Stephen: United States: Jul 01, 2019

In May 2017, I graduated from Gordon College and obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education before moving to Taiwan for one year as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA). Throughout my time as an undergraduate student and serving as an English teacher in Asia, I was able to work with many different age groups in various school systems. The challenges I faced working with students from vastly different socioeconomic and geographical backgrounds allowed me to reflect on how to improve my students’ classroom experience. In those moments, I came to realize the importance of creative lesson planning in order to differentiate instruction. These skills have been further cultivated from the formal training I have received in the process of pursuing a Master’s in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at Boston University.

Additionally, my talent for connecting with others and adapting to new situations is further highlighted by my previous employment at ASC English, Fulbright, and Agape School. These skills were invaluable when it came to culminating relationships with co-workers, parents, and students. More importantly, it allowed me to better understand a student’s individual learning needs. My talent for listening to others, clearly expressing my thoughts, and collaborating will be invaluable when interacting with the students of your institution.