http://www.konan-u.ac.jp/english/index.html

Konan University

Summer Internship Instructor

June - August 2018 • Kōbe, Hyōgo Prefecture

What I liked

I worked as a summer internship instructor at the Konan University. I got to work with four different professors and taught in eight EFL (English as a Foreign Language) classes. That was a fantastic experience! Firstly, my long-term career goal is to teach second language classes in colleges. This internship has allowed me to see what it is like to teach university students. I know for a fact now that it is a goal that I'd like to work towards. Also, the professors gave me so much room to practice teaching. They were not afraid of letting me take control of the class. I was even asked to design a new course which helps polish up students' speaking skills. There were no guidelines nor textbooks. I created everything from scratch. It was not easy, but I now have so much experience in researching and making lesson plans because of this experience. I came up with a lot of effective ways to teach English. Last but not least, I have developed the friendship with the students, professors, and my host family in Japan. I love everything about my internship.

What I wish was different

I wish I could learn to enjoy more at the beginning of the internship. My schedule was very tight and packed. I did not have much time for myself. I taught from 9 am to 6 pm every day. After classes, I go back home and prepare for lessons the next day. I was exhausted that I started to get tired of teaching. However, I then realized that I should change my attitude. I learned to enjoy the lessons more by being more personal to the students. I had some fun with students by doing language-based activities. Not only did I enjoy myself more in teaching but also helped students participate more in class.

Advice

There's no growth in your comfort zone. Don't lose an opportunity to learn just because something is hard. You know more than you think you do. BYU-Hawaii has prepared you well for any challenges or obstacles you face in life. Believe in yourself. I always thought I would not succeed in this internship because I'm not a native English speaker. I was afraid that I could not help my students to achieve in academic success. However, this experience has proved me wrong. I have come to know that my advantage over the native English speaker is that I am also a second language learner. I have experienced things that they may not have. I am now more confident of myself.
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