Aleksa Kellogg
For Aleksa, an American born and raised in Dubai, the dream of becoming a teacher began at a young age. Inspired by a teacher who helped her overcome her struggles with maths, she was just 14 when she started looking into where she could study. Now, as a 19-year-old International Teacher Education for Secondary Schools (ITESS) student specialising in maths at NHL Stenden, Aleksa’s on a mission to pass on her love for the subject to others by making it accessible, engaging, and impactful.
“Maths was always a challenge for me until one teacher showed me its beauty and helped me understand it in a way that made me fall in love with it. Since then, I've wanted to do the same for others. I want to reduce the stigma around maths and help students feel confident and capable. When looking for teacher training programmes, NHL Stenden caught my attention because of the amazing opportunities it offers, including five chances to go abroad over 4 years. I even visited in April 2021, knowing that I wouldn’t actually be starting until September 2023. Meeting the passionate teachers and experiencing the small classes at the Meppel campus, where every voice is heard, made me feel at home. I had my eyes set on NHL Stenden from the -go and when I got in, I was thrilled! I even shed a tear thinking about how it was the perfect place to become the kind of teacher I aspire to be.”
Not just numbers
“The ITESS programme in maths is fantastic since you’re not just learning about the subject, you’re learning how to teach it. Coming from a rigorous academic background, I initially hoped for more challenging maths content. But I’ve come to realise that teaching maths is so much more than just mastering complex concepts – it’s about effectively communicating them to students. One of my favourite projects so far has been designing a board game to teach probability. It was really fun as it helped us to apply our maths knowledge and create teaching materials that we would later use.”
“The travelling opportunities are also amazing, and they truly make the programme feel ‘international’. Experiencing different cultures and teaching styles has helped me connect more with my students in the classroom. It's been incredibly valuable in shaping me as a teacher. I'll never forget my first internship in Amsterdam where the school held an international day. Seeing students from all over the world celebrating their cultures together really resonated with me. I thought to myself, that’s the type of environment I want to be in – a place where diversity is embraced. During my second internship in Spain, I had a similar experience while walking around the class helping students with their work. I felt totally at ease in the classroom, and it’s confirmed that teaching is my calling. It’s made me really excited about my next internship in Taiwan!"
Finding the right angle
“If you’re looking for hands-on experience, ITESS offers that in abundance. But if you’re looking for an intensive maths degree before moving to teaching, it might not be the best fit. Think about what’s important to you – smaller classes with a close-knit community feel, or the energy of a larger university? Do you want to focus on learning how to teach maths, or dive deeper into the subject itself? These are the things that’ll help you figure out what’s right for you. This experience has inspired me to become a teacher at an international school in Dubai once I graduate.”
Find out more about ITESS on the programme’s website.