17 Chinese Teacher Interview Questions and Answers

Whether you’re a native speaker of Mandarin Chinese or a fluent non-native speaker, you may be able to find a job teaching Chinese to students of all ages. But before you can start teaching, you’ll need to go through a job interview.

To prepare for a Chinese teaching job interview, you’ll need to brush up on your language skills and familiarize yourself with common interview questions. You should also be prepared to talk about your teaching experience, if you have any, and your approach to teaching Chinese.

In this guide, we’ll give you some tips on how to prepare for a Chinese teaching job interview, including what to expect and how to answer common interview questions.

Are you familiar with the Chinese language?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to gauge your knowledge of Chinese and how you plan to teach it. If you are not familiar with the language, be honest about this fact and explain why you feel you can still do an excellent job teaching it.

Example: “I am not fluent in Chinese, but I have studied Mandarin for several years now. I find that my students learn best when they’re able to understand what I’m saying, so I always speak clearly and slowly. I also use visual aids like flashcards and posters to help them remember new vocabulary words.”

What are some of the Chinese dialects you are familiar with?

The interviewer may ask this question to determine if you have experience teaching students who speak different dialects. If you are interviewing for a position in an area with many Chinese speakers, it can be beneficial to know the most common dialects and how to teach them. You can answer this question by listing the dialects you’re familiar with and describing your experiences teaching each one.

Example: “I am fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and Shanghainese. I grew up speaking Mandarin at home, so I learned that dialect first. In college, I took a course on Chinese dialects, which helped me learn Cantonese and Shanghainese. Now, I use these dialects when I’m teaching children or adults.”

How would you teach a student who is struggling with the Chinese language?

This question can help interviewers understand how you would handle a specific challenge that students may face in your classroom. Use examples from your experience to explain what you do when working with students who are struggling and provide details about the strategies you use to help them succeed.

Example: “I had a student once who was having trouble learning Chinese characters, so I created flashcards for him to practice on his own time. He could then bring the cards back to me during our next lesson where we reviewed them together. This helped him learn the characters more quickly because he was able to practice them outside of class.”

What is your teaching philosophy?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer your teaching style and how you plan lessons. Your answer should include a few key aspects of your philosophy, such as what you believe students need to learn in order to succeed and how you help them achieve those goals.

Example: “I think it’s important for students to have fun while learning new concepts. I also feel that they need to understand why certain things are important so they can apply their knowledge later on. In my previous position, I used games and activities to make learning more enjoyable for students. I would explain the importance of each lesson before we started so they could remember it better.”

Provide an example of a lesson you would create for a beginner level Chinese class.

Interviewers may ask this question to see how you plan your lessons and what strategies you use to engage students. In your answer, try to include the steps you would take when creating a lesson plan and explain why each step is important for engaging students in class.

Example: “I begin by researching different topics that are relevant to my students’ lives. For example, if I am teaching a beginner Chinese class at an elementary school, I might choose to teach them about their favorite toys or games. This helps me create lessons that are more interesting and relatable to students. Next, I write out all of the vocabulary words I will be teaching during the lesson. Then, I practice pronouncing the words myself so I can model correct pronunciation for my students.”

If a student asked you a question about Chinese culture, how would you respond?

This question can help interviewers understand how you would handle a situation that may arise in the classroom. It also helps them determine if you have enough knowledge of Chinese culture to teach it effectively. In your answer, try to show that you are willing to learn more about Chinese culture and share what you already know with students.

Example: “I think it’s important for students to learn about their own cultures as well as those of others. I would first ask the student why they were asking me this question so I could better understand their perspective. Then, I would tell them that I am not an expert on Chinese culture but that I would be happy to find resources for them to learn more.”

What would you do if a student was making fun of another student for mispronouncing a word in Chinese?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle conflict in the classroom. It’s important to show that you’re willing to step in when students are being disrespectful or unkind to one another. In your answer, try to explain what steps you would take to resolve the situation and ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Example: “I’ve had this experience before as a Chinese teacher, and I always make sure to address it immediately so it doesn’t escalate into something more serious. If I notice a student making fun of another student for mispronouncing a word, I’ll ask them to come up to my desk after class. I’ll let them know that their behavior is unacceptable and remind them that we all make mistakes. Then, I’ll give them an assignment to write a letter of apology to the student they were teasing.”

How well do you know the Chinese writing system?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your knowledge of the Chinese writing system and how you plan to teach it. If you are applying for a teaching position, it is likely that you have experience teaching students about the Chinese writing system. In your answer, try to show that you understand the basics of the Chinese writing system and can explain them to others.

Example: “I am fluent in both Mandarin and Cantonese, so I know the Chinese writing system quite well. When I was studying Mandarin, my teacher taught us all the basic strokes and characters. We practiced writing these characters over and over again until we could write them without looking at the paper. This helped me learn the system quickly.”

Do you have any experience teaching adults?

This question can help interviewers understand your experience level and how you might adapt to teaching students of different ages. If you have previous experience, explain what made it successful or unsuccessful. If you don’t have any experience, consider discussing the challenges you’ve faced in teaching younger students.

Example: “I have taught adults before, but I prefer working with children because they’re more eager to learn. However, I find that my lessons are usually more effective when I tailor them for both age groups. For example, if I’m teaching a lesson on animals, I’ll use examples from both adult and child-friendly sources like movies and books. This helps me keep their attention while also providing information they can relate to.”

When teaching a group, how do you manage students who are easily distracted?

Teachers often have to manage students who are easily distracted. This question helps the interviewer determine how you handle this situation and whether your strategies are effective. In your answer, explain what you do when a student is distracting others in class.

Example: “I find that one of the best ways to keep students focused on the lesson is by using visuals. I use PowerPoint or other presentation software to display images or videos that help me teach the material. When I see a student getting distracted, I ask them to raise their hand so I can address it before it becomes disruptive for the rest of the class. If they’re not paying attention because they don’t understand something, I’ll stop my lecture and give them an opportunity to ask questions.”

We want to improve our outreach to local Chinese communities. How would you go about doing that?

This question is an opportunity to show your creativity and problem-solving skills. You can use examples from previous experiences or explain how you would go about doing outreach in a new community.

Example: “I have experience working with local Chinese communities through my work as a Chinese teacher at a private school. I started a Mandarin club where we met once a week after school for two hours. We learned basic phrases, played games and did crafts together. The students really enjoyed the club, and many of them still keep in touch with each other. I think this kind of outreach could be beneficial to your school because it gives students a chance to practice their language skills while also making friends.”

Describe your experience teaching children.

This question can help interviewers understand your experience with teaching children and how you might apply that experience to their school. If you have previous experience teaching Chinese, describe the age group you taught and what methods you used to engage students in learning. If you do not have direct experience teaching Chinese, consider describing a similar experience teaching another language or subject.

Example: “I’ve worked as a Spanish teacher for five years at an elementary school. I love working with kids because they’re so eager to learn new things. In my current position, I teach Spanish to third-graders who are just starting to learn the language. I use games and songs to make lessons more fun and memorable for them.”

What makes you the best candidate for this teaching position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and why you are the best person for the job. Before your interview, make a list of all your strengths that relate to teaching Chinese. Think about what makes you unique as a teacher and how you can use these skills in this position.

Example: “I am passionate about learning languages, which is why I became a language teacher. In my last position, I was able to help students overcome their fears of speaking Mandarin. I also have experience working with children who speak English as a second language, so I know how to teach them new concepts in a way they understand.”

Which age groups do you prefer to teach?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have experience teaching students of different ages. If you do, share your reasoning behind this preference and how it has helped you in your career as a teacher.

Example: “I prefer to teach elementary school students because I find them to be more eager to learn than older students. They are also more open to new ideas and concepts, which makes my job easier. However, I enjoy working with all age groups because each group presents its own unique challenges that I get to overcome through my teaching methods.”

What do you think is the most important skill for a Chinese teacher to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of expertise in teaching Chinese. You can answer this question by describing a skill you feel is important for a teacher to have and how it helps students learn.

Example: “I think one of the most important skills for a Chinese teacher to have is patience. Teaching Chinese requires a lot of repetition, so I find that my patience with students is essential when they’re learning new vocabulary or grammar rules. Patience also allows me to better understand what challenges my students are having and provide them with more personalized instruction.”

How often do you update your lesson plans?

Teachers must be able to keep up with the latest teaching methods and techniques. This question helps interviewers understand how you adapt your lessons to meet students’ needs. In your answer, explain what steps you take to ensure you’re using current teaching practices in the classroom.

Example: “I am always looking for new ways to engage my students and make learning fun. I attend professional development workshops throughout the year where I learn about different teaching strategies. I also subscribe to several education newsletters that provide tips on improving student engagement and understanding. I use these resources to help me create more effective lesson plans.”

There is a holiday in China that you are not familiar with. How do you handle this situation in class?

Interviewers may ask this question to see how you handle unfamiliar situations in the classroom. They want to know that you can adapt and find ways to make learning fun for students. In your answer, explain a time when you encountered an unfamiliar holiday or event and what you did to help students understand it.

Example: “I once taught at a school where there was a festival I had never heard of before. When I asked my students about it, they told me it was a celebration of their ancestors. We spent the week leading up to the festival learning more about Chinese culture and traditions. On the day of the festival, we made traditional costumes and performed a dance as a class.”