INTERNS IN ACTION

What People are Saying About Amity Institute

Geraldine CAMUS

Full school year 2008-2009 Amity Intern Teacher Program (Brest, FRANCE)

“When I decided to apply for Amity Institute in 2007 I knew it will be a great experience! When I first landed in La Crosse -a.k.a. LAX- Wisconsin, I was so excited: 9 months to come, and so many things to discover and to visit. My eyes were trying to catch every singles details and my brain was working really hard to remember them all. The first thing which surprised me was how large the streets are, especially for a city of 50,000 habitants considered as really small here. The second thing I was surprised of was the number of student at the University: 9,000, all coming from outside of the city. LAX is one of those small but cute cities in the United States where there’s not a lot to do but where you can simply enjoy basic things like walking along the riverside or sledding in winter. Another fact that can be surprising is to see that they are so proud of their national flag. They put it on almost every building and even in their gardens or houses.

Now that 6 months have passed, my excitation is still at its highest point! The Amity Intern Teacher Program experience is so far the best experience abroad I’ve ever had. The experience of teaching my own language is definitely what I was looking for. I wanted to live abroad for awhile after my studies and was wondering what it would be to teach French as a Foreign Language. With Amity Institute I had the opportunity to try during 1 year, and the result is 100% pive! Except from improving my English and learning about the country - culture, history, customs...- I met people from all other the world, created new friendships, and traveled from the East to the West coast.

The American culture is pretty similar to the French culture, whereas relationships are seen differently here. They respect private spaces more than we do in France: they say “hello” or shake hands instead of kissing cheeks as we will do. But then, when they feel comfortable enough with you, they’ll come over your house and enter without knocking. American students find time to have a part-time job, do their homework, work out and party. In a certain way they seem much more independent and responsible than French students. It’s always fun to discover how differently we act depending on the situations, and to share it with friends. I learn a lot from them and hope it’ll stay like that for a long time!”

Nelson Gutierrez

Colombia

“It is just wonderful when you realize about the great opportunity you have gotten to be active part in both experiencing and learning while sharing your language and culture. Student’s world views are an extraordinary thing to discover. In that way, every single moment sharing with them at the classroom has been full of amazing experiences. Definitely, my experience as an Amity Intern in Saint Paul, MN has provided me with one of the best years of my life. Thanks to the Amity Institute for contributing in making this ideal come true!”

Beiky Cardozo

Colombia

“To share with hundreds of boys and girls that want to know you and your culture; to speak many languages, because your students can be from different places from the world; to eat Lefse, Num, Cheese from Holland, Walleye, since your families are of different backgrounds and above all, to understand that all we have differences, but that our values and beliefs are Universal. I live and treasure all this and I will conserve large memories and many friendships because I was an Amity Intern Teacher.”

Alejandra Janelly Feregrino Hernandez

Amity Institute - Live, Learn & Teach in the USA (Mexico)

“I really don’t know how to start because I have millions important and interesting things about my Internship to share with you; is just, the best thing that I could have done on my live. I can’t believe that this adventure is almost done, I can remember like yesterday when I arrived, is amazing; the time is going really fast, and I don’t want to finish with this yet. I am in Seattle Washington, a wonderful city with ocean and lake, with big towers in Downtown and lot of interesting things to do. Is a nice place with nice people, with lot of rain and not too much snow, but very close to the mountains where you can ski. I am working at The Bush School, a private school with a high quality of education. I spent six months working in Lower School and eighth grade in Middle School and now, I am working with Upper School and eighth grade in middle school, is very fascinating and in the same time very different in each area but is awesome to work with them. I am taking one class with the students like another student and I’m doing AMP (Action Module Program) which is a different activity during the week with them, in the first period I was in ‘Learn to Row’, in the second period I was in ‘Weird Art’ and I don’t know yet about this period but that is really good because you can increase a lot your English and be in touch with the students. Another thing that I had been doing was to go to the mountains every Friday with the school in the ski bus to ski, was really fun.

During my stay, I have been living with three different host families, which is very attractive because you can learn about the really big different types of life. I was traveling to some different places, sometimes with the school and sometimes by myself. I have been in Vancouver, Canada with the other interns; in British Columbia, Canada with the cross country sky team; in San Francisco, California and Las Vegas with friends and I will be in San Antonio during the Spring Break.

I think this is the best experience on my life and with it I have been able to learn another language, culture, city, etc. and mature a lot.”

Juan Pablo Rigotti

Amity Institute - Live, Learn & Teach in the USA (Argentina)

“If I had to describe my experience in just one word, it would be unforgettable. Firstly, because I have learnt a lot about the American life living with a host family, secondly, I have improved my English and even taken classes with students from all over the world and thirdly, I really enjoy working at Adams School (St. Paul, Minnesota) sharing my language and culture with other Amities, staff and American students. Everyday, something new and exciting is out there waiting for me and I am ready to experience it!”

Sonia Perraud

Amity Institute - Live, Learn & Teach in the USA (Grenoble, France)

“Hey y’all! My name is Sonia. I turned 24 last December. I am a French intern teacher in the Foreign Languages department at Presbyterian college, South Carolina, for the academic year 2008-2009. Not only do I teach French but I also take classes. I am trying to make the most of this year in the United States and I am having the time of my life. I think everybody should study abroad, not only to improve one’s linguistic skills but also to meet different people and see what life is like in another culture. Studying, teaching, and living in the United States is a wonderful experience. I am experiencing a completely different college and campus culture. For one thing, we have no such thing as colleges (only universities) in France. We don’t have a major/minor system. Exams are not graded on 100 points. I love living in a dorm on campus because I get to socialize with American students and I don’t have to commute every morning to go to class, so I can sleep longer (it can take me up to 45 minutes back home). What surprised me most about the life in the area I was assigned to, which is a small rural town upstate South Carolina, is that everything is open every day and sometimes even 24/7 (like the campus computer lab or McDonald).”