Teaching English : Collège de l'Assomption

Internship Overview and Reflection

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After acquiring my TEFL certificate (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), I decided to put my new skills to use and pursue a teaching internship in France From September 2023 until December 2023 I worked in four different classrooms settings at Collège de l’Assomption, a middle school in Montpellier, France and conveniently a three minute walk from my apartment. 

 

As a teaching assistant, I worked with three different teachers who all had different expectations for me. Mme. Claire Martres asked me to serve as an aid, who would go around the classroom and answer any questions regarding the lesson or pronunciation. Mme. Marie Pélisson would have me make lessons according to what the students were learning in that unit. I would either prepare presentations and worksheets related to sentence structure or grammar, or help them with their unit projects. In Mme. Laetitia Kirsch’s class, I had absolute autonomy, so I would make lesson plans that would peak my interest as a language learner myself. Each lesson would always incorporate new vocabulary words and aspects of American culture. Last, I tutored three students who were in another class of Mme. Kirsch who suggested these students needed some extra practice and one-on-one care. 

 

It was incredibly beneficial to surround myself around students from another culture. It was also important for me to work in a fast-paced environment that requires flexibility and adaptability. My first day I had prepared a presentation introducing myself, but expected the teachers to give me some kind of direction. That is not the French way! This allowed me to explore my creative side and really have fun with my internship. I grew to love the students and my teachers. I am a more confident public speaker and more confident global citizen through this experience.