A High Schooler Teaching Kids? Here’s What Really Happened

Joining the WeCan WeShare English Camp was my first time teaching at a camp, and it was nothing like I expected! Since all staff members were high school students, the experience was both exciting and challenging.

One of my biggest challenges was leading a group of incredibly talkative elementary students during a scriptwriting activity. They kept getting off-topic, and since I had already taught three classes that day, I was exhausted. Instead of scolding them, I decided to use questions to guide their discussion. I categorized their given story fragments and asked, “How are these elements connected?” and “What’s missing for this to be a complete story?” They still threw out random ideas, but I didn’t dismiss them. Instead, I kept asking follow-up questions to help them refine their thoughts. Though we ran out of time before finishing the script, I felt a sense of accomplishment just seeing them engage in more focused discussions.

Another challenge came with my third class of the day—right after lunch. As expected, the students were completely unresponsive. Anticipating this, I had quickly put together a Kahoot game during lunch break. It didn’t necessarily make them eager to learn, but at least they weren’t slumped over their desks the entire period.

This experience showed me that teaching is not just about delivering knowledge—it’s about engaging students and adapting on the spot. I might not have “fixed” every challenge, but I walked away with a newfound appreciation for education and the impact a teacher can have. I’m grateful for this opportunity and excited to take on more challenges in the future!