Melissa TaylorCollege of Continuing Education

Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS

Lesson Plan: Mock University Entrance Interviews

How can we help our students improve their speaking skills?

Mock university entrance interviews for EAP speaking classes

Create Mock Interviews

General informationStudents prepare for and participate in

university entrance mock interviews

Designed for EAP students with IELTS scores of 5.5 – 6.5.

Role of volunteer interviewers

Resources: Study Skills for Independent Learning (2010) and experience working with Immigration, Settlement and Integration Services (ISIS)

Introduction to interviewing Students share their own experiences

with interviews

Discuss different types of interviews

The Canadian interview process

Interviewing vocabulary

Canadian resumesLook at international and Canadian

samples

Online samples http://engandcompscicoop.dal.ca/co-op_students.php?sub=cs/cv_guide

University entrance resumes and cover letters from various fields

https://dal.optimalresume.ca/modules/resume/showSamples.php?section=loadSamples

Students prepare resumes

professional looking culturally appropriate

1. 1st draft peer feedback from classmates2. 2nd draft instructor feedback 3. Final draft send to volunteer interviewer

Name / Address / Phone / Email

Objective: Seeking admission into the Pharmacy program at Dalhousie University

Summary: Excellent communication skills Willing to do extra work to gain valuable experience Computer proficiency: Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Power point and Excel)

Education or Training Programs Completed English for Academic Purposes(EAP), College of Continuing Education,

Dalhousie University, Halifax , Level2 94.3% 2011

IELTS(International English Language Test), Moncton, NB, Canada 2011

Standard First Aid AID and CPR, Halifax, Canada 2010

Bachelor of Industrial Management, Hekmat University, Mashhad, Iran 2006-2011

Work and Volunteer Work History Crew Trainer, McDonalds, Halifax, Canada 2011 Volunteer, Canadian Red Cross, Halifax, Canada

2011 Book keeper(Trainee), Payam Noor Organization, Mashhad, Iran 2008

Award Received Employee of the month(McDonalds), Halifax, Canada 2010 References Available upon request

Interview questions

What questions are typically asked in Canadian universities?

Examples of illegal interview questions

Are you married?What is your religion?How old are you?

Preparation for the mock interviews

Students prepare responses to the questions they may be asked

Role play interviews with classmates, time permitting

The interview

The roles of the interviewer & instructor

Sample of the Interview QuestionsGeneral questions:Tell me about yourself?

Motivation questions: Why would you like to study at Dalhousie?

Subject-related questions: Why do you want to get a degree in marine biology?

Topical / situational questionsDescribe some of the local marine management issues, such as

the effects of global warming on plankton?

Closing Is there anything you would like to say to help us to determine

your eligibility for the program?

Video clip of a mock interview

Video clip #2

Marking CriteriaInterview Preparation______ / 10 Resume ______ / 5 Cover Letter ______ / 5 Appropriate and professional presentation Interview Content______ / 10 Demonstrates preparation, knowledge of the program ______ / 10 Demonstrates research and knowledge of the field ______ / 10 Thoughtful and appropriate responses to the

questions  Language Skills during the Interview: ______ / 10 Listening Comprehension ______ / 10 Pronunciation ______ / 10 Fluency______ / 10 Vocabulary Accuracy ______ / 10 Grammar Accuracy

EvaluationStudents complete a self reflectionStudents get a copy of their recorded

interview

Students receive feedback from the interviewer and the instructor

Interviewer observationsLanguage Skills

Did the student’s pronunciation, grammar or vocabulary errors impede communication? 

Interviewing Skills Was the student well prepared for the interview?

Written interviewer observationsLeon showed a lot of enthusiasm for the subject matter. Smiled a lot. When he didn't understand a question he asked for clarification. I was able to understand just about everything he said.

Subject verb agreement was a challenge at times. He used past tense to talk about current things. I liked the example he gave about being a volunteer tutor. I also liked the fact that he had questions at the end, but in a real setting it would be good to caution him from asking about financial issues and scholarships during an interview…

Thank you lettersResearch sample thank you lettershttps://dal.optimalresume.ca/modules/letter/showSamples.php?section=loadSampl

Students write thank you letters to the interviewers

Challenges

Finding professional interviewers who are available

The time required to write subject–related questions for each student

15 hours of class time

Goals outweigh the challengesSpeaking practice Students become

familiar with the Canadian interview process

Students get first-hand experience participating in a professional interview

Resume writing Fun, energizing activity

Study Skills for Independent Learning. (2010). Global assessment certificate. ACT Education Solutions Ltd. Sydney, Australia.

Thanks to Negar, Abdul, Marwa, Areej, Amal, Denise, Kim, Mohammad, Wenfeng, Sultan and Waef for agreeing to have their pictures in this ppt.

References: