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Landing your first ESL teaching position can be competitive, whether you’re seeking an in-person classroom role or an online teaching opportunity. While your TEFL certification demonstrates your theoretical knowledge, employers sometimes want evidence of your practical teaching abilities stemming from this foundation. This is where a well-crafted demo lesson video becomes your most powerful marketing tool – it brings your teaching c.v. to life and showcases your classroom presence, methodology, and creativity.

This guide will walk you through the process of creating a compelling demo lesson video that highlights your teaching strengths and addresses the specific requirements of both in-person and online teaching environments. With your newly acquired TEFL certification and a standout demo video, you’ll be well-positioned to impress potential employers and secure your ideal teaching position.

Understanding your Audience and Purpose

Before pressing ‘record’, consider who will be watching your video and what they’re looking for. School administrators, academic directors, and hiring managers typically evaluate demo videos to assess your command of teaching methodology, your ability to engage students and manage a classroom, your English proficiency and communication skills, your lesson planning and organization, and your adaptability to their specific teaching context. Unfortunately, some cultures also value how you look over these latter points, so be sure to dress appropriately and take this aspect more seriously than it may otherwise be in different contexts.

It’s worth taking time to research your target employers to understand their pedagogical approach, student demographics, and curriculum focus. For example, a kindergarten in South Korea may prioritize engaging TPR activities and classroom management skills, while an online business English platform might value clear explanations and professional presentation. This research will help you tailor your demo to precisely what your potential employers are seeking.

Choosing the Right Content

If a specific school or recruiter provides specific instructions or a lesson plan detailing exactly how they want your demo video to be composed, you can ignore some of the following.

When selecting content for your demo lesson, focus on topics that will showcase your strengths as a teacher and match the age group and proficiency level you want to teach. Your chosen content should be something that can be effectively taught within 10-15 minutes while still allowing you to demonstrate multiple teaching techniques.

Popular demo lesson topics include vocabulary sets like food or occupations, grammar points such as the present perfect or conditionals, functional language for making suggestions or giving directions, pronunciation work on specific phonemes, or integrated skills combining reading and speaking on a specific theme. Choose something you’re comfortable teaching and passionate about: your enthusiasm will shine through in your demonstration. 

Structuring Your Lesson

Regardless of whether you’re targeting in-person or online positions, your demo should follow sound pedagogical structure. Start with a warm-up or lead-in lasting 1-2 minutes to engage students, activate prior knowledge, and create interest in the topic. This might involve a quick game, an intriguing question, or a relevant image that captures attention.

Follow this with a presentation phase of 3-4 minutes where you introduce new language clearly and contextually. This is your chance to show how effectively you can explain concepts in a student-friendly way. Next, move into a controlled practice section of similar length, guiding students through structured practice of the target language. This could involve pattern drills, guided dialogues, or structured exercises.

Then transition to production or practice for another 3-4 minutes, demonstrating how you’d allow more creative use of the language in meaningful contexts. Activities here might include role plays, discussions, or personalized tasks. Finally, include a brief wrap-up of about a minute to review key points and check learning outcomes.

This clear structure shows employers you understand effective lesson sequencing and can manage time appropriately – crucial skills for any ESL teacher.

Addressing the “No Student” Challenge

Most new teachers create demo videos without actual students present (for obvious reasons!) which presents a unique challenge. There are several effective approaches you can take. If possible, ask friends to act as students – this creates the most authentic teaching environment. However, this isn’t always feasible or desirable.

Alternatively, you can use a self-sufficient demonstration approach, teaching directly to the camera and pausing to explain what students would be doing at each stage. Some teachers prefer a split-screen approach, filming themselves teaching, then adding simulated student responses with text or voice-over during editing.

Many successful applicants use a hybrid approach: they directly address the camera to explain activities, then demonstrate teaching segments as if speaking to students. This allows you to both show your teaching in action and explain your methodological choices to the viewer. Whichever approach you choose, be consistent throughout your video and make sure transitions between explanatory segments and teaching demonstrations are smooth and clear.

For In-Person Teaching Positions

When targeting traditional classroom positions, you’ll want to emphasize several aspects that are particularly relevant to physical classroom environments. Classroom management is paramount. Demonstrate how you would arrange students for different activities, show techniques for maintaining attention and managing transitions, and display your ability to use physical space effectively. Even without actual students, you can indicate where students would sit, how you’d group them, and how you’d monitor their work.

Physical materials and resources are another important element for in-person demos. Showcase your creativity through physical flashcards, realia, or props. Demonstrate effective board work or use of classroom displays. You might set up a small whiteboard or poster to show how you’d present information visually in a classroom setting.

Don’t underestimate the importance of non-verbal communication. Utilize facial expressions, gestures, and body language to support understanding. Show awareness of how you’d move around the classroom space and how you’d use physical proximity appropriately. These elements convey your understanding of classroom dynamics in ways that are particularly relevant for in-person teaching roles.

Also highlight how you’d handle multi-student interaction by explaining how you would organize pair or group work, demonstrating techniques for whole-class activities, and showing awareness of how you’d accommodate mixed abilities in a physical classroom. This demonstrates your readiness to manage diverse classroom settings effectively.

Of course, keep your voice and language clear and positive while showing similar warmth in your facial expression. 

For Online Teaching Positions

If you’re aiming for virtual classroom roles, your focus should shift to skills particularly relevant in digital environments. Technical proficiency becomes essential – ensure excellent video and audio quality, demonstrate comfort with camera positioning and eye contact, and if possible, show familiarity with online tools like screen sharing or annotation features. Your demo itself serves as proof of your technical capabilities.

Screen-based engagement requires special techniques. Use animated gestures and expressions that translate well on camera, and demonstrate how you’d maintain attention in a virtual environment. Show awareness of how you’d check student engagement without the physical cues available in a traditional classroom. Including interactive elements suitable for online platforms can demonstrate your understanding of virtual teaching dynamics.

Clear communication is even more critical online than in person. Speak with exceptional clarity and appropriate pacing, use concise instructions suited to online environments, and demonstrate how you’d check understanding in virtual contexts. Show awareness of potential audio delays or connection issues and how you’d adapt to these challenges.

Your digital materials and resources should be designed specifically for online contexts. Showcase effective digital flashcards, slides, or interactive activities that would work well in a virtual classroom. If possible, demonstrate screen sharing or digital whiteboard techniques. The materials you create for your demo should clearly support your learning objectives while being optimized for online delivery.

Production Tips for a Professional Result

Setting and Appearance

The visual elements of your demo video communicate your professionalism before you speak a single word. Choose a clean, uncluttered background. Neutral colors work best as they won’t distract from you as the focal point. Ensure excellent lighting, preferably natural light from in front of you rather than behind, which creates shadows. If natural light isn’t available, consider inexpensive ring lights that create flattering, even illumination.

Dress professionally but comfortably, considering your target employer’s culture. For international schools or business English positions, business casual attire is usually appropriate. For young learner contexts, something bright and approachable might be better. Position yourself appropriately in the frame: viewers should see from mid-chest to slightly above your head, allowing room to see your gestures.

Consider creating a small “teaching corner” with relevant educational decorations that aren’t too distracting – perhaps a small world map, a simple alphabet chart, or a few tasteful educational posters. This creates a teaching environment while keeping the focus on you and your lesson.

Technical Considerations

You don’t need professional equipment to create a high-quality demo, but attention to technical details makes a significant difference. Use a tripod or stable surface for your camera or phone. Shaky footage looks amateurish and can be distracting. Test your microphone for clear audio, as poor sound quality can undermine even the best teaching demonstration. If possible, use an external microphone for clearer sound.

Film in landscape mode at the highest resolution your device allows – ideally 1080 pixels. Ensure there’s no background noise or possibility of interruptions during filming. Before your main recording, make a short test clip to check lighting, sound, and framing, making adjustments as needed.

If you’re not confident in your ability to deliver a perfect lesson in one take, consider recording in segments that can be edited together later. This approach reduces pressure and allows you to focus on making each section of your lesson as strong as possible.

Rehearsal and Timing

The saying “perfect practice makes perfect” applies strongly to demo videos. Practice your lesson multiple times before recording, timing each section to ensure you stay within the recommended 10-15 minute total duration. Work on memorizing key transitions and instructions so they flow naturally.

You’ll want to prepare specifically for how you’ll simulate student responses, whether through pauses, verbal cues like “That’s right!” or “Good answer!”, or by actually voicing potential student responses yourself. Practice looking at the camera as if it were your students, maintaining natural eye contact rather than reading from notes.

You’ll find that each rehearsal will increase your confidence and help identify any awkward transitions or unclear explanations that need refinement. By the time you record, your lesson should feel natural and well-paced, with a comfortable balance between teacher talk and simulated student interaction.

Editing your Demo Lesson

While professional editing isn’t required, some basic edits can significantly enhance your video’s impact. Start by trimming any lengthy pauses, false starts, or mistakes. Consider adding simple text overlays to indicate lesson stages or objectives: these help viewers follow your methodology and structure.

Include a brief introduction at the beginning stating your name, qualifications, and lesson focus. This orients the viewer and provides context for what follows. If you’re teaching pronunciation or speaking activities, adding subtitles can be helpful, especially for employers whose first language isn’t English.

The next thing to keep in mind is that transitions between activities appear smooth and purposeful. While editing, remember to keep things simple and professional. Avoid distracting effects or transitions that might make your video look less serious. The focus should remain on your teaching, not your video editing skills.

Many free editing tools exist that are quite user-friendly, including iMovie for Mac users, Windows Video Editor for PC users, or mobile apps like InShot or CapCut if you’re recording on your phone. You don’t need to become an expert editor – just learn the basic functions of trimming clips, adding text, and exporting in appropriate formats.

Showing off your Unique Teaching Style

Beyond technical aspects, your demo video should reflect your authentic teaching personality. Show genuine enthusiasm for the subject matter – excitement is contagious, even through video. Demonstrate warmth and approachability through your tone, facial expressions, and the way you’d respond to imagined student contributions.

Also, include elements that showcase your unique teaching techniques or approaches. Perhaps you have a creative way of presenting vocabulary, a special technique for error correction, or an engaging approach to grammar practice. These distinctive elements help you stand out from other applicants.

Strive to balance professionalism with personality. Employers want teachers who are both competent and relatable. Display confidence without appearing rigid or scripted. Remember that schools aren’t just hiring a set of teaching skills: they’re hiring a person who will connect with students and represent their institution.

Distribution and Format

Once your video is complete, export it in MP4 format at 720p or 1080p resolution. Try to keep the file size manageable – under 500MB if possible – while maintaining good quality. You could use the free program Handbrake to compress file size. Upload to a private YouTube or Vimeo link for easy sharing with potential employers. These platforms allow you to send a simple link rather than a large file attachment.

Furthermore, consider creating a QR code linking to your video to include on your resume or teaching portfolio. This modern touch shows technical savvy and makes it exceptionally easy for employers to access your demonstration. Having both downloadable and streaming options available gives employers flexibility in how they review your materials.

Supporting Materials

Enhance your demo video with complementary materials that provide deeper insight into your teaching approach. Prepare a detailed lesson plan that matches your demonstration exactly, showing the full scope of what would happen in a complete class. Include samples of any worksheets or materials featured in your video.

Additionally, consider adding a brief teaching philosophy statement that connects your demonstration to your broader educational values. A short reflection on your teaching choices can also be valuable, showing your capacity for self-assessment and professional growth. These supporting documents transform your demo from a simple video into a comprehensive teaching portfolio.

Follow-Up

After submitting your demo, be prepared to discuss specific teaching choices in interviews. Employers often use demo videos as conversation starters, asking why you chose certain activities or how you might adapt them for different learners. Consider any feedback constructively if provided – your response to suggestions demonstrates your coachability and professionalism.

You should be ready to explain how you would adapt the lesson for different contexts, such as larger class sizes, mixed-ability groups, or different age ranges. This flexibility shows you’re not a one-trick teacher but someone who can thrive in various teaching environments. Whenever possible, highlight connections between your demo and the employer’s specific needs or teaching context.

Putting it Together

A well-crafted demo lesson video is more than just a teaching sample, it’s a powerful marketing tool that demonstrates your readiness to step into the classroom, whether physical or virtual. By thoughtfully planning, rehearsing, and producing a video that underscores your teaching methodology, personality, and adaptability, you’ll give potential employers confidence in your abilities as a newly certified TEFL teacher.

Remember that different teaching contexts have different expectations. Tailor your demo to the specific position you’re applying for, highlighting relevant skills and approaches. With careful preparation and authentic presentation of your teaching style, your demo video will help bridge the gap between your TEFL certification and your first teaching position.

Your demo lesson video is often your first opportunity to teach in front of a potential employer: make those minutes count by demonstrating not just what you know about teaching English, but who you are as an educator. In a competitive job market, this personal touch can make all the difference in landing your ideal teaching position.