Student Sarah Robinson: Life’s Transitions and Transformations

I’ve been working outside my home culture for a while. I am back now, but feeling a little uneasy. How do I know if I’m ready for graduate school? Where can I find meaningful and engaging professional development? Why should I come to SIT (and not a less expensive MA in Teaching closer to home)?

Responding to a note that posed a braid of such frequently asked questions, student Sarah Robinson reflects on her own decision-making and subsequent experience. She is currently at work on her final project, a portfolio of her teaching and learning competencies.

Hi _____ - thanks for the email! Ah, the beauties of transition periods…you gotta just love it (or not!). It’s funny because adjustments/transitions from living in different areas are topics that are frequently discussed here at school, since the student body at-large has significant international experience.

Competency 3: Teachers and Teaching

Teachers need to enjoy teaching. In this third in a series of 5 posts, teacher learning as practiced at SIT is viewed in terms of teachers and teaching. Which of these attributes were demonstrated by the great teachers in your life?

Conference: Learning and Teaching Language

To conclude each MA in Teaching (ESOL, ESL, Spanish, French), students convene a conference for language teachers. In May, students presented their workshops, papers, and demonstrations as well as served on committees for the program, plenaries, keynote speakers, registration, technical support, and social events.  A list of the presentations and presenters follows.

Competency 2: Learners and Learning

Teachers are curious about people and how they learn. In this second of of 5 posts, teacher learning as practiced at SIT outlines the teacher’s influence on learning and learners. Demonstration of these competencies takes place throughout the course of the degree study.

Competency 1: Language and Culture

Teachers are interested in language and culture.

In this first in an occasional series of 5 posts, teacher learning as practiced at SIT is outlined regarding language and culture. The optimally effective teacher understands their own awareness, attitudes, knowledge, and skills. Here is how that is expressed in the MA in Teaching (ESOL, Spanish, French).

SIT INTERLINK Fellowship Announced

This post has two parts. The first part describes this new fellowship: a paid INTERLINK teaching position and the SIT MA in Teaching. The second part guides your next steps should you qualify.

How and Why

How SIT Trains Teachers and Why

The mission of SIT is to prepare its students to be interculturally effective leaders, professionals, and citizens. In so doing, SIT fosters a worldwide network of individuals and organizations committed to responsible global citizenship. The goal of SIT’s MA in Teaching is to help language teachers become more competent and effective both in their classrooms and as members of the profession.

What Distinguishes SIT’s MAT?

How is SIT Graduate Institute’s MA in Teaching different from the 500+ other language teacher education programs in the world?

Several distinctions are noted below. Each distinction is related to the integrity of the learner, of the teacher, and of the subject being taught. Throughout SIT’s teacher training, each of these are situated in their global context. This education invites the teacher to look inward as well as outward.

Analyzing Language

Language Analysis for Lesson Planning, a class taught in the target language (in my case English), prepares teachers who can analyze the language’s basic concepts and patterns. In a classroom, this enables the teacher to explore rich, deep, and meaningful possibilities for student learning.

Teach English in US Public Schools

The SIT MA in Teaching with a concentration in English as a Second Language is designed for those who would like to teach in US public schools. Besides the master’s degree, it includes a Vermont teacher’s license valid for K-12 ESL teaching and is transferable to other states.