Another year, another year of being a TA for MCB lab! This year was a lot of fun for me, as I was able to better see how my teaching skills have developed. As this was my second time being a TA for the lab, I definitely felt more comfortable in the class and was able to answer most questions very easily. This really helped me develop confidence in my teaching ability, making me excited for my future. There were a few bumps along the way as to be expected, but I felt good about my ability to resolve problems and help out the students as much as I could. I really enjoy relating to the students and helping them through the class. I know this lab is very difficult for some (as I have heard many times during class), but I have confidence that I was able to help ease the process a little bit. As I move forward to finding my next few steps in my career, I am more confident than ever in my skills, which makes me eager to get started!
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As the end of my Junior Fall comes to pass, I have realized that this semester has been full of growth and change. Beginning with switching jobs, the semester started out quite hectic and disorganized. As I worked more with my new teaching company, however, I began to fall in love with teaching all over again. Thinking back, my teaching experience started back in high school, when I first began tutoring other students in a multitude of subjects. I started with chemistry and continued on to tutor students in Spanish and Physics. I even got hired part time to tutor a couple middle school students in many subjects including reading, test-taking, and math. It was with these experiences that first gave me a foundation in teaching and showed me some of the issues that arise and how to deal with them.
I am TEFL certified and passionate about languages, giving me a greater understanding for language structure and how it can be learned. After arriving at UF I was a conversation partner with International Students on campus, speaking with students learning English and helping them to be comfortable speaking English in a casual setting. This then led me to my job with Tutor ABC, where I worked with children and adults in China to teach English as a second language. This provided all new challenges to my teaching, as it was over a skype-type system, adding technical issues to the already huge language barriers. I learned so much from this job, including being patient, learning how to alter my teaching style on a case-by case basis, and of course to be responsible and on time. I have since moved on to a similar company which deals only with younger children at very beginner levels, which increases the difficulty vastly. Perhaps my most valuable teaching experience has come from my time being a teaching assistant for MCB 3023L this semester. This was one of the most fun teaching experiences I've had, because it allowed me to teach others the techniques and protocols I love. I was able to bond with my fellow TA's and create an excellent group of individuals who helped me be a better student and TA. Of course this was not without its challenges, as I was often faced with situations I was not familiar with or questions I did not know the answer to. At first this would upset me, but I learned to take it all in stride and allow it to show me what to work on and get better. I am so grateful for the mentors who have helped me along the way, as well as the friends I've made that push me to be better. I've made such valuable connections and made plans for things I probably could not comprehend in high school. I am beyond excited for what my future holds, so here's to 2018. |