Role Play for ESL Job Interviews

• Awareness of areas of weakness in terms of personal questions
• Practice for thinking quickly for unexpected questions
• Awareness of personal deportment and appearance

While role playing can be very fun, if it is treated only as a game many of the advantages are lost. However, YourDictionary has compiled a list of tips for more effective role play for ESL job interviews.

Setting the Stage

Creating an environment that is as close to where the interview is held will create a feeling of verisimilitude. This doesn't mean redecorating the house, but is more concerned with the placement of furniture and the positioning of the interviewer and interviewee.

A desk is usually between the two individuals, but there are also interview situations where a single person is being interviewed by a panel. The placement of a desk creates a hierarchical boundary, a separation of power that can be quite intimidating if it's being experienced for the first time.

Costuming can also be a part of the role play experience, though this is more important for the interviewee than the players asking the questions. The clothing for the interview should be professional in appearance. If possible, the subject should wear the actual clothing he or she plans to wear to the real interview. The worst situation would be for someone to "save" the outfit they are planning to wear until the actual interview and then find out it is too tight or in some other way distracting from the best interview performance.

Diving Into Role Play for ESL Job Interviews

Once the stage is set, a "technical rehearsal" can be an effective way to begin the interview. In this situation, any mistakes be immediately addressed and corrected. For example, the subject can back up and try a greeting until the correct pronunciation and phrasing come as second nature.

A list of questions likely to be asked should be created beforehand by all the people involved in the role play experience. In addition, the interviewer character should come up with one or two "secret" questions to surprise the interview subject. In the technical rehearsal, any hesitation, mispronunciation, stuttering or just plain wrong answers should be corrected, rephrased, and tried again.

At the end of the tech rehearsal, the method for closing the interview – including the subject coming up with at least one pertinent question for the potential employer – should also be rehearsed. A graceful parting statement of intent can be a very powerful way to leave a lasting impression.

Once this has been completed, the "dress rehearsal" can be started. This is when all parties diving into their roles completely, no stopping, start to finish. If mistakes occur, they should be treated in the same way they would be if they occurred in the actual interview – that is, corrected or smoothed over where possible.

It may be frustrating, especially at first, to not have the opportunity to "do it over." In reality, making mistakes in the ESL role play will help prepare the candidate even more effectively. No interview goes perfectly; practicing making mistakes and moving past them will be a good exercise.

There is no need to do only one dress rehearsal. The process could be repeated as many times as needed. Especially in the case of ESL work, the more the words and phrases are built into the muscle memory of the tongue and lips the more clear the candidate's responses will be.

The efficacy of a good role playing partner in preparation for an ESL interview is probably unmatched by any studying or rote memorization. Best of all, it's a fun and entertaining way to relieve some of the pressure that accompanies ESL job interviews.

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