Senior receives opportunity to teach English in Austria

Senior Ingrid Peters is headed to Austria after receiving word that she was accepted into the highly competitive U.S. Teaching Assistantship program, administered by Fulbright Austria. 

Peters says she was both excited and nervous when she received the news. 

“I am a bit sad about graduating and leaving my Cornell community behind, but I am super excited to have this opportunity to look forward to. I planned to have an international experience after I graduate and to have it in a country where I can practice my German skills was ideal. My dad is from Germany and I grew up bilingual, so I have experience with the language. I am also super excited to experience the culture of another German-speaking country, since I previously only had experience with Germany through my family.”

Dungy Writing Studio Director and Director of Fellowships and Scholarships Laura Farmer is excited to see Peters make a difference in Austria, especially because she has been making a difference as a language teacher for years as a tutor. 

“I’m so happy Ingrid has been selected for this year-long teaching opportunity in Austria where she can really let her teaching skills shine,” Farmer said. “She worked hard on this application, which included writing an essay in German, and I know she’ll make a positive impact in her new classroom.” 

Here are some answers to questions about her new award in Peters’ own words:

What will you be doing in Austria?

The award entails that I will be working under a lead teacher in an Austrian school to help teach English. I was placed in Carinthia, Austria, which is the southernmost province on the border of Italy and Slovenia. I am responsible for preparing lessons and teaching alongside the lead teacher, while also being a United States representative for culture and language learning. I was also placed between two schools, a trade high school and a Gymnasium (a high school that prepares students for University). This is because in Austria there are different tracks students are placed in during elementary school, and different levels of secondary education. This differs from the U.S. where students of all kinds go to the same high school. I have orientation in mid-September and officially begin teaching Oct. 1 until late May.

What are you most looking forward to?

During my teaching assistantship, I am most looking forward to honing my teaching skills. I will have the opportunity to make lesson plans and guide classroom lessons and discussions under a lead teacher. I will also be responsible for sharing American culture with my students. I am planning on either attending medical school or a neuroscience Ph.D. program after I graduate and teaching skills will be a great tool for either path. 

I am also looking forward to seeing the differences between the German culture I experienced growing up, and that of Austria. I am also excited to be immersed in a place that is truly interested in classical music. I grew up listening to classical music, and Austria is well known for its rich musical history. 

What inspired you to apply for this program?

I was inspired to apply for this program, firstly, through Laura Farmer and her work at the Dungy Writing Studio. Without her, I would never have learned of this opportunity. I was also inspired by my experience tutoring languages. Growing up in a multicultural home, I learned to value language learning and the connection it can bring to other people. I have previous experience tutoring French in high school, German at Cornell, and English through the Catherine McAuley Center in Cedar Rapids. I truly enjoyed being able to see my students progress and to connect with them through another mode of communication. I felt that spending a year teaching a language would be a great way to focus on one of my passions between Cornell and my graduate degree. 

How do you think this program will impact your future career or goals?

I believe this program will greatly aid my future career goals. Teaching experience is useful in both research and the medical field. An appreciation and exposure to other languages and cultures could help me better connect to patients if I were to become a doctor. Additionally, if I pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience, I am interested in studying language processing and foreign language learning. Since I have dual U.S. and EU citizenship, this Austria USTA experience could also help me transition to graduate or medical school in Europe if that is something I choose.