LINK is an internship program that connects students to the outside world. This gives students the opportunity to explore different careers and learn from a mentor. For my LINK internship I decided to spend three weeks with Sue Krichman, an English language learner teacher at Park Elementary. I chose this specific school because I went to Park for the entirety of my elementary school experience and was personally taught English by Sue herself. I have always felt a deep connection to Park and knew that I had to do my internship with Sue.
My experience gave me a glimpse into the world of education and allowed me to work with younger students. The opportunity to learn, observe and even contribute to the educational development of students has been a very fulfilling experience. Throughout my internship, I learned important teaching strategies (especially for students who are learning English) by observing my experienced mentor. One of the most significant skills I gained during my internship was effective communication. Interacting with elementary school students and teachers required clear and concise communication. I learned how to adapt my language and communication style to different age groups by making complex concepts and sentences more simple to younger students, especially when it came to communicating to students who have English as a second language. Another rewarding skill I developed during my internship was empathy. Working with younger students allowed me to witness firsthand the diverse backgrounds they bring to the classroom. I learned to empathize with their struggles, understand their emotions, and provide support. This experience helped me cultivate a deeper sense of compassion and patience, which will be helpful in future interactions with all types of people..
Throughout my three weeks with Sue, I spent my time making several resources and activities for students, my main one being a cognate “poster” and activity. There was a lot of trial and error with this project and I had to brainstorm different ideas of how Sue could incorporate the “poster” into her classroom. The final product ended up being a ring of all the cognates that the students could easily see and flip through instead of a big poster that would take up excessive wall space in Sue’s classroom. I feel very proud of this specific project and it was so fulfilling seeing the students have fun throughout the activity of matching cognates to their worksheets.
A big challenge I encountered during my internship was managing the students' behavior in the classroom. In one particular instance, I had to teach a student one on one who is very easily distracted and energetic. Despite being nervous, I embraced the challenge and asked for advice from my mentor. We developed strategies to engage the student and create a positive learning environment. Through consistent reinforcement of expectations and incorporating engaging activities, I learned how to manage the students behavior over time. This challenge taught me the importance of patience and perseverance. Another challenge I experienced was catering to the different academic levels in the classroom. It was hard to ensure that all students were truly challenged and supported. I had to adapt my solo lessons/activities and give different instructions to meet the different needs of the students. By using different teaching strategies, such as group work and individualized assignments, I was able to create an inclusive learning environment. This experience taught me the importance of flexibility, creativity, and the value of meeting the individual needs of each student.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my internship was personally seeing the growth and development of the students in just a three week time frame. I got to observe first hand what it is like to take in a newcomer to the English language and help support them through this process. It gave me a new perspective on all the hard work that goes into learning the English language from both teachers and students. My experience with Sue at Park Elementary has helped me narrow down my options of what I may possibly want to pursue after high school. Overall, my internship was an enriching experience that has helped me develop new skills, learn more about the education system and form new relationships. I am very grateful for having been given the opportunity to contribute and give back to students and their learning.
My experience gave me a glimpse into the world of education and allowed me to work with younger students. The opportunity to learn, observe and even contribute to the educational development of students has been a very fulfilling experience. Throughout my internship, I learned important teaching strategies (especially for students who are learning English) by observing my experienced mentor. One of the most significant skills I gained during my internship was effective communication. Interacting with elementary school students and teachers required clear and concise communication. I learned how to adapt my language and communication style to different age groups by making complex concepts and sentences more simple to younger students, especially when it came to communicating to students who have English as a second language. Another rewarding skill I developed during my internship was empathy. Working with younger students allowed me to witness firsthand the diverse backgrounds they bring to the classroom. I learned to empathize with their struggles, understand their emotions, and provide support. This experience helped me cultivate a deeper sense of compassion and patience, which will be helpful in future interactions with all types of people..
Throughout my three weeks with Sue, I spent my time making several resources and activities for students, my main one being a cognate “poster” and activity. There was a lot of trial and error with this project and I had to brainstorm different ideas of how Sue could incorporate the “poster” into her classroom. The final product ended up being a ring of all the cognates that the students could easily see and flip through instead of a big poster that would take up excessive wall space in Sue’s classroom. I feel very proud of this specific project and it was so fulfilling seeing the students have fun throughout the activity of matching cognates to their worksheets.
A big challenge I encountered during my internship was managing the students' behavior in the classroom. In one particular instance, I had to teach a student one on one who is very easily distracted and energetic. Despite being nervous, I embraced the challenge and asked for advice from my mentor. We developed strategies to engage the student and create a positive learning environment. Through consistent reinforcement of expectations and incorporating engaging activities, I learned how to manage the students behavior over time. This challenge taught me the importance of patience and perseverance. Another challenge I experienced was catering to the different academic levels in the classroom. It was hard to ensure that all students were truly challenged and supported. I had to adapt my solo lessons/activities and give different instructions to meet the different needs of the students. By using different teaching strategies, such as group work and individualized assignments, I was able to create an inclusive learning environment. This experience taught me the importance of flexibility, creativity, and the value of meeting the individual needs of each student.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my internship was personally seeing the growth and development of the students in just a three week time frame. I got to observe first hand what it is like to take in a newcomer to the English language and help support them through this process. It gave me a new perspective on all the hard work that goes into learning the English language from both teachers and students. My experience with Sue at Park Elementary has helped me narrow down my options of what I may possibly want to pursue after high school. Overall, my internship was an enriching experience that has helped me develop new skills, learn more about the education system and form new relationships. I am very grateful for having been given the opportunity to contribute and give back to students and their learning.