Amity Institute

Building International Friendship and Cultural Understanding Through Teaching Exchange.

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Alumni Stories

We love to keep in touch with our Amity participants long after they complete their intern or teacher program.  Often times, their stay in the United States leads to a great deal of professional and personal growth, impacting their lives for years to come.  We asked some former participants to answer a few questions regarding their education and careers and how their Amity experience helped lead them to new opportunities; read their inspiring answers below!

Amity Alumni: Want to share your story? Or are you interested in becoming an Amity Alumni Ambassador? Email RCruz@amity.org for more information.

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“I did my internship between my first and second year of my master’s degree.  After my Amity internship, I decided to take another internship in Russia, where I have lived for three months.  I would have never been able to do that, to leave for a country all by myself, before Amity.  My time in the United States helped me to be open-minded and so, opened doors for my future. Right now, I’m living in Austria for eight months, working as a French Assistant.  I have my master’s now and can work wherever I want.  My initial experience with Amity allowed me to reconsider living outside of France and, most importantly, helped me to see that I didn’t have to be that scared to go! Because of this experience on my resume, finding a job will be a little bit easier for me.” – Tiphaine Verhooghe (2016-2017), France

“Although I am still studying to complete my degree in Education, I have now partnered now with Education USA in El Salvador to help interns give advice to incoming interns, share my personal story, and encourage them to enjoy their experience! My time as an Intern and the knowledge I gained helped me grow professionally. The feedback I received from educators at my host school was crucial to my development, and since then, I feel more confident as a teacher.” – Monica Martinez (2017-2018), El Salavdor 

“I am currently finishing my master’s in language acquisition, and plan to become a primary school teacher in immersion schools.  My Amity experience clearly led me to choosing this future career rather than just become a teacher back home in France. I saw first hand the benefits of early immersion for children, and I was able to develop abilities in classroom management, lesson planning, and various approaches to teaching and learning.” – Emilie Colonier (2016, 2017),  France

“After my internship, I began working in a bilingual school in my home country. It’s incredible to share with my students about my time in the United States.  I have grown so much.  Professionally, I have the opportunity to combine what I learned in the USA with what I had learned in my prior education.  My internship gave me to tools I needed to become a good educator, and really opened my mind to make a difference and adapt with the many changes that are happening in the teaching profession.” – Yubeth Medina Olaya (2016-2017), Colombia

“When I finished my internship, I went back to France and completed my first year of my master’s degree in education.  Now, I am a student at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan in Canada for the second year of my master’s.  This will provide me with a Canadian diploma in Education, which will allow me to teach in French in Canada.  My year with Amity helped determine my career path; I am willing to take opportunities. Studying in Canada is proof that the program had a huge impact on my personal growth.” – Justine Biotteau (2016-2017), France

“Right now, I am working as a University Professor at the university I graduated from in 2016.  Since 2017, I was given the chance to teach college students different subjects such as Basic and Intermediate English, Reading and Conversations, Instructional Technology, and Information and Communications Technology.  I also work in an English extension program of the university as an ESL teacher.” – Denis T Gonzalez (2016-2017), El Salvador

“I experienced  professional growth thanks to my involvement in the school and school projects. It’s something we don’t see much in France, and I was not used to it, but it really creates a sense of school community. You grow as a professional and a person by communicating and being an active part of your class and school community. I’m doing my second year of Masters degree FLE (French as foreign language), major in English didactic, and I’m currently an intern in the Alliance Française of Oxford, UK for validation of my master’s degree. My year with Amity, confirmed my interest in teaching. It also helped me see that I’m more interested in teaching French as a foreign language than French or English in France. It mostly helped me understand that being involved in what you do is what makes you grow on all levels of your life.” – Manuela Duplin (2016-2017), France

“A long time has passed and I still think it has been one of the most valuable professional teaching experiences, as well as life-changing activities, I’ve applied myself to as a young man! I am still a language teacher now at schools in Argentina and I make permanent connection with those days in and around New Jersey.” Pablo Ramon (1994-1995), Argentina


This experience changed my life! Now, I have more dreams and some other goals. I'm so thankful for everything that I've learned. I want to continue growing as a human and as a teacher. The Amity program is one the best things that ever happened to me." - Michelle, 2018-2019 Intern

We have been working with Amity for several years. Learning about different cultures, communities, traditions, music, arts, dances and more, helps our students to see the world as a global place fostering diversity and respect. Having a second adult in the classroom helps our teachers to be able to have more individualized attention to students and work on small groups. Amity has been a wonderful organization to work with, reliable and accessible, bringing highly qualified young people to work in our school."- Maria Buceta Miller, Amity School Coordinator, John Stanford International School

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Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor 🇺🇲 (BridgeUSA)
International friendship+cultural understanding through teaching exchange 🌍
Admissions is closed!

Amity Institute
Our Executive Director, Jim Price, conducted his f Our Executive Director, Jim Price, conducted his first orientation of the year in Tulsa, Oklahoma with the Spanish Ministry of Education! 

#BridgeUSA #J1 @exchangeourworld
Next stop:📍Scottsdale, Arizona for their teache Next stop:📍Scottsdale, Arizona for their teacher orientation! 

#J1visa #BridgeUSA @exchangeourworld
We've reached the exciting time of the year where We've reached the exciting time of the year where we welcome our new participants and conduct orientations! 

Our School Liaison Officer, Sue Gibbons-Bullock, led us with our first one in Phoenix, Arizona! 🎉

#J1 #BridgeUSA @ExchangeOurWorld
Today we #CelebrateExchangeDay – an opportunity Today we #CelebrateExchangeDay – an opportunity for international exchange visitors and host communities to come together to share cultural diversity and American customs, and to give back to their communities. Join us in raising awareness of the power and breadth of international exchanges. #ExchangesImpact @ExchangeOurWorld
One of the best feelings is sharing many wonderful One of the best feelings is sharing many wonderful memories and building a lifelong relationship with your host family during your program. 

"I am very grateful and proud to have lived such an experience!"

Pictured here: Intern Alum, Chloé Meurisse, with her host family.

@exchangeourworld #J1 #BridgeUSA
Intern Alumni, Eliseo Rivas, shared his journey wi Intern Alumni, Eliseo Rivas, shared his journey with us and what he's been up to since he completed his internship with Amity Institute: 

"Thankful & Blessed. 🙏 I'm so thankful for having had these amazing opportunities.

Back in 2015, I had the privilege to meet such amazing children and host families in Burlingame, California 🇺🇸 through the Interns Program of @amityinstitute . As in every new experience, I was challenged academically and emotionally. But, that powerful opportunity impacted my life for the better! 

In 2016, I came back to El Salvador with more knowledge of the English language and the American culture which I have put into practice at @ccsa_sv and @superate_adoc , where I'm currently working as an English teacher.

In 2018, I loved reuniting with one of my host families in Costa Rica. It was a special moment for me because my father and my sister were able to meet and thanked them personally for all the support they had given me. Such an memorable moment, and thanks for keeping supporting me, @cindy.sibley and @fordsibley 

In 2022, a couple of weeks ago, I was invited to be part of another unforgettable experience. As part of the Spanish Immersion Program, students are arranged a cultural trip to a Spanish speaking country so they can use the language and be more culturally aware. I was given the opportunity to be one of the chaperones of the group so I joined @becerralisa , @cindy.sibley , and 9 students in Costa Rica for a 7-day trip. There's so much I would love to share about this experience, but I just can say that it felt like a dream. I loved to see the students hanging out, enjoying so much about this beautiful country, learning and sharing at all times. Costa Rica has a lot to offer, culturally and touristically 🤩 

Thank you so much everyone who helped and made this possible. What a powerful opportunity!"

We're honored to be part of your journey, Eliseo. We can't wait to see what the future holds for you!

#J1 #bridgeusa
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