaching experience, your ability to use technology in the classroom, and your knowledge of the English language. The company is looking for teachers who are patient, creative, and have a passion for teaching. If you are invited to interview with 51Talk, be prepared to answer questions about your teaching experience, your approach to teaching, and your knowledge of the English language.

51Talk Interview Process

The interview process at 51Talk is generally quick and easy. Most candidates report that the phone interview is the most difficult part of the process, but that overall the experience is positive. The company is known for being accommodating and fast to respond to applicants. Once you are hired, you will need to complete a 140-hour module as part of your training.

1. Can you explain how the online teaching platform works?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the company’s services and how they work. It also allows you to show that you have experience using their platform, which can be beneficial if you’re applying for an online teaching position.

Example: “51Talk has a unique system where students are matched with teachers based on their language level and learning style. The student then completes lessons at their own pace, while the teacher monitors their progress and provides feedback as needed. This system makes it easy for me to provide individualized attention to each student.”

2. Why do you want to teach English online?

This question is a great way to show your passion for teaching and how you can apply it to the role. If you have experience teaching online, be sure to highlight what made that experience so special.

Example: “I love working with students of all ages and backgrounds. I find it especially rewarding when I can help someone overcome their fear of speaking in public or learn a new language. Teaching English online allows me to reach more people than ever before, which makes me feel like I’m making a real difference in the world.”

3. Do you have any experience with educating children?

This question is asked to determine if you have experience working with a younger audience. If you do, the interviewer will want to know how your previous experiences can help you succeed in this role.

Example: “I worked as an after-school tutor for two years at my local elementary school. I taught students who were struggling with their english language skills and helped them develop confidence in speaking and writing. This experience has given me valuable insight into what it takes to be successful when teaching children.”

4. What is your philosophy when it comes to education?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you have a passion for teaching and learning. You can discuss what inspires you about education, how you approach new challenges in the classroom or how you help students develop their skills and knowledge.

Example: “I believe that education is one of the most important things we do as human beings. It’s our responsibility to teach each other, learn from each other and grow together. I love being able to share my knowledge with others and see them discover new things. In my last position, I had a student who was struggling with math. We worked on it together until he understood it, and by the end of the year, he was getting A’s.”

5. How would you handle a student that has trouble staying on task?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle challenging situations and the strategies you use to solve them. Use examples from your experience that show you have a plan for handling these types of issues and are able to work with students to find solutions.

Example: “I had a student once who would often get distracted during lessons. I started by asking him what was distracting him, and he told me it was his phone. We talked about why it’s important to stay focused on our lesson and set up some rules for when he could check his phone. He ended up being one of my best students after that.”

6. Tell me about a time where you had difficulty motivating one of your students, what did you do?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle challenges and develop strategies to overcome them. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide specific examples of how you helped your students improve their motivation or study habits.

Example: “I once had a student who was very motivated at the beginning of our lessons but would often lose focus during the middle of our sessions. I noticed that he would get distracted by his phone when we were reviewing vocabulary words, so I started using more visuals in my lessons to keep him engaged. This strategy worked well for us and allowed me to continue teaching effectively while also helping him learn new concepts.”

7. What are some of your strengths and weaknesses?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to be honest about your strengths and weaknesses. When answering this question, think of two or three things you’re good at and two or three things you need to improve on.

Example: “I’m very organized and detail-oriented, which helps me stay focused when teaching students. I also have experience with technology, so I feel comfortable using the online classroom software that 51Talk uses. My weakness is my accent. Although I speak English fluently, I sometimes mispronounce words because of my accent. I’ve been practicing speaking more clearly, though, and I hope to continue improving.”

8. Are you available during peak hours (9pm-12am)?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your availability and commitment level. If you are not available during these hours, it’s important to explain why in your answer.

Example: “I am available during peak hours, however I do have a full-time job that requires me to work from 5pm until 11pm. This means that I would only be able to teach one class per day if hired. However, I am willing to make up any missed classes on weekends or after my shift ends.”

9. Do you consider yourself an easy going person?

This question is often asked to determine if you can work well with others. Employers want to know that you’re a team player and will be able to get along with your coworkers. When answering this question, it’s important to show that you are friendly and willing to help others.

Example: “I consider myself an easy going person. I’m always looking for ways to make my coworkers’ days better. For example, when I see someone struggling with something, I offer to help them out. This helps me build relationships with my coworkers and makes the workplace more enjoyable.”

10. How long have you been working in the education field?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your background and experience. If you have been working in the education field for quite some time, it’s important to highlight any specific accomplishments or skills that make you an ideal candidate. If this is your first job in the education field, explain how you are passionate about helping students succeed.

Example: “I’ve worked as a teacher at my local high school for five years now. I love being able to help students develop their foreign language skills so they can go on to study abroad. In my last position, I was also responsible for creating lesson plans and grading assignments. This helped me become familiar with the online teaching methods used by 51Talk.”

11. Provide an example of a lesson plan that you created.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your teaching style and how you plan lessons. Use examples from previous jobs or include information on the lesson plans you create for your current job.

Example: “At my last job, I created a weekly lesson plan that included daily objectives, homework assignments and activities. I also included tips for parents on how they can help their children with language learning at home. This helped me stay organized and ensured that students were prepared for each class.”

12. What kind of internet connection do you have at home?

This question is a way for the interviewer to understand your technical skills and how you might handle working with students who have different internet connection speeds.

Example: “I have a fiber optic internet connection at home, which allows me to stream videos without any buffering or lag time. I also have a reliable wireless router that can support up to 10 devices connected at once. This means I can work with multiple students in my home office at one time.”

13. What is your biggest challenge when it comes to teaching english online?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you are aware of the challenges of teaching online and how you overcome them. Your answer should include an example of a challenge you faced, what you did about it and the result.

Example: “The biggest challenge when teaching english online is making sure students understand my accent. I have found that using visual aids like videos or images can help me get my point across more clearly. For example, if I am talking about colors, I will use pictures of objects in different colors so they can see what I mean.”

14. Do you have any previous teaching experience?

This question is a great way to learn about your potential employer’s expectations for the role. If you have teaching experience, it can be beneficial to share what you learned from that experience and how it will help you succeed in this position.

Example: “I’ve had several positions where I was responsible for educating others. In my last job as an assistant manager at a local restaurant, I trained new employees on proper food handling techniques and customer service skills. This helped me develop my communication and presentation skills, which are important when working with students.”

15. What makes you qualified to be an ESL teacher?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your background and qualifications. They want to know what makes you qualified to teach their students, so it’s important to highlight any relevant experience or education that shows you’re prepared for the job.

Example: “I have been teaching English as a second language for five years now, and I’ve worked with many different age groups and skill levels. I’m passionate about helping others learn new languages, and I feel like my skills make me an excellent candidate for this position.”

16. What age group do you prefer to work with?

This question is a way for the interviewer to understand your teaching style and preferences. It’s important to be honest about what age group you prefer, but also explain why you enjoy working with that age group.

Example: “I have worked with students of all ages, however I find that my favorite age group to work with are teenagers. They’re eager to learn and they’re always excited to practice their english skills. I love seeing them get more confident in speaking english as we go through our lessons.”

17. How do you think your skills as a teacher will translate over to online learning?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have experience teaching online and how it has helped develop your skills as a teacher.

Example: “I think my skills as a teacher will translate over to online learning because I am used to having one-on-one interactions with students, which is what online learning requires. In my previous position, I had a lot of success using video conferencing software to teach foreign language classes. This allowed me to interact with students in real time while also providing them with visual cues for pronunciation and grammar rules.”

18. Have you ever worked remotely before?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s experience with working remotely. If you are hiring for a remote position, it can be helpful to know if your potential employees have worked in this type of environment before and how they feel about it.

Example: “I’ve never worked remotely before, but I am excited to try it out. I think that having the freedom to work from home would be a great benefit to me as an employee because it would allow me to spend more time with my family while still getting work done.”

19. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s often asked to see if you’re planning on staying with the company for long-term. It can also be used to determine your career goals. When answering this question, think about what you want to accomplish in the next five years. Try to make sure that these goals align with the job description.

Example: “I hope to have my teaching certification by then. I would like to work at 51Talk until I get my certification, as I feel this school has given me so much already. After getting my certification, I’d love to teach abroad.”

20. Describe your personality.

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s personality and how they interact with others. It also helps employers determine if you’ll fit in well with their team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe your positive traits and what makes you unique.

Example: “I am an outgoing person who loves meeting new people. I’m always willing to help someone out or lend a hand when needed. I think my friendly demeanor makes me a great communicator and listener. I enjoy learning about other cultures and making friends from all over the world.”