Afbeelding
“Following an internship at a primary school, I realised that secondary education was a better fit for me as I wanted to focus on one subject during my bachelor’s. And that’s how I ended up doing the bachelor’s in International Teacher Education for Secondary Schools (ITESS) in Geography at NHL Stenden. Moving back to Europe after so long in Asia was a bit of a shock, especially the weather, but I wanted to be closer to family and friends. A strong support system is important, and thankfully, I’ve built one with the amazing friends I’ve made in my programme.”
“At ITESS, you earn a teaching certification from the International Baccalaureate, rather than from the Dutch government, which is needed for teaching in most international schools. While not having a legal teaching license can be a hurdle for local Dutch schools, the programme’s four internships (one per year) definitely make up for it. We get to observe, teach, and test out materials we create during class and our experience gradually builds up to leading full units. This really sets the degree apart from general secondary education programmes.”
Back to school, forward to the world
“ITESS is great at helping secure internships and has connections with international schools worldwide. Merritt, our coordinator, does her best to meet individual requests, but placements depend on whether schools are willing to take interns and this can change from year to year. With Merritt’s help, I got my internship at a school I knew through family and friends. Picking the right place is really important since it can influence your future career. The field of international education is still pretty small, so most ITESS students land their first jobs through internships.”
“I’ve just finished my first year of teaching practice in Dresden, Germany, and it’s been one of the best experiences in my NHL Stenden journey so far. Of course, it wasn’t always easy – adjusting to a new school, pupils, and staff took time. As trainee teachers, pupils tend to test us more, which can sometimes be tricky. But this internship helped me grow so much in ways I wouldn’t have learned as quickly otherwise. Having a good relationship with your mentor can make or break the experience because they’re the ones providing valuable resources and share their teaching expertise. The same goes for our study coaches at NHL Stenden, who guide us through one-on-one chats or group meetings, and by simply being there whenever we need extra support.”
Teaching takes practice
“My internship in Dresden was an eye-opening experience that motivated me to put more effort into my studies, especially when things get tough. These placements also help us put theory into practice, which might seem redundant or boring otherwise. Developing all the different skills takes time, and internships are the best way to do it, even if it means being thrown into the deep end. I’m now excited for my next internship – I’m going back to Malaysia!”
Find out more about ITESS on the programme’s website.