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ESL
Teaching Position

You will learn to use Relative Clauses and Non-Defining Relative Clauses to provide additional information about people and things, as two managers discuss job candidates for a teaching position.

ESL Teaching Position
1

Listening

Listen and answer the quiz.

0:00 / 0:00
2

Reading + Practice

Read the script, practice vocabulary, and learn useful sentences.

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SARAH
Mark, review candidates.
MARK
Absolutely, Sarah. I've shortlisted a few.
SARAH
Good. Mr. Davies, who has excellent references, is first.
MARK
Yes, Mr. Davies, whose online experience impresses, looks promising. He has a CELTA.
SARAH
I agree. Ms. Chen, who taught in Japan for five years, also looks strong. Her resume highlighted innovative methods.
MARK
Ms. Chen's interview mentioned curriculum development, which we need.
SARAH
What about Mr. Kim? He recently finished his master's.
MARK
Mr. Kim, whose enthusiasm is infectious, lacks classroom experience, a B2 concern.
SARAH
True. We need someone who can handle diverse student needs.
MARK
I agree. Mr. Davies and Ms. Chen, both with solid backgrounds, are top choices. Schedule second interviews.
SARAH
Sounds like a plan. We need teachers whose skills align with our philosophy.
2b

Vocabulary Match

Tap a word, then tap its definition.

Words

Definitions

2c

Useful Sentences

Quick sentences you can use in real life.

General
  • Purpose: Discussing candidate qualifications
  • Mr. Davies, who has excellent references, is first.
  • Mr. Davies, whose online experience impresses, looks promising.
  • Ms. Chen, who taught in Japan for five years, also looks strong.
  • Mr. Kim, whose enthusiasm is infectious, lacks classroom experience.
  • Purpose: Expressing agreement and making decisions
  • I agree.
  • Sounds like a plan.
  • Schedule second interviews.
  • We need teachers whose skills align with our philosophy.
3

Grammar

Review the rule and take the quiz.

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✓ Grammar Focus

Relative Clausesand Non-Defining Relative Clauses

★ Examples from the lesson

- Mr. Davies, who has excellent references, is first.

- Mr. Davies, whose online experience impresses, looks promising.

- Ms. Chen, who taught in Japan for five years, also looks strong.

- Ms. Chen's interview mentioned curriculum development, which we need.

- Mr. Kim, whose enthusiasm is infectious, lacks classroom experience.

- We need someone who can handle diverse student needs.

💡 Uses

1) To give essential information (Defining Relative Clauses): These clauses are necessary to understand who or what we are talking about. They are not separated by commas.

Example: We need someone who can handle diverse student needs.

2) To give extra, non-essential information (Non-Defining Relative Clauses): These clauses add extra details about a noun, but the sentence would still make sense without them. They are separated by commas.

Example: Mr. Davies, who has excellent references, is first.

3) To refer to a whole clause or idea: Using 'which' to refer to the preceding statement.

Example: Ms. Chen's interview mentioned curriculum development, which we need.

📝 Forms
Subject (Relative Pronoun) Affirmative Negative Question
who (for people, subject) The candidate who has experience. The candidate who doesn't have experience. Is this the candidate who has experience?
which (for things/ideas, subject/object) The method which works well. The method which doesn't work well. Is this the method which works well?
whose (for possession) The teacher whose students succeed. The teacher whose students don't succeed. Is this the teacher whose students succeed?
whom (for people, object) The person whom we interviewed. The person whom we didn't interview. Is this the person whom we interviewed?
that (for people/things, defining only) The skill that is essential. The skill that isn't essential. Is this the skill that is essential?
⚠ Common Mistakes

Mistake

Correction

Explanation

Missing commas for non-defining clauses:

Mr. Davies who has excellent references is first.

Mr. Davies, who has excellent references, is first.

Non-defining relative clauses provide extra information and must be separated by commas.

Using 'that' in non-defining clauses:

Ms. Chen, that taught in Japan, also looks strong.

Ms. Chen, who taught in Japan, also looks strong.

'That' cannot be used in non-defining relative clauses. Use 'who' for people and 'which' for things/ideas.

Using an extra pronoun:

Mr. Kim, whose enthusiasm is infectious, he lacks classroom experience.

Mr. Kim, whose enthusiasm is infectious, lacks classroom experience.

Grammar quiz will appear here when available.

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