INTERN QUESTIONS

Click on the links below to learn more about each topic.

How do I become an applicant?
What are my chances of receiving an assignment?
How can I improve my chances of getting an assignment?
How do I maintain an active application?
What is an assignment?
How long is an Amity?
Where are assignments located?
What will my assignment responsibilities be?
What are my financial responsibilities?
What are my insurance responsibilities?
How do I know if I have an assignment?
What happens after I am invited?
What if I accept an invitation, but can not come?
What should I know about US Schools?

How do I become an applicant? (back to top)

1. Read the Amity Bulletin
2. Complete an Amity application
3. Interview with Amity Screening Officer

What are my chances of receiving an assignment? (back to top)

In recent years, approximately 85% of those who have applied and maintained an active application have received an assignment. However, there is no guarantee that an applicant will receive an assignment.

How can I improve my chances of getting an assignment? (back to top)

• Maintain a flexible period of availability.
• Be open to assisting at all school levels
• Be willing to go to any region in the United States.
• Notify Amity Institute of any change in your contact information, even temporary changes (address, telephone and cell phone numbers, and email address).

How do I maintain an active application? (back to top)

Correspond with Amity Institute monthly by email (interns@amity.org). Please include any changes to availability, experience, or contact information. The correspondences will help Amity get to know the applicant better as well. If an applicant fails to correspond on a monthly basis, Amity will send the applicant a Drop notice. If the applicant does not respond to the notice, the application will be dropped.

What is an assignment? (back to top)

Amity assignments vary in length of stay, location, school, stipend and specific duties and responsibilities.

All assignments require a participant to:

• Assist in a classroom for a maximum of 32 hours per week
• Live with a US Host Family
• Complete a Cultural Project.

How long is an Amity assignment? (back to top)

Amity offers various assignment lengths. The US school year generally runs from August/September to May/June. The majority of assignments are within that timeframe.

The most commonly requested assignment lengths from US schools are:

• Full school year (August/September to May/June, approximately ten months)
• emester (Fall - August/September to December/January or Spring – December/January to May/June, approximately five months)

No assignment can exceed 12 months.

Where are assignments located? (back to top)

Amity works with many participating schools throughout the US. The majority of the schools are in the Midwest, and small town or suburban locations. There are few assignments in the major US cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, or New York.

What will my assignment responsibilities be? (back to top)

• Assist one or more teacher(s) in their classroom.
• Give cultural presentations.
• Coordinate student activities: trips, festivals, sports, choir, performances
• Tutoring, language labs or discussion groups
• Complete a Cultural Project
• Participate in activities and interact with your Host Family

What are my financial responsibilities? (back to top)

• $100 application fee paid to Amity Institute.
• Travel expenses to and from the United States, including the Visa application fee. A return ticket must be purchased prior to arrival in the US.
• Personal expense money, a minimum of $150 per month. This covers costs for clothing, travel, entertainment, telephone, and gifts.

Cost of insurance for entire assignment (approximately $75 per month)

If you do not have enough money for the personal expenses, health insurance, and a round-trip ticket you will not be considered for the Amity program. Proof of financial resources must be provided with application.

“Do not expect to earn additional money during your assignment. Amity Interns will receive a monthly stipend of a minimum of $150, as well as free room and board.”

What are my insurance responsibilities? (back to top)

You must have accident/sickness insurance that includes evacuation/repatriation insurance which meets the US government requirements for the entire time you are in the US, beginning from the day you leave for your assignment till the day you depart for your home country. Insurance for the entire period of your assignment must be purchased and submitted to the Amity office before you leave your home country.

How do I know if I have an assignment? (back to top)

Amity will contact you by email or telephone and inform you that you have received an invitation. That is the only way to receive an assignment. Often schools will contact applicants for an interview, but they are not authorized to give an official invitation. The invitation for an assignment must come from Amity Institute.

Before you accept an assignment, be sure to be:

• Prepared to adapt to new circumstances, home and work environment.
• Able to fulfill the financial requirements.
• Able to have support from family and friends.
• Healthy: physically and mentally.
• Available to come.
• Verify the dates of the assignment with your employer or university.

What happens after I am invited? (back to top)

1. An Amity Program Counselor will be assigned to you. The Program Counselor provides information, guidance, support, encouragement, and assistance with any problems from the beginning of the assignment until the end.
2. Your Program Counselor will send you information about the assignment, visa, insurance and preparations necessary prior to arrival. Program Counselors are available via phone or email for any questions.

What if I accept an invitation, but can not come? (back to top)

If you are unable to fulfill an assignment due to an emergency you will be released from the program. You must inform Amity immediately so a replacement can be found. Depending on the circumstances, your application may be dropped, deferred or considered for future assignments depending upon the circumstances. If you would like to participate in the program in the future, you may be able to reapply at a later time.

What should I know about US Schools? (back to top)

US schools are generally divided into the following age groups:

• Elementary - 6-12 years of age
• Middle/Jr. High - 13-15 years of age
• Senior High - 15-18 years of age
  

In the United States, students and teachers tend to have less formal relationships and more relaxed standards of behavior and discipline. Students can be extremely vocal and outspoken. There is a strong emphasis on extracurricular activities and sports. Standards of behavior and discipline may be more relaxed.

US schools are geared to prepare students for participation in American society. In doing this, they adhere to several general principals.

Preparation for citizenship in a democracy is the most significant goal of education in the US.
Students are encouraged to think and act independently at a young age. By graduation they are expected to be autonomous adults, ready to play a role in political and economic life in the US. Political activity (i.e. voting) is the autonomous right of every US citizen. Student government, volunteering in the community, supporting charitable organizations, and aiding social causes are encouraged forms of community involvement.

US students come from a broad range of cultures and socioeconomic groups.
The United States is a large country with diverse groups of people who hold different values. Images of Americans you have seen in newspapers, magazines or popular culture do not necessarily reflect the many different regional cultures, subgroups and varying ethnicities found in the US.

American educators believe that a student learns most effectively by doing.
US students can be vocal and outgoing. They expect to play an active role in the classroom. Initially, students may seem difficult to control or even rude. It is important to try to find a balance between an active, productive classroom and negative, undisciplined chaos.

University and vocational preparation usually takes place in the same school.
In most schools, fairly flexible sets of courses are available with certain courses recommended for university preparation and others for vocational training. Some courses are required of all students, while others are optional. It is the responsibility of each student, with the aid of counselors, to determine the set of courses most suited to his or her needs and abilities.

Free primary and secondary education is made available to everyone.
Generally, there are twelve years of standard schooling, divided into elementary (6-12 years of age), Middle/Jr. High (13-15 years of age) and Senior High (15-18 years of age).

Few American schools require uniforms.
Most private schools and public schools will have some sort of clothing regulations or dress code. But dress codes can vary depending on the philosophy and standards of the school.

Each school is led by a principal.
The principal is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the school, such as providing instructional leadership, hiring and evaluating personnel, allocating budget funds, and insuring that the school building is maintained appropriately. Accountability and student achievement are important issues for schools across the country and are administered in each school by the principal.

Parents often play a significant role in students' day-to-day education in US schools.
It is essential that teachers maintain positive, cooperative relationships with parents because such collaboration creates a more productive environment and a better chance of student success. At the beginning of the school year, US schools schedule "parent-teacher conferences" in which teachers have formal meetings with parents of their students. These meetings give the teachers a chance to meet parents, to identify avenues of communication with them, and to establish expectations for the upcoming year.

Local control of public education is another unique feature of American school systems.
School systems are generally run by an autonomous, elected board of local citizens, commonly called a "Board of Education". State governments make laws regarding teacher certification and may set guidelines for course offerings, textbooks, etc. The federal government usually makes broad recommendations and delegates special funds, but it is the local community that controls and is financially responsible for its schools.

Subsidized university education is made available to a wide range of people.
It is generally believed that providing higher education to as many people as possible benefits American society, so there are many routes and opportunities for students to pursue a college/university degree