Alumni

Kate Malkinson

I live in Cumbria, about two and a half hours away from Newcastle. I loved English at school and I had always thought that I would want to become a teacher, so I decided to study English Literature at Northumbria University.

What are you doing now?

Right now I am in my first placement school studying to become a secondary school teacher through School Direct. It is an extremely enjoyable experience. In my opinion the best aspect of my School Direct course is that we are mainly based in schools and so we gain valuable practical experience in teaching. This course lasts a year and at the end of it I will have a PGCE with QTS.

How did studying at Northumbria help you achieve your career goals / give your career an edge?

The best thing about my course was the variety of modules that we were able to study. Not only were the options for modules varied and interesting, I was always given my first or second choices.

What was the best thing about your course?

The best thing about my course was the variety of modules that we were able to study. Not only were the options for modules varied and interesting, I was always given my first or second choices.

Who inspired you the most, and why?

The teaching staff inspired me as I was able to observe their teaching styles and reflect upon what kind of teacher I would like to become.

Which skills/knowledge did you learn on your course that you use most now/throughout your career?

The skill I use the most is the ability to critically analyse texts. This is highly useful to me as we often study texts in lessons that I have not read before, and so I need to use this skill to be able to teach these texts to students.

What did you enjoy most about your time at Northumbria University?

I most enjoyed the relationships that I formed with other students and my university tutors. Friends and tutors supported me throughout my time at university and enabled me to have an enjoyable university experience.