Meet Benjamin Jones (M.A. ’24), Jaffe Peace Corps Fellow
(Photo courtesy of Jones.)
Hometown: Portsmouth, N.H.
Summer Snapshot: Studying language in Indonesia as a recipient of the U.S. Department of State’s Critical Language Scholarship program, which has brought Jones back to the country where he completed his Peace Corps service. “Indonesia has shaped my unique worldview. This scholarship goes beyond just learning another language,” explains Jones, now a Jaffe Peace Corps Fellow at TC. “It has encouraged me to teach language in new ways and exposed me to transformative cultural experiences.”
How He Makes an Impact: Jones is a special education teacher in an Integrated Co-Teaching classroom at an elementary school in the South Bronx, one of the most linguistically diverse areas in the world. “When I start a conversation with parents in their native language, especially regarding an IEP [Individualized Education Plan], there is a certain ease of tension — [based on] the fact that their child's teacher understands them and can easily communicate with them.”
He practices innovative teaching methods by using AI software like Diffit to adapt reading materials for non-English speakers at various proficiency levels, making learning more accessible. “Teachers often overlook how we can better accommodate students or modify learning materials. Using AI is a quick, easy and fun way to make those changes.”
What’s Next: Jones will return to his classroom in the South Bronx this fall, building on the skills acquired in Indonesia. “Ultimately, learning more about other cultures and languages, regardless of what you are teaching, is key. I hope to improve my own critical language skills while making every day a new, exciting learning journey for my students. Had I not gone to Teachers College and been a part of such a vibrant community, I would have never learned how to cultivate these skills.”