Bellarmine University prides itself on fostering a robust array of international learning opportunities popular with the campus community.
When the pandemic hit - grinding most international travel to a halt - students, staff and faculty found creative ways to continue forging global connections, mostly online.
Students engaged in virtual experiences relevant to their fields of study, while faculty invited international guests to speak to their classes via videos or online platforms.
Students report that their virtual learning experiences often far-exceeded their expectations, giving them valuable skills and networking opportunities. They also helped solidify their goals to study abroad in person, once able to do so safely.
Now, as travel restrictions have loosened in most places, Bellarmine students are encouraged to start planning their future study abroad and international experiences.
“It’s time to start preparing for summer and beyond,” said Mary Aurora Grandinetti, director of Study Abroad and International Programs. “We’re encouraging students to reach out now to begin the planning process so we can
help them find the right opportunities to meet their personal and professional goals.”
Grandinetti said interested students should begin the process by filling out the interest form. A representative from the Study Abroad and International Programs Office will connect
with students who complete the form to share international opportunities with them.
In the meantime, check out some of the awesome internships Bellarmine students have undertaken over the last year.
Nefris Y. Chacha
Year: Junior
Major: Elementary Ed and Learning/Behavior Disorders
Home: Louisville, but originally from Mexico
International Experience: Virtual teaching at Stanford College in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which is a bilingual elementary school.
Duties: As a student teacher intern, I was expected to fulfill a variety of assignments and I taught different subjects. I virtually Zoomed into the on-site classrooms to teach classes or remote classes.
Goals: I wanted to put into practice some of the skills I had acquired from my education classes. And I wanted to get over my fear of teaching to a full class and get feedback to make me a better educator.
Outcomes: I was able to gain so much experience in planning, adjusting and modifying lessons for students, as well as the best way to deliver the material and engage the students virtually. This experience has prepared me to work with students who speak
English as a second language, as well as helped me see other cultures’ way of seeing and using the education system. It helped me recognize the love I have for ESL, ELL and CLD students.
Future plans: Finish my bachelor’s degree at Bellarmine and enter the workforce teaching in Louisville, complete my ESL endorsement. Later on, I want to get my master’s in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).
Abby Pitts
Year: Senior
Major: English & Foreign Language International Studies, German, also in the early entry Master of Teaching Program.
Home: Hillsdale, Michigan
International Experience: A nonprofit organization called Impact, which was a German organization that does research and outreach for refugee and women’s rights issues.
Job duties: I was the research department intern and used quite a bit of my English actually. I copy edited many of their research projects and also worked to create social media posts about their projects.
Outcomes: I felt like I learned a bunch and worked toward changing some of the things that I care about greatly, like social justice issues surrounding refugees.
Future plans: I will be at Bellarmine as I pursue my Master of Teaching. However, this experience, in combination with my FLIS degree, has drawn me toward the idea of international education. I would love to go into international ed.
Annaleigh R. Cummings
Year: Senior
Major: Foreign Languages and International Studies, Spanish
Home: Minneapolis, Minnesota
International Experience: Pontificia Universidad de Catolica de Valparaiso in collaboration with the Ciclo del Emprendador program.
Internship details: Service-learning internship through this university in Valparaiso, Chile, with coursework in Spanish about social responsibility and a collaboration with small business owners who were gaining foundational skills in running
a business.
Why study abroad? I had planned to study abroad in Argentina before COVID-19 to improve my Spanish and found this as a virtual alternative.
Impressions: Overall, I found the course challenging, but rewarding. The Chilean dialect was the hardest thing to grasp, but I found that at the end of the course, my understanding greatly grew. In particular, my knowledge of business terms in Spanish
was expanded due to the business nature of the internship.
Outcomes: After executing this project, I think I have more confidence in my leadership and speaking abilities in Spanish, as well as better cultivating the skill of being present in the moment. Having the ability to take on a leadership role in
a language that is not my own is an asset that I’m sure will be beneficial in the future and one that I am very grateful for.