Unit 5 Question types

Activity 1: Types of questions

Read.

There are two main types of questions: basic and probing. Basic questions ask for information on a new topic while probing questions ask you to expand and elaborate on the same topic.

Basic questions

1. What is your name?
2. Why did you apply for this post?
3. What are your strengths?
4. appropriacy
5. range of vocabulary
6. range of grammar

Probing questions

1. Can you tell me more about that?
2. Could you elaborate?

Activity 2: Function of questions

Match the following questions to one of these functions.

Functions (1) making the interviewee feel relaxed, (2) creating pressure, (3) confirming information, (4) asking for further details, and (5) giving opportunity to ask questions.

1. Was this place easy to find?
2. Are your ready?
3. Could I check your name?
4. Tell me a little about yourself?
5. What makes you a suitable candidate?
6. Tell me a little more about that last point?
7. You have told me about your strengths. What is your weak point? What are you not good at?
8. Everyone says that. Tell me about a weakness that affects your work.
9. Do you any questions to ask me?

Activity 3: Dealing with difficult questions

Many interviewers do not ask difficult questions. However, you need to be ready to cope with difficult questions. When asked something challenging, you can use a filler. A filler is a comment that you can say while you are thinking how to answer the question. It is necessary to memorize fillers so you can use them automatically. Fillers can help you gain thinking time and show fluency even when you cannot answer a difficult question.

Read and remember these fillers.

What's the difference between a frog and a toad?

• Oh, that is an interesting question. I have never actually thought about that....I believe [your answer].
• Oh. let me think about that question. Ah, yes. I believe [your answer].
• Oh, that is a difficult question. I have no idea about this topic. I believe [your answer].

"Oh" is used to show surprise. The next expression gives you time to think of a response. Practice at least one of these so that you can avoid "dead air" while thinking of an answer.

Watch and listen to this short video in which an interviewee demonstrates how to answer questions even when she does not have an answer.

Activity 4: Questions posed at interview for lab

Work in pairs or small groups. Practice asking and answering these questions.

1. Tell me something about yourself?
2. What are you good at?
3. What are you not so good at?
4. How's your GPA?
5. Which courses in this university do you enjoy?
6. Which courses did you find difficult?
7. Have you dropped any courses? If so, which and why?
8. Do you prefer to work alone or in a team?
9. Why did you choose this lab?
10. Many students have applied to this lab. Why should I select you?
11. Do you have any questions for me?

If you want to prepare well for an interview, try to make audio and/or video recordings of your performance.

Activity 5: Audio recording

Create an audio recording of your answers to each of the questions below.

1. Could you take about one minute to tell me about yourself?
2. What are your strengths?
3. What are your weaknesses?
4. Why do you apply for this?
5. What's your ideal company?
6. What attracted you to our company?
7. Why should we recruit you?
8. What do you hope to be doing in 10 years?
9. Which university courses did you excel at?
10. What did you like least about university life?
11. What makes you a better candidate than the other applicants?
12. Do you have any questions for us?

If that was easy, try answering "Tell me a little more about that?" after each question from question 2 through to question 11.