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Curious what life appears to be like like for a school scholar interning overseas in Italy? We just lately caught up with AIFS Overseas participant Carlos from the College of Kentucky, who spent his summer season interning overseas within the Renaissance metropolis of Florence.
Uncover how Carlos’s summer season internship in Italy with AIFS Overseas helped him increase his cultural horizons and acquire priceless skilled expertise!
Selecting an Internship Program Vacation spot & Time period
When you resolve to check or intern overseas, you get to choose the place on this planet, and when, you’ll go. With so many AIFS Overseas locations positioned world wide, you’ll be able to select a program in a bunch metropolis that finest aligns along with your private and educational targets. As somebody considering Italian tradition and historical past, selecting to intern overseas in Italy was a no brainer for Carlos:
“I selected Italy as a result of I needed to expertise its tradition, historical past, and language whereas additionally gaining [professional] expertise. I’d suggest this program to college students who’re open-minded, adaptable, and considering working with youngsters whereas studying in a world setting.”
So far as selecting a time period went, Carlos mentioned that summer season labored finest together with his educational schedule:
“I selected summer season as a result of it match properly with my college schedule and gave me the possibility to spend extra time overseas. The season made the expertise even higher with heat climate, vigorous festivals, and plenty of cultural occasions, although it additionally meant extra vacationers within the metropolis.”
Internship Expertise
Carlos did a full-time internship program, permitting him to achieve real-world expertise within the training and psychology fields. His function as an English educating assistant included duties each out and in of the classroom:
“[My host company is] a non-profit group in Florence that focuses on serving to younger youngsters (ages 6 – 10) be taught English in a enjoyable and fascinating method. We use artistic, play-based strategies like video games, songs, and hands-on actions [to teach students English].”
Whereas his duties on any given day may differ from aiding within the classroom to engaged on administration duties from his pc, he may at all times depend on one factor—free time after his internship to discover town:
“Generally I work on-line doing administration duties or lesson planning. Different days, I collaborate with my supervisor to develop new tasks or actions. And, in fact, some days I’m hands-on with the children, main English video games, crafts, or interactive classes. It’s an important mixture of behind-the-scenes work and time with the scholars!… I additionally find time for exploring town, grabbing espresso with associates, or visiting a museum after work. Daily feels a bit of totally different, which I really like!”
If you intern overseas with AIFS Overseas, you’ll be assured a supervisor at your new host firm. Somebody who’s there to indicate you the ropes, assist you to construct skilled expertise in your profession area, and reply any questions. Hear Carlos describe his expertise together with his supervisor:
“My supervisor was supportive and collaborative. Their management model was approachable and versatile; they gave steering when wanted but in addition inspired independence and artistic problem-solving. This made it straightforward to ask questions and be taught from expertise.”
Skilled Growth
Interning overseas means that you can construct out your resume and acquire sensible skilled expertise, all when you make worldwide connections and dwell like an area overseas. Carlos emphasised that his training internship in Florence had an influence on each his private {and professional} improvement:
“I actually developed my adaptability by studying the right way to regulate to a brand new tradition…and work surroundings. I additionally improved my communication…[and] management [skills] by planning actions, guiding college students, and taking initiative on totally different tasks.
Interning overseas gave me actual expertise working in a world setting, whereas additionally letting me totally immerse [myself] within the native tradition. It’s been an effective way to develop each personally and professionally!”
Cultural Appreciation
Interning overseas with AIFS Overseas provides college students the possibility to dwell like locals—and for Carlos, that meant having fun with genuine Florentine experiences. From embracing a slower tempo of life to tasting his method by town, there’s a lot to like about interning overseas:
“I attempted many new meals, together with contemporary pasta, pizza, gelato, and native cheeses. I particularly liked gelato from small retailers and home made pasta dishes. My go-to meals have been usually easy, native favorites like margherita pizza or pasta with seasonal sauces, and I loved attempting totally different eating places and cafes across the metropolis.”
Along with delectable delicacies, Italy is residence to many cultural festivals that encourage genuine native experiences:
“I attended La Festa di San Giovanni on June 24, which was a memorable native competition. It was thrilling to see town come alive with fireworks, music, and celebrations. Experiencing this occasion gave me a deeper appreciation for native traditions and made me really feel extra linked to the tradition.”
Journeys & Actions
AIFS Overseas packages embrace journeys and excursions in addition to social and cultural actions that take contributors round their host nation and metropolis—additional immersing them within the tradition whereas providing the possibility to journey with fellow contributors and trusted on-site employees. Between tasting desserts in Florence and touring to a few of Italy’s most fascinating cultural websites, it’s no marvel Carlos remembers these occasions fondly:
“I attended a number of AIFS-sponsored excursions and occasions that have been actually memorable. For excursions, I went on day journeys to Siena and Pisa and a weekend journey to Milan and Lake Como, seeing the historic websites and delightful landscapes made them unforgettable. For occasions, I loved the gelato tour, wine tasting, cooking class, pizza making, and a dinner with Italians. These experiences let me attempt new meals, observe my language expertise, and join with native tradition in a enjoyable, hands-on method.”
Housing
Housing is at all times included with AIFS Overseas packages. As Carlos explains, his housing in Florence made him really feel like he was a part of the local people:
“Housing actually provides you the possibility to dwell like an area! We stayed in an residence surrounded by Italian neighbors. All of the residences are unfold out throughout central Florence, so all the things is tremendous walkable. They differ in measurement and elegance, however you usually share with 2 – 4 different college students from this system. It’s a cool strategy to actually really feel such as you’re residing right here, not simply visiting.”
AIFS Overseas Scholarships
AIFS Overseas provides scholarships and grants that may assist cut back the price of our packages. Carlos was awarded our Inexperienced Ambassador Scholarship, which allowed him to concentrate on sustainability overseas and make a distinction in his new neighborhood:
“Being an AIFS Overseas Inexperienced Ambassador means representing sustainability whereas overseas and inspiring others to make extra eco-conscious decisions of their every day lives. As a part of this system, I’m engaged on a sustainability challenge and creating content material that highlights native inexperienced practices right here in Italy. It’s about staying aware, whether or not that’s utilizing a tote bag on the market, supporting native companies, or lowering waste, and serving to others see how small actions could make a huge impact, even whereas touring.”
Language Studying
Need to intern overseas however don’t know a second language? No downside! You’re not required to talk the native language to check or intern overseas, and as Carlos explains, he was in a position to get by in Italy with simply the fundamentals:
“I interned in Italy, the place English shouldn’t be the first language. I didn’t must know Italian to be eligible for this system, however studying some fundamental phrases helped me talk and really feel extra comfy. My language expertise improved rather a lot with the two weeks of Italian classes we have been required to take earlier than the internship started, and in addition by every day observe and immersion within the tradition. My recommendation is to attempt talking the language every time attainable, observe with locals, and never be afraid to make errors. Immersion is one of the best ways to be taught.”
Why AIFS Overseas?
There are such a lot of causes to decide on AIFS Overseas, together with our on-site employees, nice housing choices, and our high-quality packages positioned all around the world. Our complete choices and testimonials from previous contributors made it straightforward for Carlos to decide on one in every of our packages:
“I selected AIFS as a result of it provides robust help, good program choices, and clear steering for finding out and interning overseas. I had heard it was properly organized, dependable, and that college students felt protected and supported whereas gaining cultural and private development.”
After interning with us, Carlos is certain glad he did select AIFS Overseas—as he put it, having on-site help was actually useful and reassuring:
“The AIFS employees and advisors have been very useful all through all the program. Earlier than I left, they guided me by functions and journey planning. Throughout this system, they have been out there for questions and help, and their check-ins made me really feel protected and ready. Their steering actually stood out and made the expertise smoother.”
Are you a school scholar or current grad who’s able to intern overseas like Carlos did in Florence? We’d love that can assist you begin your journey!
Right here at AIFS Overseas, we all know a factor or two about serving to faculty college students and up to date graduates intern overseas. All our packages include many helpful inclusions, which takes quite a lot of the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to offering issues like cultural and social actions, excursions, complete insurance coverage, 24/7 emergency help, on-site employees, and profession readiness programming, you’ll take consolation in realizing you’ll have help all through your complete expertise overseas.
