Like so many other Indiana Wesleyan University alum, Elise Holcomb ’20 graduated prepared to follow her calling—hers just happened to take her 4,600 miles across the world to a small school in Warsaw, Poland.
Holcomb majored in Elementary Education with a minor in TESOL—otherwise known as Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. While she was a student, Holcomb engaged in short-term volunteer experiences teaching English overseas in Germany and China. It was during those experiences that she fully realized her calling to teach abroad.
“I specifically wanted to live in a country where English was not the first language,” said Holcomb. “This was important to me because I want to be able to understand and empathize with people who are learning languages in an unfamiliar setting.”
Holcomb applied for full-time teaching positions all over Europe, but found herself ultimately accepting a job at a bilingual preschool in Warsaw. Holcomb teaches primarily Polish students who range in age from 4 to 7—all of who have differing skill levels of the English language.
Each day, Holcomb teaches a 30-minute English lesson in two different classrooms. She spends the rest of the day assisting the Polish teachers and speaking to her students in English as they engage in various activities throughout the day.
“The most challenging part of my job is teaching students who speak no English alongside students who are almost fluent,” said Holcomb. “Every lesson must have differentiated instruction to meet the needs of each of these levels. I am learning so many skills as a teacher that I know I will continue to use for the rest of my career.”
Another challenge Holcomb faces—and one that is not uncommon for TESOL professionals—is that she does not speak her students’ native language. Although she is learning Polish, she utilizes a variety of techniques to effectively teach her students English to overcome the language barrier. These include the following:
- Visual Aids – Using pictures, videos, or objects.
- Repetition – Repeating vocabulary words, listening to repetitive songs, or saying the same thing in a variety of ways.
- Modeling – Demonstrating what it is that you want students to do.
“I love seeing students grow and make progress,” said Holcomb. “Language is a powerful tool, and it opens up many opportunities for my students to grow academically and connect with others.”
Holcomb plans to teach in Poland through the remainder of the school year, and return to the U.S. late this summer. As for the future, she hopes to earn her master’s degree in TESOL, linguistics or literacy. She also sees herself someday working with refugees, international college students, or other adult learners of English.
“Elise was so motivated during her time in our program to teach abroad in some capacity,
said Dr. Angela Leffler, Associate Professor, School of Teacher Education. “She has such a spirit for adventure and a gift for teaching. Her willingness to follow God’s lead is inspiring.”
IWU’s TESOL program combines a passion for language with a heart for teaching English to non-native speakers. Coursework and field experiences combine theory and practice from a Christian worldview, and prepare graduates to change the world in a tangible way.
“IWU’s education program prepared me to be a skilled teacher by giving me the resources and tools to teach diverse students, create differentiated instruction, and assess students fairly and accurately,” said Holcomb. “I am very grateful for all of my professors at IWU and the academic, spiritual, and life lessons I learned there.”
For more information on IWU’s TESOL program, visit indwes.edu/undergraduate/school-of-teacher-education/bs-tesol-education.