I currently work as the School Director at NSI. My career has been very focused on language, student development and study abroad. I’ve held positions as an ESL instructor, Spanish Instructor, Surf Instructor, Residence Life Coordinator and Study Abroad Coordinator.
All of these positions have really been in preparation for what I do at NSI which is to help students grow linguistically and culturally within a professional and nurturing environment.
Yes! I spent one year at the University of Granada in Spain. It was the absolute best decision and best year of my life. I have always had a passion for the Spanish language and culture and when I learned of the opportunity to spend time studying and traveling there I took it.
Studying abroad is so much more than just language study but also the friends you make, the personal discoveries and the opportunity to see new places, it’s truly an adventure!
Participating in a language/cultural immersion program is so much more than just visiting a resort and being on vacation. It forces you out of your comfort zone and pushes you to interact and reflect -- this definitely has the ability to change a person.
So, it is the personal change as well as the connection with others that is so important when learning a language and truly living in another culture. This is invaluable for personal growth and also often times results in opportunities for professional growth as well.
I think NSI has a very personal feel. We get to know all of our students and go out of our way to make students feel comfortable at the school and in Nosara.
We are also very actively involved in the community and participate in community programs and our homestay program has been helping microfinance local families to make improvements in their homes and better the relationships between locals and travelers. It’s a very special program to be a part of.
I would love to see opportunities to study abroad become more accessible, financially and programmatically. I think study abroad should be a requirement in universities or during gap years or at the very least it should be encouraged more than it is now.
Many people don’t realize just how many opportunities there are to study abroad and how many benefits there are.