Online interview between a language assistant and teachers
You are a future language assistant or a teacher? Discover the keys to a successful online interview with a concrete example. The Bildungszentrum Zürichsee (BZZ) in Horgen was looking for a French-speaking language assistant for the next school year. An online interview was organized with a candidate. Follow the process of this successful meeting.
Movetia handles the placement process between interested foreign language assistants and Swiss schools. The BZZ received an application and decided to meet virtually with a promising candidate from Luxembourg, Alix Andries. The distance between the candidate for a language assistant position and the two professional representatives of the school on the shores of Lake Zurich was approximately 450 kilometers.
Support in language teaching
The school representatives presented their establishment and the needs of their vocational education and training students. The language assistant would teach in three different streams: business training, IT and mediamatics, with or without vocational baccalaureate. Depending on the educational level, VET students/apprentices must reach level B1 or B2 in French.
The teachers explained that vocational education and training occupies an important place in Switzerland. The French department consists of seven teachers. Alix's mission would be to work with small groups of five to seven students, with an emphasis on oral expression. “The great thing is that you are free to do whatever you want!” said Mrs Hagenbuch, the head of the department.
Vocational schools are increasingly focusing on language assistants
Alix had already done her homework before the interview, particularly on the Swiss system of professional training. She appreciated that VET students/apprentices have a concrete professional objective and know where they want to take their career. That is why she asked Movetia to be placed in a vocational school. She submitted her application online just a few days ago and was pleasantly surprised at how quickly a language assistantship post opportunity materialized.
She nodded in approval when the two teachers mentionned, in passing, the beautiful location right on the shores of Lake Zurich, as well as the school branch on the other side of the lake, which the teachers reach by boat.
The guide from Movetia helps
During an interview with a candidate proposed by Movetia, it is important that all the essential points of a commitment are discussed, as is customary during a job interview: start and duration of work, number of lessons, salary, skills and accommodation. For future assistants of foreign origin, it is also important to discuss the necessary reserve of money before the first salary is paid to meet the cost of living in Switzerland. Compulsory health insurance must also be mentioned, as must the introductory seminar organized by Movetia. All these points are part of a guide developed by Movetia.
Asking questions and aligning expectations
Alix had already traveled a lot and knew what she wanted. For her, a language assistance position is an important part of her training, which is not yet quite completed. For her master's degree in French as a Foreign Language at the University of Grenoble, she still had to write a master's thesis. She hoped that her position at the school will help her find an interesting topic.
“Can I also organize debates?” she asked. It's a very appropriate idea, said the two teachers. Groups of pupils who confront each other with different arguments encourages commitment and the desire to assert themselves orally.
As a Luxembourger teaching in a multilingual country like Switzerland, Andries already had a topic in mind for a comparison between the two countries. Moreover, her country of origin is little known to students, which is an additional attraction of the “unknown”.
Clarifying the next steps
After all their questions answered, both parties agreed on the next steps: time to reflect, how to communicate the respective decisions and an initial formal agreement. This would allow time to prepare the contract or final decision.
Preparation for your stay in Switzerland
Movetia helps language assistants at every stage, from making contact to starting work, in two ways: Firstly, with a “country guide” for Switzerland, which includes advice on finding accommodation, and with the organization of an introductory seminar in August, in which experienced language assistants and language teachers also participate.
