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Graphic
Design Student Loving The City That Never Sleeps
 For
the second consecutive year, a Graphic Design student is participating in a
placement at Creative
Source Inc., a solutions-driven marketing communications firm in New
York City.
Linden Polos is loving her time in the Big Apple, "My time
here has been amazing. This has been a life-long dream. I live and work in Manhattan.
I can see the Chrysler building from my office window."
Polos has been working on logos, layouts and more. "I
designed a logo for a large fitness company that will be on every client's gym
bag. That's exciting!" said Polos. "But better, some of my designs
were chosen over some senior designers. In my opinion that's a great tip of the
cap to faculty of my program."
The Ontario International
Education Opportunity Scholarship was the catalyst getting Linden to New
York. "Frankly, I couldn't have done it without the scholarship."
Polos was lucky that she has a cousin in NYC to stay with to offset costs of
living in a different city.
An online portfolio of her work can be found at
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Lights, Camera, Action... Documentary Film Student in Korea
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 Bodeene Amyot is loving her time in Korea. "Korea has been
fantastic, it's been an extremely enriching experience. Koreans are
exceptionally welcoming people" says Amyot. The Documentary Film student
moved to Korea in February to work on a documentary film entitled Seoul,
Peace and Mustard Seeds. The film, currently in production, aims to provide
insight into the world of philanthropy in Seoul's English speaking expat
community. Mustard Seed Seoul, the subject matter for the film, is a
new and relatively small group that strives to help underprivileged Korean
children from low-income or single parent families learn English.
The experience has given Amyot the opportunity to learn in the
field which forced her to put the skills she learned in the classroom into
real-life scenarios. "Working abroad has helped me grow in many
different ways and has made me learn and hone my skills much faster than if I
had remained in a classroom" notes Amyot.
Filming a documentary in another country has its challenges. "The
language. Sure I can order food with little knowledge of Korean, but try
explaining what a head shot is to someone who doesn't speak English. But it's
rewarding. I believe this time abroad will have a lasting influence on my
career in documentary film production."
Amyot received the Ontario International
Education Opportunity Scholarship valuing $2500 which helps offset
travels costs. "Without the scholarship money this project would have
been more challenging than it already is. The scholarship opened the door,
and I walked inside."
As for future plans for Amyot "Kindergarten teaching to supplement
my income, but I'm developing my own production company. I love both, and a
balance between the two is an ideal situation."
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Placement
in England Similar to Studies at College
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The work Graphic Design student Erin
Aubrey is doing on her placement is exactly what she studies in her program,
the only difference is she's now doing the work as a professional rather than
a student. "I attend meetings and brainstorm with co-workers, then
worked on designs. The work is fast-paced and deadlines are always
near."
Aubrey is doing a placement for Story Worldwide, a creative agency
that specializes in content marketing. Story Worldwide clients include
companies not in the North American market. "I'm currently working on an
illustration for Humanic, a shoe and accessories company working out of 10
markets in Europe" says Erin. I also did similar work for Bicester Village, a high end shopping
area close to London."
Erin found her placement through a
British company called YCN, who, among other things "source and
represent the finest illustrators." Aubrey has already added several
pieces to her portfolio raising her chances of gaining full-time employment
in her industry upon returning to Canada.
When asked about the value to working abroad, Graphic Design Coordinator Andrea
Emery pointedly says "In design, if you have examples of
international experience in your portfolio, that's a huge feather in your
cap. Companies want to see experience. Erin's portfolio reflects
experience."
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Recreation and Leisure Services Students in the UK for the
Summer
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Two 1st year
students in the Recreation and Leisure
Services program didn't want to sit around over the summer. Instead they
wanted to gain experience in their field of study. So what did Jocelin
McAlpine and Alycia Bannon do? They sought out to gain international job
experience.
 "The work was a blast. You meet so many new people and experience
things you never thought possible. Oh, and it looks great on a resume"
says Alycia Bannon when commenting on her international experience.
The students did a summer job placement between the first and second
year of the program at Camp Beaumont in England,
an International Adventure Holiday summer camp welcoming children aged 7-18
to participate in sports and recreational activities.
"I expected a Commonwealth country like England to be similar to Canada,
but in fact it's completely different" quotes Bannon. "This
experience helped develop my ability to work with different people,
understand different cultures and ways of life, all key attributes for
someone in the recreation field."
The School of Health and
Community Studies graduate offers the following advice to students.
"If you can get international experience, go for it. I worked in my
chosen field of recreation and had an experience of a lifetime, all while
being a student at Algonquin College. "
McAlphine offers similar comments. "Throughout my two months of travel
in the United Kingdom, I learned a great deal about myself, and grew as a
person. I am now more outgoing, I am not scared to attack my goals, and have
no fear or regrets in doing so. I am now an individual who has greater goals,
and who wants to experience everything life has to offer, including traveling
the world. I had the time of my life and would (and can't wait to) do it all
over again."
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Destination Europe for
Teachers of English as a Second Language
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 Four Teachers of English as a Second
Foreign Language (TESL) students participated in oversees job placements in
Europe including two going to Belgrade, Serbia and two more to Milocer,
Montenegro.
"The teaching experience I gained in Montenegro was
invaluable" notes Susan Paul. "I was able to develop my own lesson
plans and gain confidence in the classroom." Paul taught Montengrin
students in the Algonquin College Culinary Management program
taught at the Hotelski Edukativni Centar (HEC).
Martin Zweig did a one month placement in Belgrade, Serbia at the Belgrade Business School (BBS).
"As a result of a recently signed agreement between the BBS and
Algonquin College, an opportunity for me to gain teaching experience overseas
opened up. The relevance of English in Serbia has never been more important
and especially for its youth who will shape the future of this country"
said Zwieg.
Michael Rousseau taught for one month at the HEC and was eager to speak of
his students overseas. "As a Teacher of English as a Second Language,
there can be no greater satisfaction than to witness the improvement in English
proficiency of those in your charge but much of the credit must go the
students whose eagerness to learn makes the job so much easier and
pleasurable to do."
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Montenegro
a Popular Placement Destination for Algonquin Students
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 This past semester nine Algonquin students
chose Montenegro as their international placement destination. Through a long
term relationship between Algonquin and the Hospitality Education
Center Montenegro, considered "the international hospitality college
of Montenegro", placements were secured for the students to work in the
education centre, a major hotel and several local restaurants. Students
from Broadcasting Television, Events Management, Culinary Management and
Teachers of English as a Second Foreign Language did placements of one
or two-months putting their practical skills to work in a foreign country.
"Montenegro has
captured a piece of my soul and I am looking forward to a return visit" commented
TESL student Susan Paul. Paul taught three groups of students: Montenegrins
taking part in the Culinary Program, hospitality students at the HEC and the
HEC staff. "I was very impressed with the level of professionalism and
attention to detail exhibited by the students" said Paul. "I was
able to develop my own lesson plans and over time gain that confidence that
teachers need to demonstrate."
Culinary Student Shawn Chodat had a similar experience. "I worked at the
restaurant in the Splendid Conference &
Spa Resort Budva" noted Chodat. "It was a Sushi/Tapas
restaurant which is kind of funny. A Canadian learning the art of
Sushi-making in Montenegro." Chodat and fellow culinary student Andrew
Turnbull took the placement experience one step further. "Some Algonquin
professors told us about a restaurant in Sveti Stephan where you can't find
fresher fish", laughed Turnbull. We showed up and said 'We've been told
this restaurant serves the freshest fish around. We want to work here, and
we'll do it for free.' They took up on our offer and we learned a bunch. It
was a fantastic experience."
 Broadcasting TV
students Angie Hughes and Caroline Leal did several independent projects while
in Montenegro, including sending weekly video reports back to Algonquin
College via Youtube. They were tasked to film Montenegro, the HEC and
their students for promotional purposes.
"The Broadcasting TV students have been working really hard filming
various venues and events. I am very pleased with their work. You can tell
there are skilled at their trade" said Branko Miljivic, a retired
Algonquin professor and main liaison between Algonquin College and the
HEC.
Events Management students Jacqui Postma and Lauren Hanlon also did a one
month placement in Montenegro
To find weekly videos by the TV students, go to youtube.com and
key in algonquinglobal.
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Quotes from Ontario
International Education Opportunity Scholarship Receipients
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"To sum up my international experience,
you have to jump at an opportunity, put yourself out on a limb, believe in
yourself, be able to accept criticism, and in the end, when someday comes,
you will have learned and be ready for what is next." Kayla Spruit, Interior Design
(Ndos Arquitectura, Barcelona, Spain)
My experience in Sierra Leone was
amazing. Everyone wanted to make sure we felt very safe and welcome in their
communities. There were a lot of very generous people we met." Kristen McNaule, Documetary
Production (Sierra Leone)
"New York is the communications capital
of the world. If I can get my foot in the door here, I can get it in
anywhere." Sarah
Shirey, Public Relations (Coburn Communications, New York City, USA)
"I am having the most wonderful
time in Hamburg. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and everyday is
packed with something new and exciting." Nina Gericke, Culinary Management (Hamburg,
Germany)
More quotes and testimonials can be found
at
http://www.algonquincollege.com/international/intl_opportunities/ScholarshipTestimonials.htm
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