While I have not yet completed my degree, there are various qualifications that I have under my belt that will assist me in my placement for this class.
As an ACU student, I have already undertaken two placements in my previous years at the university. Last year I took part in two other placements (EDFX173 and EDFX271). These placements allowed me to gain my first experiences physically being a teacher outside of an ACU classroom. Both placements as well as the classes I had to attend taught me a plethora of information on teaching strategies, behaviour management and overall helped to prepare me for my next placement. As a result of already completing two placements, I know what to expect when I go to the schools as well as know what is expected from me. Having undertaken two previous placements also allows me to know what areas of improvement I need to work on and gives me the opportunity to do so.
In previous years I have worked as a tutor for students who struggled in particular areas of their education. This is another qualification relevant to helping me during this placement as well as overall in my teaching career. I can use the skills I have learnt from tutoring in a one on one setting with the students. Having this experience under my belt helps re-assure me that I know the content I need to teach and I know how to teach it to them. It also re-assures me that I know to some extent that I am capable of teaching students who do not excel in a particular subject.
My current job involves me having to communicate with people who speak other languages than English or very little English and getting them to fill out paperwork. This is another relevant qualification for my teaching role. As a teacher I understand that I will need to teach students whose first language isn’t English. My job allows me to firstly know how to communicate effectively with people who speak little to no English. It also allows me to feel confident in the fact that regardless of these setbacks I can still get the people/students to complete what is required and learn from my instruction.
EDFX348 Reflective Blog 