It truly feels like "only yesterday" that I been accepted in the TESOL program at GSE.. As I reflect on the past two years been here in
The faculty here was very helpful, knowledgeable, and care about success of the students. One of the reasons I chose UPENN is because of the warmth and compassion from the staff. When I first came here for a tour they were very welcoming and that made me want to come here. my program (TESOL) was very fast paced and requires continuous hard work and dedication to achieving my goals. It is quite an exciting experience and there are opportunities to get involved actively in the GSE.
One of the nice things about UPENN is its small-community feeling. Almost everyone I have met at UPENN is pleasant and friendly. It is easy to strike up a conversation with anyone, from the Assistant Dean to the cleaning staff. Whenever I have a problem, I can usually find someone who will do their best to help me. In addition, the smaller class size has given me the opportunity to know many of my classmates fairly well. Most of the GSE faculty are knowledgeable and very approachable. Believe it or not, the professors are actually concerned about their students' well-being and understanding of the material. It is encouraging to know that I can go to them with any questions. Another positive feature of UPENN and the GSE is how receptive they are to student feedback. Student opinions are taken into account when making improvements for the school.. The GSE programs' curriculum were very dynamic because the faculty considers comments and concerns from current students when planning for future classes.! The knowledgeable, experienced and super friendly professors / staff really do make this school an ideal environment to pursue your education and dreams."
I'm planning to leave this May to my country "
Finally here are some of advices for incoming students which I found useful during my two-year program:
1. Always plan ahead in your classes so you can get more free time for fun.
2. Utilize the excellent faculty here: try to have close relationships with professors, get to know them, and don’t be afraid to ask for help
3. The more time you spend with the age group you plan on teaching will better equip you to relate to them on their own level and increase your understanding of their learning processes, so I highly recommend courses that have a fieldwork requirement.
4. Network and get to know others in your field. Get to know your faculty; they will help you become a professional.
5. Get used to presenting your work to others, its nice to have feedback form others.
6. Teaching should not be looked at as a job. It should be preserved as a way of life, meaning that once you make the choice to be a teacher you have also made the choice to become a life-long learner.
