• Flexibility/Adaptability

• Communication Skills

• Ability to Work in a Team

• Organization

   In order to receive my TESL certificate, I had to complete a TESL internship for one semester. Throughout this internship, I developed many useful skills. For example, I had to create and design an English workshop for Visiting Scholars. This was a huge task and I had to start from scratch. I worked and collaborated with my ESL professor as well as my fellow interns in order to create successful instructional materials, activities, and lesson content. I met with my professor 1-2 times a week to discuss the progress of my lesson plans and materials as well as the success of my classes. I also met with a fellow intern 2 times a week to reflect on how my class went and how I can improve for the next class I teach. Not only did I receive feedback from my ESL professor and fellow interns, but I also conducted polls in my classes in order to receive quality feedback from my students. Throughout this internship, communication and the ability to work in a team were essential skills that I developed. Because I continously worked with others and received feedback, I was able to design and create a very successful English workshop. Many of my students were so grateful for the experience and they sent me thankful emails and gifts showing their appreciation. My students also explained how much this workshop has helped them with their conversational English and their communication at the workplace. 

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   Another challenge, that I encountered as a TESL intern was teaching an English workshop during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past, TESL interns have always taught students in person in a classroom on campus. Obviously, we were not able to do that so we had to teach our classes on zoom. I also had to learn how to develop relationships with my students despite the physical distance. I faced this problem by learning all of the features of zoom in order to successfully teach an online class. I facilitated constant communication with my students by sending them emails. I created and designed a website so that students could access lesson materials and homework outside of class. I designated a specific amount of time to speak and work with each student individually in order to develop successful relationships with my students. I met with my fellow interns and TESL professor through zoom as well. Because of COVID-19, I learned how to be flexible and adaptable as an online English teacher. I also gained a lot of organizational skills. I received a lot of feedback and I created many diffferent lesson plans and instructional materials. I had to find a way to keep all of my material organized. I accomplished that by creating a website for my students that was organized week by week. My students appreciated the organization and the easy access of materials at all times. This website allowed my workshop to run more smoothly and effectively. 

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