English Career Resources

Key Stage 4: Interviews

Teacher instructions

Students should be placed in mixed sex, mixed ability groups (even within a set), preferably not friendship groups (as many students will bow to the pressure of their peers in a friendship context and this task is meant to allow them to explore their ideas comfortably). Groups of three or four are best depending upon class size and ability levels. If you think students will choose not to take part then use threes; if you believe they will engage then groups of four often allows a better discussion to take place. You will have to judge it depending on your class and context.

• Give out Student Sheet 1 (PDF) and Student Sheet 2 (PDF). Read through with students and discuss what the jobs might entail – what we know or don't know from the brevity of the advertisements.
  
  
• Students fill in the grids on Student Sheet 1. They must decide jobs they could do and jobs they could not take on. Let students use their own knowledge, but also guide in terms of qualifications they might need to do the job (nursing) or age limit for 'mature' workers or bar staff. Once they have done that they must decide on the job they would choose if they had to and the job they would least like to do and give reasons. The teacher should then lead a short discussion on their answers and reasons, guiding responses as necessary.
  
  
• Give out Student Sheet 3 (PDF). Students should decide if they think the interview questions are good or bad to find out information about the interviewees. They should then aim to make up three questions that they'd like to ask. Teacher should lead short feedback session to ascertain the types of questions they would ask and decide if they are appropriate.
  
  
• Remaining in groups of 3 or 4, give the students Student Sheet 4 (PDF). Each group will have to staff their own student council. They need to decide how they will decide that someone is right for a job and what questions they will ask at interview. These should be written and group members should think widely about the range of questions they could be asked at interview, as they will be answering another group's questions.
  
  
• At this point you could do written applications and CVs for the posts if you wish (which could then tie in to your work experience letters), but this scheme is purely Speaking and Listening so there are not support materials for that.
  
  
• Give students Student Sheet 5 (PDF) and get groups to write their 3 questions on the sheet.
  
  
• In front of whole class (for teacher assessment) each group will interview another member of the group (the teacher must ensure here that all students get to be an interviewer and interviewee). Each interviewer should fill in Student Sheet 5 and give feedback as to whether they would give the interviewee the job and why.
  
  
• Once teacher has graded the Speaking and Listening tasks you can get students to decide who they would give the job to (out of all interviewees) and why. If you wish you can use Student Sheet 6 (PDF) to record their thoughts.