Vidya was an ESL Instructor for BYU ELC during Fall 2025.
Briefly explain what you did and the result of your internship.
I taught ESL as part of my internship, working with multilingual learners to build skills in grammar, speaking, listening, reading, and writing. My responsibilities included lesson planning, teaching daily classes, creating and using communicative activities, giving targeted feedback, and tracking student progress through informal and formal assessments. As a result, I became more confident as an instructor, improved my ability to differentiate instruction for varying proficiency levels, and gained meaningful experience supporting students academically and personally in a language-learning environment.
What did you learn on your internship that you were not expecting to learn?
I wasn't expecting to learn just how much emotional intelligence and relationship-building matter in language teaching. I assumed good lessons and clear explanations would drive progress, but I learned that students often improve at a much quicker pace once they have the feeling of being seen, safe, and encouraged. And what I did not expect was learning how quickly I would have to make changes: changing the pace, re-teaching something differently, or adjusting activities.
How have your future plans changed because of what you learned from your internship experience?
The internship made it clearer where I was headed. It furthered my motivation to continue in the field of ESL/TESOL and challenged me to consider more deeply the type of teacher I would like to become-a student-centered teacher, communicative competence specialist, and supporter of learners' motivation and confidence. In addition, it motivated me to pursue more opportunities for professional growth in curriculum development and teaching practice because I saw how much impact strong lesson structure and meaningful activities can have on learners.
Please share how your experience led to personal inspiration or insightful revelation.
One of the biggest revelations was coming to realize that teaching is not about delivering content; it is actually to help learners believe that they can communicate, belong, and succeed. The student participation and risk-taking reminded me of how powerful supportive instruction can be. That experience indeed inspired me to be that kind of teacher who can balance high expectations with empathy, creating a culture in the classroom where mistakes are treated as a part of learning rather than something to fear.
Would you recommend this internship to other students?
Yes, I would definitely recommend it. That internship gave me real classroom experience with real learners and real challenges, thus real growth. It helped me connect theory from my coursework to practice: lesson planning, teaching, assessment, feedback, and classroom management. Additionally, it provided mentorship and reflection opportunities that made me a more confident, flexible teacher. It's strong preparation for anyone who wants to teach ESL professionally.
Is there anything else you would like to say regarding your internship?
I am thankful for the opportunity to learn within a real teaching environment and for the guidance and feedback I received throughout the experience. This internship helped me grow professionally and personally, gave me a deeper respect for multilingual learners and the effort they invest in learning English. I'm leaving the experience with stronger skills, more confidence, and a clear commitment to continue improving as an educator.
