Reviews

Overall, the Middlebury Russian Intensive Language Program in Astana is well-organized and designed to help students improve their Russian. They provide a variety of different course subjects, including Russian grammar. The professors test our knowledge and give us opportunities to practice the language through various mediums such as: presentations, group work, writing tests, and reading and watching movies (as homework) then discussing them in class. Not only this, but the professors are extremely knowledgeable about their topics. They often encourage questions, and will gladly repeat themselves if need be. Shout out to Professor Yuliya K! I particularly enjoyed the information I learned in this class, and how she uses her substantive knowledge of Russian literature and culture to help us understand texts in ways we would have never thought of before.

I had a great and fruitful experience doing a 6 week business internship in Dublin. from the internshipI learnt most from participating in the workings of a business, in presenting its platforms, creating and refining content such as websites with AI, and conducting market research and social media outreach. But in Addition to that , it was the organised events and provided facilties that allowed me to do so much outside of work. Would highly recommend to undergraduate or post graduate students and any young person seeking practical experience abroad

I studied at Middlebury School in Jordan in the spring semester of 2025. I had spent the previous summer in Jordan with another great program, but my time at Middlebury was not only the most fun regarding the people involved and my ability to interact with local Jordanians, but also because I came in non-conversational and I left nearly fluent. Not just in that I had a larger vocabulary, but that I was able to speak and think in Arabic directly, without having to translate from English first. The program staff are amazing, the class sizes are great and the content feels relevant. There is the ability to choose which electives you want to take (depending on your level), and even those at a lower level felt that they were using the Arabic that they knew in applicable contexts. Although the language pledge was difficult at first, after a week of commitment to the process, it became easy. In addition to the amazing academic environment, my homestay family was also a key component to my advancement in Arabic. I come from an Arab background and it really felt like I had another Arab jidda (grandma) helping me the whole way. The program also connected us with local students at the University of Jordan who took us around Amman and genuinely became our close friends. One other quick note was that the trips that we took were amazing. Like I mentioned, I had been in Jordan for a couple months before, and the places that we went to with Middlebury were not only some of the crucial must-see spots but also some more niche spots that I felt very privileged to be able to go to that I wouldn't have found/been motivated to go to on my own. I think that the program did a good job of giving us enough out-of-class work to improve our skills without it being so much that we didn't have enough time to explore the city/country. I do think that the program would be best suited for someone who has some prior experience with the language (in fact, I think you have to have studied for at least two years??? dont quote me on that). I had studied Arabic for almost three years at that point, but most others had studied it for two (academic) years before starting. Would 1000/10 recommend this program to anyone wanting to improve their Arabic.

This was such an amazing experience to have! all the teams were very helpful and made the experience very worth while. My internship was very nice and accommodating. Shoutout Adam and Laura for planning so many fun events for us to have fun in our cohorts!

Great professional work experience. Good work life balance, I had enough time to work and explore the city. Thank you Laura and Adam for making the experience fun with all the activities! My favorite was the walking tour:)

My 16 year old daughter was part of this program and had a wonderful time. A great balance of good food, great adventure and a nice safe environment for travel and exploration. Nico the guide was very helpful and a great communicator. This was a great program.

It has been really nice to get to know people from Palestine, speak with them and understand the actual situation. The center provide me of different activities that made it possible. Thank you. The arabic classes are really useful and you can use what you learn in the streets and shops. The volunteers are really nice and kind.

Thank you Emos for the links and sharing your experiences with us. Your presentation was clear and to the point (slides & speech). You gave everyone the opportunity to ask questions, I never felt rushed and offered your professional opinion/advice to help us navigate our TEFL journey no matter what stage we are at. I look forward to your next session. I am also very grateful to the TEFL Institute for providing these on-going forums which they allow their alumni to attend. It helps to have a little community to bounce things off & to learn from others. Respectfully, Roxanne Anderson Highfiled Level 5 Teaching Online & One-to-One Graduate

During my 6 weeks in Barcelona I was given the opportunity to intern at a consulting firm and gain hands on experience working with Catalonias sustainability strategy. I worked hybrid so during my free time I was able to take weekend trips and explore the city. Beyond organized activities for their interns, curating community and providing opportunities to explore parts of Barcelona I otherwise wouldn’t have known existed. I met people everywhere I went and made some friendships that will last a lifetime. I am so grateful to beyond for facilitating a wonderful experience.

Had the most amazing experience! So many guides available at all times for support and genuinely just the coolest itinerary. You get to see the difference you make in real time as well as fun excursions like paddleboarding, sunset cruises, and boat days exploring sand banks and islands!