Whether you’re looking for professional development in Israel or a resume boost like an internship in Israel, take it from these four Masa Israel Teaching Fellows alumnae – teaching English in Israel can help you land your dream job in education!
After graduating from Guilford College with a bachelor’s degree in education in 2011, Tova Dinkin decided to become a Masa Israel Teaching Fellow. In August, the Manhattan native moved to Rishon LeZion as part of the inaugural cohort of Masa Israel Teaching Fellows.
When she returned to New York in 2012, Tova was quickly offered a position as a kindergarten teacher at a Manhattan charter school. Three years later, Tova still teaches at that same school and attributes her success to her time in Israel. “Masa Israel Teaching Fellows is the reason I have my job,” Tova said. Those ten months teaching English in Israel allowed Tova to gain invaluable experience in her field as she learned more about herself as a teacher. “I came back with confidence that I did not previously have and experience that no one else could ever imagine.”
Tova Dinkin – Kindergarten Teacher, Success Academy Charter Schools in New York, NY
Masa Israel Teaching Fellows in Rishon LeZion 2011-2012
Jennifer Blitz also benefited from having Masa Israel Teaching Fellows on her resume, and her teaching experience in Petach Tikvah in 2013-2014 set her apart both on paper and in person. Throughout the interview process for her job as a science teacher in Brooklyn, the Long Island native shared her story about stepping out of her comfort zone, overcoming challenges, and adapting to new situations during her time in Israel. “Living and teaching in a foreign country was quite tough at times, not unlike most new jobs and experiences,” Jennifer said. “It’s an adjustment and Masa Israel Teaching Fellows truly did improve my ability to make those adjustments with a little more style and grace.”
Similarly, Emily Shelton who taught English in Netanya in 2011-2012, was hired in the U.S. and abroad as a result of her Masa Israel Teaching Fellows experience. Upon returning home to Delaware in 2012, Emily began teaching special education in a local public school. The principal even went so far as to tell her that her experience teaching abroad made Emily a very desirable asset in the classroom. Emily noted that her principal said that it was really different and unique to have Masa Israel Teaching fellows on her resume and made Emily stand out as a candidate.
Emily Shelton – English Teacher, Colegio Alberto Einstein in Quito, Ecuador
Masa Israel Teaching Fellow in Netanya 2011-2012
Like Tova, Jennifer, and Emily Nitzah Santiago-McRae found that having Masa Israel Teaching Fellows on her resume helped her secure her position teaching at Headstart and her admission to Syracuse University, where she currently studies for her master’s in early childhood and special education. However, she felt that her time teaching in Ramle in 2013-2014 made the greatest impact when she returned to an American classroom.
A special education teacher with many foreign students, Nitzah found herself in a new country, where she did not speak the language. “I have a deeper understanding for my students who don’t know English because I didn’t know Hebrew,” the Maryland native said. The experience also helped her empathize with the students’ families, as they try to navigate a new culture and society.
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