Patricia
What are some ways to gain teaching experience in college in preparation of graduate school?
Hello. After hearing teaching experience could be important for applying to graduate school, what are some ways to gain experience in college besides tutoring in the tutor center? I have had some experience leading/assisting with children's crafts and group tours/presentations of 30 adults/children at an internship, but am hoping for additional ways to gain experience as I heard teaching experience is beneficial if applying for grad school. I am majoring in wildlife biology in undergrad. Thank you for any assistance and guidance!
#teaching-experience #grad-school-prep
2 answers
Joseph Catanzarite
Joseph’s Answer
Hi Patricia,
You are wise to ask this question, because teaching is definitely learnt by experience!
Here are some ideas:
(1) You can organize study groups around challenging courses you are taking or have already taken. If you've already taken the class, you can conduct problem-solving or discussion sessions, explaining material to the other students. This is actually what graduate TA's do at work.
(2) Some colleges have tutoring centers where students are hired to help students with their problems in math or english or other classes.
(3) You can earn money tutoring one-on-one, or even groups of students in subjects you are comfortable with.
(4) You can volunteer at an organization that provides tutoring help to students. One that I am aware of is the International Refugee Committee in San Diego, California.
Reshma Duvvada
Reshma’s Answer
All the ideas shared by Joseph above are to the point.
A crucial part of managing your time and achieving your goals is making sure that you’re taking steps to gain experience in the world of teaching. Whether you have a little or a lot of teaching experience, there are several opportunities in the working world.
Observe your mentor closely. One of the main ways you can learn by observation. Notice how the teacher interacts with the students, how they handle issues, and how they take different approaches to teaching different material. Take notes to refer back to later.
Pitch in without being asked, you should take the initiative to jump in and help when you can.
Apply for a summer teaching internship. Many school districts offer internships over the summer, where you'll teach or help teach summer school to high school students.
Discuss finding a position with your college/school advisor, try to assistanceship.
Good luck!