FAQs

Q: Why should I join the West Chester University NCTE Student Affiliate?

A: As a teacher of English, you will be expected to be a member of the national professional organization of NCTE. As a student affiliate member, you will gain a great deal of experience with the organization that will provide you some advantages as a new teacher in the field. Members of the Student Affiliate are highly regarded throughout the teaching community, and there are numerous opportunities for gaining experience provided to our members through each school year. Our members are dedicated and passionate about the promotion of literacy and education and their membership with the affiliate offers them ample opportunity to expand their repertoire and strengthen their resumes for teaching in the future. While membership is not solely for the purpose of building up one’s resume, it certainly helps and the Affiliate offers members a variety of opportunities and outlets through which they can truly grow as prospective teachers of English.

Q: Do I get course credit for being a member?

A: Unfortunately, no. Although we do a great deal of work both throughout the community and on campus, everything we do is on a volunteer basis. Our members take pride in their efforts to promote literacy education through all of the volunteer opportunities we provide in the Student Affiliate. We have some wonderful partnerships with local schools and organizations throughout the community and, although we don’t receive course credit for our efforts, we are rewarded every day with the satisfaction of serving as dedicated advocates for the promotion of literacy and education. However, some of our volunteer work is recognized by some professors on campus as a fulfillment of observation and/or hands-on field experience requirements. It is best that you speak with your professor before assuming that they will grant you credit, as some may elect not to. Regardless, many of the volunteer activities that we take part in provide our members with a great deal of experience that they would not have the opportunity to attain outside of the Affiliate.

Q: Do I have to pay to join?

A: No, you do not have to pay to be a member of the Student Affiliate. However, if you wish to be recognized by the national professional organization, you have to register online as a student member (it costs about $45.00 yearly). National membership has its benefits! As a national member, you can subscribe to a variety of journals and circulars that are packed full of great resources for teaching English at all levels. Also, once you become a full-fledged English teacher in the US, you have to become a member of the national organization, so becoming a recognized student member gives you a leg-up in that you’ll already have experience in and around the organization.

Q: How can I state up-to-date with events and meetings?

A: Follow us on social media! We are on Instagram @wcupancte , Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wcuncte/ & Twitter @NCTE_WCU