Language in Use 233
Having to adjust what we say to a situation where the main features are determined
by others is a very common experience for everyone. The aim of this unit
is two-fold: to show how this basic aspect of using language applies to the
interview situation, and in so doing to give pupils the opportunity to appreciate
the difficulties of interview for themselves.
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[1] This session should be used to prepare sketches of interviews. M embers of the class form a small interviewing body and others become applicants. In discussion, the class should work out a detailed brief for both, and those who are not involved in doing the interviews should write up the brief for the interviewing body and provide them with the details of each applicant. If conditions allow, especially with Ruth or 7th years, two classes may be used, one doing the interviewing, the other supplying the candidates.
[2] In this session, the interviews should be conducted in conditions
as close as possible to a real interview situation. The rest of the class should
observe closely and consider such questions as:
(a) the attitude of applicants to the interviewers
(b) the way they answer the questions put
(c) how willingly they enlarge upon a topic
(d) how open the interviewers' questions are
(e) what use they make of written information about the applicants what either
the interviewers or the applicants leave out.
[3] In this session, the interviewing panel should announce the name of the successful candidate. It should then discuss its decision with the class and listen to the comments of the applicants on how they felt they had done. Discussion should focus on the language of the candidates, including such features as hesitations and pauses before and during answers to questions, handling of awkward questions, willingness to say 'I don't know', length and fluency of answers, ease of response or otherwise to the situation. To extend the work of the unit, the panel might be briefed to select two of the candidates for re-interview to decide a tie.
The work of this unit can be related to that of K4.