Teaching internships can help students gain valuable work experience, which can be helpful in finding a job. These internships are found at the college, high school, and elementary education levels. Some may be full-time paid internships, while others are part-time and unpaid. In some cases, student internships require the supervision of a licensed teacher, while others permit the intern to be unsupervised in his role.
Many teaching internships are available for college students. These may be summer internships, which involve working as a research assistant or technical adviser to other faculty members. It could also involve assisting with summer school by teaching students who have fallen behind in their work. An internship could also involve tutoring individuals who do not wish to forget certain skills over the summer. These positions might be located at the college itself or at a nearby high school or elementary school.
Some teaching internships require an individual to work under the supervision of a licensed teacher. People who obtain this type of work experience normally act as a teacher's assistant. Some of the duties that may be performed include taking attendance, supervising students, grading papers, or helping those who are struggling with the work. If a teacher is absent, the intern may fill in by providing instruction to students as well.
Other teaching internships allow for greater career development. These programs may allow an intern to be solely responsible for a group of high school or junior high students. This means the individual will provide classroom instruction, administer tests, and discipline students under the supervision of a principal or superintendent.
Many people want to work with handicapped children or those with learning disabilities. Individuals who are looking for a career teaching one of these groups may also participate in teaching internships. This is normally done under the supervision of a teacher who has a great deal of experience instructing children with special needs. Doing so helps ensure the learning process is virtually uninterrupted for these students while the internship program is taking place.
Although most teaching internships are unpaid, some of them may be paid programs. This is more often the case when the intern is working alone rather than under the supervision of a licensed teacher. Other programs may offer a stipend rather than a salary, which is often the case for interns working at the college level. Whether paid or unpaid, student internships often lead to full-time work no matter where these programs are completed.