BAEK In-seon, Senior in the Department of English Education

Honored at the 2024 School Field Practice Semester Pilot Program Performance Sharing Conference

YU Enhancing Pre-service Teacher Competencies Through Practice-based Programs

[December 26, 2024]

<BAEK In-seon, Department of English Education, YU>

BAEK In-seon, a senior in Yeungnam University’s (YU) Department of English Education, has been awarded the Minister of Education Award.

The award was presented on December 19 at the 2024 School Field Practice Semester Pilot Program Performance Sharing Conference, hosted by the Ministry of Education and the Korea Educational Development Institute (KEDI) at the JW Marriott Hotel in Dongdaemun, Seoul.

 The School Field Practice Semester is a hands-on teaching practice program designed to cultivate field readiness in response to the evolving needs of future societies. Unlike the conventional four-week teaching practicum, this program spans 15 weeks, enabling student teachers to contribute meaningfully to educational activities as members of the school community. In 2024, the program included 303 students from 28 teacher-training universities nationwide, including YU. KEDI organized an essay competition for participating students to showcase exemplary cases.

 BAEK was recognized as an exemplary participant for her essay documenting her experiences as a student teacher at Gyeongsan Girls’ Middle School from March 11 to June 21, 2024. Reflecting on her time there, BAEK shared, “The students I met during the practicum were delightful, and I realized how rewarding it is to teach them. This experience reaffirmed my resolve to become a certified teacher soon. The practicum allowed me to redefine my values as an educator.”

 In her essay, Baek emphasized the benefits of the extended practicum, stating that it provided ample time to explore and experience the responsibilities of a teacher firsthand. She concluded her essay with, “For an aspiring teacher like me, the field practice semester was a ‘helping hand.’ I hope my experience will also serve as a ‘helping hand’ to other pre-service teachers who may approach their practicum with fear and uncertainty.”

 Meanwhile, YU’s College of Education has been actively implementing the School Field Practice Semester program since 2023. This initiative provides its students with practical opportunities to develop essential competencies required for success in educational settings.