Alison Andrews

My name is Allison Andrews and I am a Canadian student who took part in the Student Tutoring Scheme for the 2003-2004 academic year. I was at the University of Dundee on an International Exchange Program for the third year of my four-year Undergraduate History Degree. I was placed in Chapelpark Primary School in Forfar, Angus.

I initially applied for the scheme to acquire some classroom experience to support my future application to Teacher's College. However, I found the scheme to involve much more than a teaching experience. It was an opportunity to instil in the younger generation the importance of a university education and to emphasize that it was available to all. I embraced this credo and applied it to help younger children realize that university students were actually real people who were furthering their education after high school. It was an excellent opportunity to be a positive role model for young children. I found the experience to be extremely rewarding as I also tried to impart to the youngsters simple skills like sharing and communicating.

The Student Tutoring Scheme acted as a perfect liaison between myself and the school where I could do some volunteer work. It met the needs of the school by providing assistance in the classroom and some of the needs of the pupils as I was able to work one-one-one with them and in small groups. It also met my needs as a volunteer by providing me with the opportunity to work in a classroom environment with very young children whose requirements were different from older children. The teachers I worked with were excellent role models for me as a future teacher. They showed me the varied duties of a teacher and gave me the opportunity to see how a teacher, not only teaches, but manages the classroom as well.

As a Canadian working in the Scottish school system, I was able to experience the difference between the two educational systems which was an incredible experience for me. It allowed me to broaden my perception of teaching by providing me with a reference point I would not otherwise have had. I will be able to draw on this experience and knowledge in my future years as a teacher.

The Student Tutoring Scheme is a highly useful and integral program as it introduces pupils to the concept of a university experience and in turn provides university students with an opportunity to work with pupils as positive role models while at the same time obtaining a broader understanding of teaching in general. In summary, this was a valuable experience for me and I would not hesitate in recommending the Student Tutoring Scheme to any university student in Scotland or from any other country. Thank you for providing this opportunity to me.