Interview Skills for Primary Students in Hong Kong

1. Welcome P.6 students. I hope this helps you with your interviews. Please remember I will be in the English Room every Friday at lunch time if you need any help. From Miss Sue P-6 Interview Skills Designed for Hong Kong primary children Powerpoint by Tom Grundy

2. Hi P.6 students, Miss Sue here. I have put this excellent resource on the LCK website to help you practise your interview skills. Remember if you want more practise, come see me in the English Room on Fridays at lunchtime, or make a time with me for after school.

3. Listen and always speak English. ‘I don’t know’ OR ‘Sorry, I don’t understand’ OR ‘Please can you repeat the question’

4. Dress smartly and sit up.

5. Don’t be shy! Be confident! I AM BRILLIANT! I AM A LION! YOU are lions!

6. Be polite. Say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’.

7. Speak slowly and clearly… And don’t be scared! I’M SO SCARED!

8. Use eye contact I love you Valerie I love me too

9. Why? What? How many? Where? When? Which? Who? Remember the question words!

10. Relax and use expressions, body language and intonation to show how you feel.

11. Listen carefully for the tense. Should I answer in the past, present or future tense? What would you like to be when you are older? What did you do for your birthday this year? What are you wearing? past tense present tense future tense

12. Try to give 2-3 complete sentences for each question. Make your answers longer. For example: What countries have you been to? I have not been to any. I have not been to any, but would like to visit Japan. I have not been to any, but would like to visitJapan because Tokyo would be very exciting!

13. The top 6 subjects… • Top 6 subjects to think about: • Yourself. • Why you want to go to this secondary school. • Interests and hobbies • School and studies. • Family and friends. • The future. • Why not write down some paragraphs about these subjects? Make sure you have a lot to say about these important things!

14. A wise word of advice from Confucius… “It is better to give four sentences with a few mistakes than one sentence with perfect grammar” Don’t worry too much about perfect grammar!

15. Important common questions

16. Why do you want to come to this school? Everyone will be asked this question. Can you think of some good answers? “My friends and my sister come here and I know it is a good school.” “It’s near my home” “My mom and dad want me to come here.” “I don’t know.” “I went to the website and the Open Day and know it is a great school.” “I like the library and computer room and I hear the teachers are very kind.” It has a good reputation and I would be an excellent student.

17. Do you have any questions for us? Can you think of some good answers? “What kind of extra-curricular activities are there at this school?” Do we get lots of homework? “When is home-time?” “No” “Can I learn any musical instruments at your school? “Do you have a Sports Day?” Don’t ask any questions if they have already been answered!

18. Why? Where? When? Who? Use the question words to make answers longer… What do you do on Sundays? with… because… at/in/on… at/on/every… I play basketball in the park with my friends every Sunday, because it keeps me healthy!

19. Let’s make these answers longer… What do you like to eat? not good  Dim sum. better! I like to eat dim sum, it is tasty. My favourite food is dim sum, I like to eat it every Sunday with my family. I also like ice-cream! great! 

20. Let’s make these answers longer… Why should we learn English? not good  It is useful. better! It is useful because we can speak to more people. Can you write a great answer at home? Bring it in to the English Room to show me your great answer. great! 

21. Let’s make these answers longer… What do you do at the weekend? not good  Swimming. better! Try and make a better answer. Try and make a great answer. great! 

22. Let’s make these answers longer… Do you play any musical instruments? not good  No. better! Can you write a better answer? Can you write a GREAT answer? great! 

23. When is yourbirthday? My birthday is on February 29th. This year I had a birthday party at a restaurant and last year I got a new computer! February 29th

24. Describe some of your likes and dislikes. I enjoy reading the newspaper and playing with my friends in Ma On Shan park. I don’t like junk food as it is unhealthy! Newspapers and burgers.

25. Example questions… Look at the following questions… Can you give GREAT answers to these questions… PRACTISE!!! About Yourself - Introduce yourself ­ What is your name? ­ Which school do you come from? ­ Where is it? ­ Where do you live? ­ What hobbies do you have? - Describe some of your likes and dislikes. ­ What does your father / mother / brother do? ­ Do you do any housework at home? ­ Do you have any siblings / brothers or sisters? ­ What do you like to eat? ­ When is your birthday? - When do you get up / go to bed? - Would you be scared if you had to perform on the stage? - What do you want to be in the future? - Have your read Pride and Prejudice / Harry Potter? - What is the book about? - What sports do you like to play? - What other countries have you visited? - Which parks have you been to? What did you do there?

26. Example questions… • About School and Study • What is your favourite subject / Which subject do you like best? Why? (e.g. Music) • Do you know how to play the piano? • What kind of music do you like? • Why do you like music? • Which song do you like best? • Who is your favourite teacher in school? / Tell me something about your teacher. • How do you get to school? • Have you taken part in any competition / English activities? Have you got any prizes in the competition? (e.g. Speech Festival / Penmanship Competition / Writing Competition / Basketball / Football Match…) • What do you do in your English / P.E. / music… lesson? • Which subject are you good at? • What kind of extra-curricular activities do you participate in / take part in? • About Spare Time Activities • What do you like to do in the summer? • Do you play any musical instruments? • Tell me about your favourite activity. • Do you play computer games? MSN? How often do you play computer games? • Have you been to Ocean Park / Disneyland? • Do you have a computer at home? How often do you use it? What do you use it for? • Which books do you like to read? Look at the following questions… Can you give GREAT answers to these questions?

27. Example questions… Look at the following questions… Practise these with your friends and family OR come to the English Room on Fridays and Miss Sue will help you. About Family - Talk about your family. - What does your father / mother look like? - What is your father / mother good at? - Why does your mother like your father? - What does your father / mother do in his / her free time? - Do your parents help you with your homework? - What do you think about your father / mother? About Friends - Tell me about your friends. - Who is your best friend? About the Secondary School - Why do you want to study in our school? - How did you come here? - Who came here with you today? - Why do you choose an EMI school? Is this your parents’ will or yours? - What do you know about our school?

28. Good Luck!