Biography
Programs: Yonsei University Exchange, English Social Club (ESC) English Language Teaching Internship
Major: Psychology
Certificate: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Ashlie is a senior majoring in psychology while also obtaining a TESOL certificate. She did an English Teaching Internship in Seville, Spain, in the summer of 2024 and then went on to an exchange program at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, for the 2024-2025 academic year. She was able to apply the skills she learned in her TESOL classes to succeed in her teaching internship, while also using her time in a Spanish-speaking country to exercise her language skills.
Ashlie says her favorite part of her internship was not only the improvement in her teaching, but the connections she formed with her students. Through her students, she experienced a cultural exchange – her students taught her what life in Spain was like, while Ashlie returned the favor by teaching her what life in the US was like.
Ashlie’s favorite part of her exchange program in South Korea was experiencing the culture and the everyday local lifestyle. Because she did the academic year program, Ashlie was able to experience all the national holidays in South Korea, such as Chuseok, Hangul Day, Children’s Day, and Buddha’s Birthday. Throughout the year, she tried her best to participate in the traditional practices for each holiday when she could, to truly understand and learn. She also joined a school club at Yonsei, where she was able to build connections with locals and participate in club traditions such as an MT and weekly club dinners. Ashlie would not trade her enriching experiences in Spain or South Korea for the world, as it expanded her worldview beyond the U.S. and gifted her new perspectives on different cultures.