Meet Vivian, teacher in the Education Assistant program

As a lecturer in the Teaching Assistant program, I want my students to develop not only as skilled professionals, but also as individuals. The best part of my job is collaborating with future colleagues. I'm not just there to teach, but to prepare them for their future careers in education.

I teach both theater and pedagogy. Theater is a perfect way to learn how to present yourself. It's not just about what you say, but also how you say it. How do you stand in front of a group? How do you convey a message? How do you connect with students? These are valuable skills they'll really need as teaching assistants.

I start every lesson with a check-in to hear how my students are feeling and what's going on. This helps create a positive atmosphere and makes them feel heard. I often use TikTok in my lessons because it's something my students enjoy, and I'm active on the platform myself. I find it important to incorporate my students' world into the lesson. By connecting the material to the trends they follow, the material is not only relevant but also remains fun and interesting.

But the most important thing in my classes is that students feel safe to be themselves. They shouldn't just learn their subject matter, but also grow in their personal development. I always give them the space to think outside the box. Does a student want to make a podcast instead of a report? Fine! As long as they process the material in their own way, I'm happy. And that's what I enjoy most: seeing them grow, not just technically, but also as people.