Q&A with Crandall University Education Graduate

A brief Q&A with Matt Wheaton, a graduate of Crandall U’s Global Education Experience

Q. What prompted you to study abroad through Crandall University?
A. I wanted to put myself outside of what I knew as “normal.” Crandall’s program provided me with opportunities I would not have received elsewhere. I was able to complete half of my internship in Canada teaching high school sciences and then travelled to Melbourne, Australia to teach Grade 6.

Q. How did your experience in Australia prepare you for your career?
A. My experience in Australia allowed me to experience another culture on the other side of the world. My time there opened my eyes to the many challenges educators face across the world. I was able to experience a completely different education system than ours in Canada, which caused me to grow both personally and as an educator.

Q. How did you originally connect with St. Kitts International Academy?
A. The school contacted Crandall’s Education department because they knew of the program’s reputation in the Maritimes for producing quality teachers. I was finishing up my classes at Crandall and the opportunity seemed interesting, so I headed to St. Kitts in January. I strongly believe that this opportunity would not have been possible if I had not attended Crandall.

Q. How does a classroom in St. Kitts differ from your Atlantic Canadian classroom experience?
A. St. Kitts International Academy is a private school that teaches Canadian curriculum, so I am teaching the same lessons that I would be at home, but the opportunities for me to learn are exciting. I teach students from all over the world and they each have a different perspective on the issues we cover in class.

Q. What advice would you give someone who is deciding whether or not to pursue a career in Education?
A. I would tell someone thinking about a career in Education to get out and gain as much life experience as possible. Look for volunteer opportunities within your community and local schools. Most importantly, pursue Education if you have the passion for it. It is not just a career, it is a lifestyle.