The training is lengthy and you have to teach an unpaid trial class with real students and no interview feedback.
The interviewer and trainers for the 1v1 and 1v4 workshops and first demo were great. Helpful, and friendly. However, the whole process took 3 hours of my time, including a 25 minute demo which they said they would pay me for but they ignored emails requesting payment after I was not hired. I also got cut off after the 1v1 training because the class closed automatically, so the coach only gave like 30 secs of tips but said I was excellent.
They 1v1 trainer told me that my 1 hour trial class practice was excellent and had no substantial criticism for me to improve on teaching.
The recording was reviewed by the Chinese staff and I was told it was outstanding. I guess maybe they just send these generic messages to everyone though...
I then did my trial class and was told that I "wasn't the right fit" for the company, another generic response. Trial class: Well, my students were not well behaved (it should have been taken into consideration) but I'm not even sure if that was even a contributing factor since I had ZERO feedback. One of them ate the entire time, stuffing their face and shouting over me with food in their mouth, and weirdly kept shouting "I'm a girl" for no reason, and I had to mute the second student because of their VERY strict no noise policy. I had zero tech support for the eating or the noise issues that I reported, so I kindly let the student off mute to give her a turn and then muted her again each time (which is normal practice for every other company that extends compassion to students). She wasn't disturbing anyone and the noise had stopped but that is likely why I failed. What a horribly unfriendly policy to mute a student for the entire 25 min class and tech support ignores requests to give permission for the mic. As if there isn't noise in brick and mortar schools.
No other company makes teachers do an unpaid demo with real fee paying students. I have been offered a position by every other company that I have interviewed with in the last three years and have had to reject many offers. But I'm not good enough for Magic Ears- who knows why? If a teacher invests time in your two week, 4 stage interview process the least you can do is give them specific feedback so they might have a chance to improve. No one in their right mind would apply again in 3 months and waste their time! And if a teacher is expected to be %100 perfect and behave like a carbon copy barbie doll in the trial class when they are already nervous and using a new platform then I don't want to work for you. Dodged a bullet.
Very easy, they make it so you will pass. Put in the work and you will! Practice with the material before hand, and be energetic, also be ready to use the ESL methods you may have learned
The interview is easy to pass. You can record a demo or schedule a live interview. Passion is very important.
The trial demo needs some preparation. Overall it is nice.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Why do you choose Magic Ears?
Do you have passion to teach?
I applied online. The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at Magic Ears (Cape Town) in Jan 2021
Interview
You have to create a demo lesson for two phonemes, then a introduction video about yourself, have a group interview and then record a demo lesson using their platform. It is a long process but fairly basic to the industry.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What previous experience have you had and can you handle a classroom of 4 young learners.