Sample Essay On The Initiative In Civic Engagement And Equity (Ice-E)

Becoming a practicing teacher can be a daunting task. What is learned in class and through reading or watching of teaching tutorials is often quite different from what is encountered at the workplace. To become an effective teacher, one needs to practice in real life or practical situation. This is the reason why I chose to enroll in a teaching attachment. I plan to become a Spanish teacher and I realize that teaching a language can be quite difficult. This is because it involves relating with students from diverse backgrounds, different abilities, unique abilities and various other challenging attributes. My goal is to get the on-job experience which will equip me with the skills I need to help a diverse pool of students; learn and practice different teaching strategies and approaches and to understand how students learn. I understand that every student has their unique abilities, strengths, weaknesses and objectives. The goal of the teacher should be to equip the student with the tools they require to bring out and harness their strengths, while exercising to improve or work around the areas in which they are weak. Students also learn in different speeds. The teacher should accommodate all students towards achieving a common objective. I believe that this internship will equip me with the skills required to help all my students.
I chose the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) because I believe that they can help me improve my teaching skills. The mission of LAYC involves empowering diversity in the population of youth for the purpose of achieving successful transition to adulthood. This is achieved through comprehensive, multi-cultural, and innovative programs, which address the academic, social, and career needs of the youth. This internship will equip me to engage the world around me because the LAYC provides the perfect background for this. LAYC brings together young people from all walks of life, and cultural backgrounds. The opportunity to have my internship at LAYC will equip me in several ways.
First, I will be exposed to many cultures. This exposure allows me to learn how to handle students from different backgrounds. It allows me to know how to communicate with different students and how to relate with them. Different cultures have different expectations on behavior for teachers. I will be able to learn what is expected of me and how to relate to students.
Secondly, I understand that the internship will teach me how to work with students who have various abilities and capacities. All students deserve an equal chance at an education. Some students learn faster than others. This does not mean that those who learn slowly should be left behind. LAYC provides me with the opportunity to experience different students and their characteristics. This will prepare me for my teaching career.
Thirdly, the internship exposes me to the classroom situation where a teacher has to face many students at once while attending to their different needs. This cannot be learned through reading. One must do it practically to learn how to perfect teaching. Overall, I believe that LAYC is the perfect internship opportunity for me because of its diverse population of students. I believe that the skills I learn will equip me with the ability to foster equality in the world, and to improve Washington DC.