Teaching English and Bringing the World to the Classroom

Kate started her NYU journey at NYU London as a Liberal Studies (LS) student. Through the First Year Away Program, all first-year LS students spend the academic year studying away. Kate lived in the NYU residence in Bloomsbury, the storied neighborhood that served as a hub of literary and intellectual activity in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In class, she studied the great works of the English language. In her free time, she visited sites like the home of Jane Austen and attended Shakespearean performances at Shakespeare’s Globe. “I was able to see a lot of different places where literature really exploded into the world,” she says. “It was cool to learn about things in the classroom and then see them in the city.”

Even though she was in one of the most bustling, vibrant cities in the world, Kate’s first-year experience was surprisingly intimate. With fewer than 500 students at the London site, she formed fast, close friendships. Confronting the prospect of starting over again as a sophomore at NYU’s larger, more complex campus in New York City, she signed up to be an NYU Welcome leader. In her position, she bonded with a wide range of students during orientation. She had already transferred to Steinhardt to pursue her education studies by then, and, after her first week as a Welcome leader, she quickly formed friendships with other education students. “They helped me understand what the major was like, and which classes to take,” she says. “Getting that support from them while I was transitioning from London to New York City was really helpful.”

While taking courses on human development, children’s literature (“I read children’s books for homework!”), and creative writing, Kate simultaneously dove into club life at Steinhardt. She currently serves as the vice president of the Teaching and Learning Club. It provides professional development training and panel discussions. What’s more, it offers networking opportunities for education students. In addition, Kate participates in advocacy clubs like Literacy Matters, which aims to boost literacy in New York City. She is also a member of Book Buddies, an on-campus book club that explores the wide world of literature.

Like all education students, Kate will graduate certified to teach in New York. She hopes to either enter the workforce immediately or pursue a master’s degree after graduation—the state requires all teachers to obtain an advanced degree within five years of starting their career.

Thanks to the flourishing network of support she’s cultivated, Kate is thriving. “It’s really nice to have the space to talk to people about teaching English and why it’s important. Sometimes you tell people you want to be a teacher, and they’re like, ‘Really? Are you sure you want to do that?’” she says.

Yes, she tells them, she is sure. “The world needs individualized voices, through literature and different forms of expression, for us to better understand different cultures,” she says. “If we don’t get them, what we know is limited, and we may continue to follow only one voice.”