Concurrent BEd student Amanda Almeida was recently recognized by the university’s International Education Office with a York International Global Achievement Award. The $500 award was presented to Amanda in recognition of her participation in a global engagement experience through an academic exchange or summer abroad.

Applicants were asked to demonstrate how their experience(s) abroad had an impact on their academic and career choices and how it prepared them to become a global citizen.

Amanda participated in York International’s Educational Exchange to Freiburg, Germany in 2015 where she taught at a local German elementary school and also taught English as a second language in Italy in 2016. While in Italy she worked with a company called Assocaiazione Culturale Linguistica Educaitonal and received her Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate with a specialization in Theatre and Play.

This September Amanda will begin her new job as a grade one teacher at Wuxi International School in China where she was recently hired.

“I’m looking forward to this exciting new opportunity and am absolutely thrilled to have my own classroom,” said Amanda. “My participation in York International’s exchange program has provided me with a rich international teaching and learning experience and has helped me to develop an understanding of different cultures which will only make me a better teacher and I would encourage others to take the opportunity to participate in an York U’s international exchange program.”

For more information on international exchanges and opportunities to teach abroad, visit the York International website.