Enjoys working as teaching assistants at NVS
Kristina Jonsson and Lina Jonnerhag both work as teaching assistants at the Division of Physiotherapy, besides being active second year students at the Study Programme in Physiotherapy. With the help of assistants, teachers get great support in teaching large classes, often between 40 – 80 students.
Kristina and Lina are new in their roles as assistants since February, and they are full of energy.
”It’s a new role”, Kristina says. ”To be a teaching assistant is mostly about the practical elements of physiotherapy.”
”We can assist with the experience and knowledge we have acquired so far,” Lina explains.
Enjoys teaching
To apply to the position as assistants, they both had to submit a CV and a personal letter, and previous experience of teaching and leadership was requested. Good standings in their current studies were also required.
”I chose the position because I enjoy teaching”, Kristina says. ”I have taught before, and I like supervising others”.
”It’s fun to guide and provide a sense of security”, she continuous. Having been in the same position, you know how it feels. Besides, it makes you a better physiotherapist.
”I have been a dance teacher and have experience in teaching”, Lina says. ”This is fun, but in another context. The advantage is that it makes me more secure in my own professional role. It makes for growth both in myself and others”.
They both feel they have adjusted to their new roles. There have been meetings and discussions with teachers, and they have gone through materials and talked about expectations.
”So far it is what I expected”, Lina says. ”It feels good to be up and running, and it is very useful to repeat course content and answer questions. I can offer help with things I previously found difficult myself, at the time”.
Meeting other students
Kristina feels that one of the most rewarding things about being a teaching assistant is to meet students from other classes, to discuss ideas and offer help. Otherwise, she mostly interacts with students in her own class. She has not ruled out teaching in the future.
”It is very possible”, she says. ”I enjoy it a lot”.
Lina also thinks she might teach in her future.
”It is something I have done since I was a teenager, both as dance- and gym instructor. It is a lot of fun”, Lina says.
Neither have actively contemplated a career in research, but as Lina says:
”The future will tell, you never know”.
Open to other possibilities after graduation
Kristina and Lina will graduate in a little over a year, in June 2024, but are not entirely sure about what field they want to work in, as physiotherapists. Linda says she has different thoughts about future career choices. Originally, she leaned towards sports medicine, having seen the connection with dancing and dance-related injuries. But after having studied now for a few years, she has a broader perspective.
”I think I would like to try something new”, says Lina.
She enjoyed the clinical placement in in-patient care, for example, and working with children seems interesting.
”I’m open to try”, she says. ”I discover new things all the time”.
Kristina discovered in-patient care at her latest clinical placement.
”Yes, health care is interesting”, she says.
Earlier she had mostly considered sports medicine or primary care, but she really appreciates the opportunity to explore different areas during the various clinical placements.
Recommends the teaching assistant assignment
”If the opportunity is available, I might come back to KI in a few years to work”, Kristina says. ”There are so many exiting things going on here”.
Lina also leaves the door open for a future return to KI to teach, something she really has come to enjoy.
”I would absolutely recommend other students to apply for teaching assistant positions”, Kristina says. ”There are no drawbacks! You get to maintain your own knowledge, practice, explain, and meet other people”.
Lina agrees.
”So far it has been fun to be able to share knowledge, and at the same further develop as a student. I help others as well as myself – it is both rewarding and fun!”
More positive experiences from teaching assistants
David Byström – teaching assistant at the Study Programme in Occupational Therapy
For how long have you worked as a teaching assistant?
”Since fall, 2022.”
What made you take the assignment?
”I thought it sounded very inspiring, added to my education, and broadened my CV.”
Is it what you expected?
”Yes, I think so, and I have had great response from different teachers.”
What is the best part of being a teaching assistant?
”To be able to network within occupational therapy, to expand my knowledge.”
Will you work in teaching in the future?
”To teach is a big part of being an occupational therapist, and not only to deliver technical solutions. You also need your clients to understand and being able to use it.”
Do you think you will conduct research in the future?
”I’m currently writing my degree project, which has made me interested in research. Even if I may not do research myself, I need to keep up and implement new research.”
When will you graduate?
”I look forward to graduation this summer.”
Do you know what area of your profession you will work in?
”I want to work within psychiatry, but I will start in in-patient care, preferably within geriatrics”.
Will we see you at KI in the future?
”I hope so, to continue taking courses at advanced level.”
Would you recommend the teaching assistant position to other students?
”I recommend all students to take the opportunity to work as teaching assistants. I have really enjoyed it.”
Filip Hjorter – teaching assistant at the Study Programme in Physiotherapy
For how long have you worked as a teaching assistant?
”Since the start of spring semester, January 2023.”
What made you take the assignment?
”What made me accept the assignment was that if felt new, fun, and a chance for personal development.”
Is it what you expected?
”It remains to be seen, as I have not yet had my first work experience, but I look forward to the first opportunity.”
What is the best part of being a teaching assistant?
”That it’s without prestige, you have the opportunity to help and work together with other students. It is also up to you to decide how much and when to work, the teachers are very understanding in working with your own course schedule.”
Will you work in teaching in the future?
”Probably, in one way or another.”
Do you think you will conduct research in the future?
”Hard to say at the moment, but research would absolutely be interesting.”
When will you graduate?
”In January 2024.”
Do you know what area of your profession you will work in?
”Not yet, but sports medicine, neurology, and working with children or adolescents is of particular interest at the moment.”
Will we see you at KI in the future?
”Who knows! A career is a long time.”
Would you recommend teaching assistant positions to other students?
”Of course! Don’t hesitate to apply!”