Lauren was a 10th and 11th English Language Arts teacher for Provo School District during Fall 2023.
Briefly explain what you did and the result of your internship.
I am doing my student teaching internship, where all year I am the teacher in the classroom. I have never taught before, but from August through the end of May, I am working and learning how to be an English teacher. I believe this taught me more about being a teacher than just student teaching would have. I have learned classroom management, norms, procedures, and how to figure out everything for myself all in the past couple of months. It has been invaluable, and although super difficult in the first couple of months, as time has gone on, I have come to really enjoy teaching. I have learned what a joy teenagers can be, and how much fulfillment I find through teaching.
What did you learn on your internship that you were not expecting to learn?
I was stunned by how truly hard teaching is. However, I was not expecting to learn that teaching English (something I love) would become secondary to teaching students. I really learned that I am here to teach students, and English is simply a way to do that.
Please share how your experience led to personal inspiration or insightful revelation.
Something I learned is that God is a teacher and that his example is the best way to teach my own students.
Would you recommend this internship to other students?
Yes, but I would let them know that the first couple of months are the toughest. I think I would tell them that they have to get past the first term and PPAT (which is this awful state test to get your teaching license). Once you do that, teaching becomes easier as you have time to build relationships with the students.
Is there anything else you would like to say regarding your internship?
It is hard. Harder than anything I have ever done (including my mission). But truly worth it!