Florence, Italy: The Bilingual Kindergarten
In Spring 2019, I had the amazing opportunity to spend 3 months in Florence, Italy as part of Stanford's Bing Overseas Studies Program. I lived in an Italian homestay while taking classes in art history, Italian language, and immigration policy. I also completed an internship at the Bilingual Kindergarten.
At The Bilingual Kindergarten, children spend half the day learning in English, then the other half in Italian. They are constantly understaffed, however, with over 30 students to one teacher in most classrooms. As an intern, I helped the first-grade teacher with her classroom, normally by taking a few struggling students outside to work in smaller groups.
The internship was fulfilling and exhausting, and I came away with a new appreciation for all that teachers do for their students. I learned patience, empathy, and leadership from working with these kids. I also understood how much a child's school environment influences his/her trajectory in life. Curriculum, teachers, and peers all shape the story of a child's life.
Overall, living in Italy was a special experience that helped me to better understand another part of the world.
The internship was fulfilling and exhausting, and I came away with a new appreciation for all that teachers do for their students. I learned patience, empathy, and leadership from working with these kids. I also understood how much a child's school environment influences his/her trajectory in life. Curriculum, teachers, and peers all shape the story of a child's life.
Overall, living in Italy was a special experience that helped me to better understand another part of the world.
Values:
Collaboration • Endless Learning
Collaboration • Endless Learning