Help with demo lesson

[absconditus]

Hi everyone,

Following a recent job interview, I was invited to give a demo lesson. As is mostly the case, I suppose, the hiring staff are going to pose as students. The school did not give any specific instruction except that it should be between 10 and 15 minutes. By asking, I found out that competence levels of starting students range between A2 and B1 (CEFR).

The way I see it, I have two options: either to fully address a simple theme that could lend itself to being taught in 15 minutes; or to partially tackle a more complex topic. At first I was leaning toward the latter, because it would allow the committee to decide how successful I am at breaking down complexity. A much more experienced teacher than I am also advised me to take this route: ‘If I was a hiring manager, I would definitely give you extra points for not choosing something simple.’ I was thinking of doing the difference between the present perfect simple and past simple. But then I thought that such a lesson would have to assume the students are comfortable with a wider range of structures (Affirmative, interrogative and negative structures of both the PP simple and past simple; irregular verbs; WH-questions, strong and weak forms …). It would not go well if, after the lesson, each time the committee asked me why I did not address a certain point, I responded by saying I ‘assumed’ the students had already learnt it.

Now, I am considering going with the first option. I am thinking I could do some/any, gone/been, should/shouldn’t … These subjects require much less background knowledge and can fit a 15-minute time frame.

Here are my questions:
1. If you were in my place, which option would you go for?
2. Could you suggest some additional topics?
Any general advice would also be highly appreciated.

Many thanks,
absconditus

[Susan]

I'd go for the simple theme which allows you to show who you are as a teacher (how you manage explanations, how you elicit, etc), rather than showing how you approach complex things.

[absconditus]

Thanks a bunch Susan. Any suggestions for topics?

[Susan]

I'd choose something you've taught many times before and a topic or grammar point that you are fully familiar with. It doesn't have to be a grammar point you could do vocab, eg jobs, hobbies. Basically, pick whatever you feel comfortable with and not something new.

[absconditus]

Thanks again

[Camron]

The school did not give any specific instruction except that it should be between 10 and 15 minutes. By asking, I found out that competence levels of starting students range between A2 and B1 (CEFR)