JY Kim
Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching student
What he loves most about the Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching is how practice-focused the programme is, says JY Kim who came to AUT as an international student from South Korea.
“Rather than being too heavily centred on theory, I’ve had the opportunity to plan and run lessons myself in real school settings, which has been incredibly valuable. The programme includes a total of 80 days of practicum in secondary schools, where we can experience the role of a real teacher. An associate teacher is assigned for each subject area, and receiving ongoing feedback on my lessons has been extremely useful.
“Teaching can feel nerve-racking at first, so having an experienced teacher in the same space also gives me a real sense of reassurance. Every lesson feels a little like stepping onto a stage and showing students something I’ve prepared, and that still genuinely excites me. I’ve also appreciated that, as a student teacher, I haven’t felt excluded or treated as an outsider. I’ve been welcomed as a colleague and recognised for who I am. As well as the practicums, the graduate diploma also includes workshops where we can share insights with practising teachers. It’s particularly valuable to exchange ideas with other student teachers from different schools who are teaching the same subjects as I am: computer science and junior mathematics.”
Expecting to complete his graduate diploma in 2027, he has thoroughly enjoyed his studies so far.
“Because many people in the cohort share a strong desire to help others, my fellow student teachers are very supportive and proactive, and I’ve been able to grow a lot alongside them. I’m particularly proud that, even during the busy practicum period, I received A-range grades for all of my assignments.”
The road to teaching
For JY, the decision to become a teacher grew out of earlier experiences where he discovered how much he enjoyed helping others learn.
“During my military service in South Korea, I worked in the Aviation Maintenance Group, and later I worked at an AI marketing company. In both settings, I found that I genuinely enjoyed teaching and helping others. With my background in computer science, I also felt there was a real need for support in this subject in education, and I wanted to share what I had learnt. I chose AUT for my studies because I had heard that the programme was well structured, had strong connections with many secondary schools and had a particular strength in practical learning compared with other universities. I could see this from the very first orientation and programme induction, which showed me how systematically and thoughtfully the programme was organised.”
He has also enjoyed being based in New Zealand for his studies.
“One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about studying in New Zealand is meeting people from many different nationalities and backgrounds. Being exposed to different opinions and experiences gives me opportunities to critically examine my own thinking, and this has broadened the way I see the world.”
Highly recommended
JY says he would highly recommend the Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching to others.
“From the moment you first arrive at AUT for orientation, you feel welcomed and part of the community. The lecturers are professional and supportive, and I’ve always felt that my views are respected.”
He has some great advice for other students who are thinking about studying education.
“The community you’re considering joining is full of people who genuinely want to help others. If uncertainty is making you hesitate, I’d encourage you to be brave and give it a go. You’ll be surrounded by supportive people, and the deep sense of fulfilment that comes from interacting with students is something I don’t think you’ll ever forget.”
