Internships

Madison Eller ’20

Major

Woodrow Wilson School

Project Title

Teaching Assistant for Conservation Clubs

Environmental Internship Program 29 I interned with the Northern Kenya Conservation Clubs, a program that encourages environmental conservation and teaches related topics to local primary and secondary schools. I taught at different schools daily and helped develop lesson plans according to the students’ needs. Our daily lesson usually involved reading a book, teaching new concepts or vocabulary words, and playing a game based on the lesson. My fellow interns and I also focused on expanding the program by developing a new secondary-school curriculum. The main insight I gained was how to overcome cultural and language barriers by adapting my lesson plans and teaching practices. Changing how we dealt with different age groups, and even distinct schools, helped to improve the efficiency of our program. This experience influenced my academic studies because I am now focusing on education policy. I also am considering incorporating teaching or education into my career, potentially even reengaging with the communities of Northern Kenya.