Internship Journey

In the learning journey, internships are experiential learning and create more hands-on experience in the fieldwork. However, actual knowledge happens when we reflect on the experience we gained from the opportunity and relate to the purpose of the internship in the current context. This reflective essay highlights the expected learning outcome from this internship. Such as reflecting the best knowledge from theory to practice, classroom teaching techniques, teaching classes, implementing TOK in subjects, learnings from interactions and observations from mentors, obtaining relevant feedback, reflecting on own teaching, and so on. The process of reminiscing about the actions allows for new thinking and ideas that emerge from it. As an intern, the abstract to the concrete journey is undeniable.

About Manchester International School

About Manchester International School
My internship was at Manchester International School, located in a western state of Tamil Nadu, in southeast India. Manchester, established in 2009, is a comprehensive school that provides a dynamic educational environment by encouraging excellence. Manchester holds accreditation with International Baccalaureate, International School Award by British Council, International Montessori council accreditation, and Edexcel approved center. In addition, the prime focus is to develop caring and productive citizens who are critical thinkers, collaborative, and action-oriented through truly international quality education. Moreover, it is an inclusive school. My internship took place between November to December 2021 as an official internship period for the academic year 2021-22 under the Post Graduate Diploma in International Education at Christ university.

Expectations from internship

At the beginning of the internship, setting a particular goal concerning the demand from the university and personal expectations were my expectations.
• The basal expectation is that the internship carried out in IB schools must include observation, assist teaching, and teaching with opportunities to reflect on the roles and responsibilities of IB teachers. In addition to the school structure, school culture, teaching techniques, assessment practices, feedback system, support system, and creating digital reporting systems.
• The personal expectation is to have experiential academic experience, career understanding, improvising skills in the work environment, and personal development.
The search for an appropriate institution in my state for this internship experience involved an extensive process of writing requisition letters and sending applications. I was looking for an institution with expertise in my area of specialization and willing to take in as Covid scenarios were a threat. But Manchester was willing to accept my application in a brief span as an immediate action. Hence it is worth getting an internship at Manchester nevertheless idle. The training at Manchester corresponds both to my career path and program demand. Due to the following reasons, I could work on a wide range of tasks and get fully acquainted with the purpose.

Work Content

Having forward-thinking, the school realizes the quality considers teachers a great asset and believes in working collaboratively to meet the success line. The sense of purpose of being an IB school for the past five years, Manchester has established a specific set of groundwork striving to implement bringing up a community practicing international-mindedness. Indeed, the internship was a great experience that helped me learn how Manchester carried out multiple tasks and witnessed daily work at this school.

The new learning or challenge was framing factual, conceptual, and debatable questions that have expanded the old idea to the more contemporary view. The summative assessment carried out in MYP is utterly different from other boards later, I found myself competent in applying assessment strategies. Manchester aims to provide a positive learning environment where learning is fun and a part of life, and I was able to contribute to the school's vision.

Work Culture

The culture of shared values and beliefs would define the typified organization. Manchester, as an institution, have few organizational cultures, as stated follows:
• People orientation: Respect for others, emphasizing fairness and tolerance
• Team orientation: Articulate and edifying collaboration
• Rigour- Attention to small details while approaching situations.

Reflections on Internship

My internship at Manchester was unquestionable of enriched learning to me. The prominent learning as an intern was to translate the theoretical terms of the International Baccalaureate into real context. I had opportunities to practice applying my skills and knowledge acquired at Christ-like online assessment techniques, differentiated instruction design the skills like thinking, communicating, social skills, and research skills while addressing specific inquires and engaging with students regarding summative assessments. I was moreover intensifying my knowledge of math department coordination in learning mathematical concepts of sharing ideas. While organizing the departmental event, I determined and executed my past experiences as Head of the department in Manchester, celebrating National Mathematics Day 2021. The opportunity to participate in the university fair, CAS activity involvement, and meetings with students, is remarkable. During the internship, the acquaintances that I made taught me something different and unique. I also learned much about implementing international mindedness, assessment practices, and support systems. The fact, however, I discovered, was relating the TOK, EE, and CAS learnt at Christ. For a month's duration not only exposed to watch their work closely as a School and learned directly by assisting them on the daily engagements.
In specific, the core elements of IBDP EE, CAS and TOK classes are an eye-opener and thrive for studious learning. The coordinators are doing commendable work and could see children reflecting in their attitudes and behaviours.
During this internship, the most fantastic learning was the insights one gets as to how international diplomatic school works in terms of facilities, services, food, teaching equipment's, labs, and so on really works as a system. Hence a successful teacher is the one who constantly attempts to find new tools to reach more effectively their learners as they are life-long learners. As an intern at the Manchester, Coimbatore, I gained valuable experiences personally, culturally, academic, and professional levels. Professionally speaking, working for the IB School, I notably improved my skills related to mission and vision, being aware of the assessment practices at MYP and DP level, and enhanced communication with colleagues. I could practice effectively integrating with diverse professional groups on a personal level. As an intern, I participated in several different tasks that ranged from reviewing the daily classes for other subjects. To make a note though I am a math hand, I had extensive learning with Science, Interdisciplinary Unit, Individuals and Societies was interesting reminding my school days memories and many facts to relearn. Overall, the people from hierarchy order to the core are professionally equipped, creating a peaceful & friendly atmosphere working with the community of Intellectuals clear with the school policies and vision.

The internship at the Manchester Continuum School made me realize how much there is to a career in IB, how it is possible to advance an educationalist interest and cooperate internationally. At the same time, and how hard it is for teachers who work to advance the mission in the world with less acceptance region for IB.