Making Study Abroad more Accessible – My Experience Volunteering Abroad

Volunteering is something I believe that everyone who can, should. While I volunteer regularly back home, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find opportunities abroad. After all, not being fluent in the language can be a huge barrier. Arriving in Tallinn, my worries quickly vanished thanks to the CIEE team. Mari, Evelyn, and Maddy were able to provide an extensive list of opportunities supporting a variety of causes. 

Back in the States, my main focus is language pedagogy and helping international students adjust to U.S. culture. The CIEE team was able to get me in contact with a representative for EducationUSA, an organization that aims to make studying in the U.S. more accessible to students globally while also exposing them to American English dialects. 

I was invited to be a guest speaker and American student representative at a local high school’s career fair in Paide; I was asked to moderate and present for the American English club at TalTech; and in March, I was given the opportunity to travel to Narva to assist a Fulbright Scholar in teaching English. It was a truly amazing opportunity; I got to continue doing what I love while encouraging others to study abroad – to take the leap and land on the opportunity of a lifetime. 

The students were welcoming and attentive – just as curious about studying in the States as they were about how I was adjusting to Estonia. It was heartwarming to see them show an interest in becoming a global scholar. 

If you have the opportunity to volunteer while abroad, don’t hesitate to take it. The CIEE team will be there every step of the way to support you and point towards causes you’re passionate about.

– Aspen Stevenson https://my.ciee.org/?rc=studyabroadtoday