Join The IGlobal Undergraduate Teaching Team!
Do you want to get involved? Do you want to get an international teaching experience without ever leaving campus? Then you should join our award winning IGlobal undergraduate teaching team!
What is the IGlobal program?
IGlobal is a virtual international teaching program offered through the Office of International Programs in the College of Education. Undergraduates work in small teaching teams (called pods) to co-design materials and lead engaging lessons to teach middle school students from around the world on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - all over Zoom! No experience is necessary!
All years and majors, including non-teaching and those not within the College of Education, are also welcome to join our teaching team! Although most undergraduates in our program are pre-service teachers, we also have many undergraduates studying areas such as psychology, information sciences, technology, and the sciences!
IGlobal offers multiple pod meeting times throughout the week, allowing you to choose a schedule that fits your availability! Teaching placements don't begin until junior year, but IGlobal allows you to get real, interactive teaching experience starting as early as your freshman year!
Why should you join?
- Get real teaching experience and build confidence early in your undergraduate career by leading global virtual classrooms.
- Engage with cultures from around the world — without ever leaving campus.
- Apply strategies from your education courses in a real-world setting, including culturally responsive teaching and methods for supporting ESL students.
- Collaborate with peers in co-teaching and lesson planning to explore your teaching style in an experimental, creative, and low-pressure environment.
- Master the art of engaging students online, using breakout rooms, games, and digital tools.
- Receive feedback and coaching from program coordinators and peers to improve teaching.
- Earn 3 hours of course credit each semester through EDUC 199: IGlobal Practicum, applicable towards a minor in International Education.
- Explore undergraduate research opportunities tied to global education, co-teaching, and digital learning — ideal for James Scholars and Campus Honors students.
- Advance into leadership roles in future semesters by applying to become a Lead Teacher.
- Join a dynamic and supportive teaching community through pod collaboration and program events to make new friends!
What does a typical week look like as an IGlobal undergraduate teacher?
- You’ll begin each week by meeting with your pod for a one-hour planning session to discuss the upcoming lesson and co-create materials.
- During the week, each team member is responsible for preparing their portion of the lesson.
- Later in the week, you'll co-lead a one-hour live Zoom session with international middle school students, followed by a brief teaching reflection.
In total, the time commitment averages just 3 to 4 hours per week! It's that easy! Additionally, if you have a busy schedule, we can work around it! You get to choose the time you teach and the time your pod meets to plan!
What Will You Be Teaching?
The IGlobal curriculum is designed around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), offering a global perspective to explore real-world challenges. No prior knowledge of the SDGs is needed—you’ll learn everything as you go! Each session includes interactive games, group discussions, and creative simulations that make complex concepts engaging and easy to understand. Throughout the course, students develop global awareness and build cross-cultural connections with peers worldwide.
For the Fall 2025 semester, activities will focus on SDG #9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure, and SDG #12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Students will have the opportunity to design and create innovative solutions to global problems!
Click below to view an IGlobal session outline video made by Ryan (our lead undergraduate teacher), view sample activities from previous semesters, and check out an example slideshow that highlights a typical IGlobal lesson.
Hear from our undergraduates about their experience!
- "Over the past 6 semesters of doing IGlobal, I've seen myself grow as a leader. My communication and collaboration skills have greatly improved. I feel more confident teaching knowing that I had other people there to help me."
- “IGlobal has been the most meaningful part of my undergraduate journey. It’s helped me grow not just as an educator, but also as a leader, a collaborator, and a person. The middle school students bring so much energy and creativity to every session — it makes teaching genuinely fun. Even though I was nervous at first, I quickly learned how to lead a diverse, global classroom, and that’s an experience I’ll carry with me throughout my entire career.”
- "As a junior, I have only just started taking education courses, but teaching in IGlobal has given me the opportunity to think like a teacher and put my experiences towards my trove of teaching strategies."
- "By teaching in IGlobal, I have been able to see other teachers' teaching styles, learn through the strengths of their teaching, and apply them to my own for the future."
How Grace's IGlobal Journey Has Prepared Her for the Classroom
Grace Schlichter has been working with IGlobal since her freshman year. Grace is now a senior studying Elementary Education. She got involved with IGlobal as a way of broadening her understanding of her student's culture and backgrounds, and preparing her for a future in the classroom. Read her story to see what teaching in IGlobal might do for you.
Interested In Undergraduate Research?
As a member of the IGlobal undergraduate teaching team, you have the opportunity to be a part of undergraduate research! Whether you are a James Scholar, a member of the Campus Honors Program, or simply interested in educational research, IGlobal can be a great way to get started!
Interested In Joining Our Teaching Team?
Visit the undergraduate sign up page to submit your interest form and learn about the full process, including info sessions, course registration, orientation sessions, and more!
Have Questions?
Please visit our undergraduate teacher FAQs page to see commonly asked questions about teaching in our program!
If your question isn't answered there, please contact IGlobal Program Coordinator, Dr. Jacob Neal Minniear, at jminni3@illinois.edu.