My Experience Attending the Interview for Foundation in TESL UiTM

I have never shared my experience attending any interviews post-SPM (i.e. JPA, IPG and this Foundation in TESL UiTM) mainly because I was busy being a hermit back then. I cut my online presence 100% until I was about to further my studies that June. Additionally, I was traumatized after I was involved in an accident. So, there's that.


Anyway, I'm finally here and ready to share my experience attending the interview for the Foundation in TESL UiTM after a few of my acquaintances requested me to do so. Again, I like to remind you that this may not be relevant anymore as this was almost a decade ago. Having said that, I have done some research and it seems like UiTM barely does any changes as a lot of people had similar experiences like me.

Interview
Photo by Hunters Race on Unsplash

Tip: Come early, dress for the day (do not overdress or underdress!) and make sure you have your documents ready! First impression matters, okay? :)

I went for my Foundation in TESL UiTM interview at UiTM Sekysen 17. Once I reached there, I went to check my group straight. Didn't remember exactly what my group was but I had my writing test first, followed by an interview. Yes, you read it right. There is a writing test and an actual interview before you are selected to enrol in the program.

Tip: Make sure you keep your brain active and read a lot of English materials during your post-SPM break so that you can be fully prepared for the interview.


Photo by Helloquence on Unsplash

The writing test took about an hour. The test was divided into two sections. The first section was the reading comprehension and the second section was the essay. If I remember correctly, there were 15 comprehension questions. The questions were not that hard but the material was very dry and boring. Additionally, they used some bombastic words that I had never seen before. Those words probably can be found in Reader's Digest. lol. So, there's that. As for the essay, you'll be given a topic that you need to write about. Mine was about the effects of Facebook or something along those lines, I think.

I had about an hour break before my interview session. Just nice to have something light. Anyway, I was the sixth person in my group to go for the interview. I was feeling okay until my turn. My hands were shaking so much that I laughed when my name was called. lol!

Tip: Make small talk with other candidates to lessen your nervousness while waiting for your turn. Or, if you rather have another round of practice, do it! Whatever that rows your boat, okay? :)

The interview was a panel interview. In my case, I had 2 interviewers asking me the questions. The questions were quite general though some of them were personalized as well. I guess, they just wanted to gauge my interest in the program and to see if I'm the right fit for the program.

Tip: Make sure your voice can be heard as the distance between you and your interviewers can be quite far. Do not shout but then do not whisper too. lol.


Interview

Here are some of the questions that were asked of me. Again, I like to remind you that some of the questions that were asked were based on my previous responses.

1. Please introduce yourself.

2. What is/are your hobby/hobbies?

3. What have you been doing after the SPM until now?

4. Why are you applying for the Foundation in TESL?

5. Is this program your first choice?

6. Why won't you apply for other foundation programs? <--- They meant science programs because I was a science student.

7. Don't you think you're wasting your talent and your SPM result by applying to this program? <--- They thought I was overqualified because I was a science student and had a decent SPM result.

8. What are other programs/scholarships that you have been applying to besides this one?

9. Why are you applying for totally different programs for JPA and IPG? <--- I applied for the tourism management program for JPA, and Pendidikan Khas for IPG.

10. Which one would you choose if you got the offers from JPA, IPG, Matriculation, and UiTM and why?

11. Do you like teaching?

12. Do you think you have what it takes to be a good teacher?

13. Do you have any questions for us?

Panel interview

My panel interview took about 30-45 minutes if I remembered it correctly. The interviewers were very nice to me. They tried to make me comfortable by starting the interview with, "You don't have to be nervous, okay? We are here just to know you. Don't feel the need to be too formal, okay?"


I personally think I did okay considering that I was not fully prepared for the interview. I obviously stumbled and made mistakes here and there during the interview because I hadn't talked in English for months before the interview but it is what it is right.

&

Alhamdulillah, I actually got accepted into the program (it was one of my lifelong dreams!) but I decided to turn it down as I already said yes to the offer from JPA (it was another dream of mine too).

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30 Comments

  1. i always wonder why you dont go for TESL program coz you have a great proficiency of it. Rupanya dapat just tak proceed. waaa baru tahu !!! hebat lah Farah.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mana ada great proficiency, biasa biasa je tapi itulah. Some of people actually wondered the same thing too. "Kenapa tak ambil TESL?" considering that I love English so much and I only put TESL program for my UPU choices. lol.

      My mindset back then was a little bit naive that's why I didn't proceed with TESL and accepted JPA offer. Hahaha.

      Delete
  2. jadi ini semacam scholarship kak?

    ReplyDelete
  3. One of the scariest question I got was: "Based on your background just now, I think you're more suited for English literature. Why do you want TESL instead?" Hahahh The interviewer was genuinely curious, she didn't mean anything bad by asking that. But I was like "Betul jugak ye". HAHAHA But I just told her I'm interested to join because I was hoping to be an educator one day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's kinda similar to me. The interviewers were genuinely curious on my choice of applying for TESL. As far as they concern, I could always apply to science-based programs, namely medicine or dentistry because my result was good enough.

      But then, I have always loved English and I have no interest in science-based programs. So, there's that.

      Delete
  4. One of the courses that I was interested in back then was TESL but I end up choosing other course instead.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What course did you chose? I chose a totally different course too ^^

      Delete
  5. nampak menarik! haa adik2 yg plan nk buat / amik course ni... ni ahkak farah kite dah share pengalaman dia... sesila la hadam ya hehe

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kita share sikit je. Ada ramai lagi yang share lagi detailed :)

      Delete
  6. Thanks for the sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. nak tanya soalan apa eh kt dorang 😭

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anon.

      Banyak je soalan yang awak boleh tanya dekat interviewers. For me, lebih baik kalau awak tanya soalan yang awak betul-betul curious.

      As for me, I don't exactly remember my questions, but I think I asked the interviewers about the qualities they are looking for in students for this program. I also asked about the career prospects and trajectory of the graduates of this program, aside from becoming a teacher. Selain tu, saya juga tanya tentang general overview and duration of the program, and what should I expect if I were selected to enrol in the program.

      My questions semua basic je sebab orang sekeliling saya takde yang ambil TESL dan semua takde pengalaman pergi interview untuk university course. Also, back then takde juga orang share pasal anything TESL ni semua dekat internet. Hence, the basic questions (:

      Delete
  8. This is helpful! Also, I noticed that you never mentioned anything about online exam. Maybe it's new because the current TESL foundation requires you to pass an online exam in order for you to be invited for a physical interview. I'm grateful that I passed it though. But at the same time I'm very nervous for the upcoming interview. Thanks to you I kind of gained some confidence and courage now, hahaha.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello, Anon! (:

      Yes, you are right. I have never mentioned online exam as there was no online exam back then. Mind you, this was more than a decade ago. An online exam is kinda unheard of :) I guess UiTM finally has decided to make some changes by implementing online exam. I actually saw a TikTok video of this online exam yesterday.

      Anyway, good luck and all the best! Fly high (:

      Delete
  9. Hiiii! Can you tell me sijil2 penting yang nak kena bawak? keputusan exam? cause we dont get our spm result yet. i dont know who to ask anymoree... :(
    I am very nervous since this will be my first interview ever!! T-T. pls send helpp

    Thankss <33333

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anon.

      I'm not really sure what kind of certificates that you need to bring to the interview. Back then, I kinda brought everything that I had. I guess since you have yet to get your SPM result, maybe you can bring your trial result? Along with all your koko and academic certificates? Arrange them from the most recent ones to the oldest ones.

      Delete
  10. Is the essay section still relevant because we (the new applicant) have already answered the online exam?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anon.

      I guess it's no longer relevant since you guys have answered the online exam. But, I don't know the real answer. Sorry I couldn't be of more help to you ^^'

      Delete
  11. As you said before there’s no online exam back then… but is the essay writing still relevant because we (the new applicants) had passed our reading and grammar exam?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anon.

      Just like I answered the previous comment, I think it's no longer relevant but I don't know the real answer to your question. Sorry I couldn't be of more help to you

      Delete
  12. kene buat2 ngajar depan dorang ke

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anon.

      Back then tak payah buat mock teaching. I've read some of the recent experiences pun takde yang kena buat mock teaching.

      Delete
  13. haii i nak tanya time interview tesl memang kena speak in english ke? or kita still boleh cakap bahasa melayu?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anon.

      You have to speak in English all the time.

      Delete
  14. may i know macam mane nak jwb soalan if diaorang tanye where do u see urself in 5 years?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anon.

      I think the best way to answer this question is to answer it honestly sambil beli-beli jiwa? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

      Taking a master's degree? Graduated with flying colors? Hoping to be a good teacher? Utilizing the knowledge gained to explore the unknown?

      I don't remember if I were asked this question in this interview or another interview, but I answered this question by saying something similar to, "I see myself graduating from the course with flying colors. I am also hoping that I could achieve my dream to become an English teacher. However, I also see myself starting a master's degree in 5 years. While the future remains unknown, these are what I am hoping for, at least for now."

      Delete
  15. I just had my TESL interview in UITM a couple weeks ago but I forgot to ask the about the result. Usually when is the result coming out? Where can I check it? I'm afraid I miss it as I've been busy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi. I think the result is announced when UPU result is announced. If you get Foundation in TESL UiTM on the UPU website, that means you actually passed the interview and managed to get a spot in the program.

      At least, that's what happened in my case la. I went to the interview and checked the result on the UPU website when UPU result was announced.

      Delete

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