FORMER TEACHER INFLUENCED CAREER writer PETER WHITE // photographer LOGAN WEST The desire to inspire young people to be the best they can be is what motivates STEPHANIE FURIVAI to become a primary school teacher. Stephanie, who recently turned 21, is in her third year of a Bachelor of Education (Teaching) specialising in primary at the University of Auckland’s Tai Tonga Campus in South Auckland.
“My experience with this one teacher when I was a student made me want to become a teacher. It changed my mindset. When I was in primary, I was in the lowest group for everything until I met my teacher in intermediate who really helped me. Then I could see that I was not dumb. The next year, I was in the highest class. It made me realise the impact one person can have on someone’s life. Teaching is a very important job.”
Stephanie’s advice for school leavers who are considering primary teaching is to remember it is hard work but worth the effort. “Think hard about your own morals and beliefs as a person because those are the things that will help shape your identity as a teacher, as well as the types of students you want to help shape.”
The degree prepares students for a career as a primary or intermediate teacher to work with children aged between 5–12 years and includes 24 weeks of practicum teacher placements. “The course is really interesting. There is a lot of pedagogical content learning about the child’s thinking and how we can best respond to them,” says Stephanie. “We do a lot of reflection, which I think is good in helping you find yourself as a person, the kind of teacher I want to be and the kind of people I want to help my students become as well. “We learn a lot of te reo Māori and why that is important and quite a lot of Pasifika as well, with the new Tapasā Pasifika learning introduced for teachers.” For Stephanie, who comes from Rotuma, north of Fiji, the practicum placements – three times a year at a school – have been very worthwhile. “I love that we go at different stages of the year because we get to see how they are at the beginning and how they change. There is a moment when you see that they get it, they get the answer and it is just so exciting. “Sometimes it is hard to get to deal with students’ attitudes but when you get to know them as a person, you start to relate to them and respond to them. It is all about relationships really.” In Year 13 at Pakuranga College, Stephanie took Statistics, English, Geography, Food Technology and PE. In deciding to pursue teaching as a career, Stephanie says that both her parents are teachers so that played a part in her decision. But the main reason was the influence of one of her intermediate school teachers.
THERE IS A MOMENT when you SEE THAT THEY GET iT, THEY GET THE ANSWER AND IT IS JUST So EXCITING. STEPHANIE FURIVAI
KEY FACTS ■ STEPHANIE FURIVAI IS STUDYING FOR A BACHELOR OF EDUCATION (TEACHING) SPECIALISING IN PRIMARY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND’S TAI TONGA CAMPUS IN SOUTH AUCKLAND. ■ SHE STUDIED STATISTICS, ENGLISH, GEOGRAPHY, FOOD TECHNOLOGY AND PE IN YEAR 13 AT PAKURANGA COLLEGE.
For more information on studying a Bachelor of Education (Teaching) through the University of Auckland, visit www.auckland.ac.nz/teach
■ STEPHANIE HAS PARTICULARLY ENJOYED THE PRACTICUM PLACEMENTS THAT SHE HAS DONE AS PART OF HER DEGREE. LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #24
| LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ
PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER
SHAPING TOMORROW’S FUTURE
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