Resources for Students
Opportunities, Resources and Services for Students
- Internships
- Career Information
- Recommendation Letters
- Conference and Student Fellowship Opportunities
- Getting Together
- Language House
- Language Assistants
- ACT Programs
Internships
Spanish Majors have participated in a variety of internships that complement and contribute to their major or concentration. Internship opportunities range from work with international development and human rights organizations like Cultural Survival and the Inter-American Foundation, to work in organizations that provide legal, health, or social services to Spanish-speaking communities in the United States. Although these internships are typically in the United States (not Latin American, they nonetheless provide valuable educational and job-related experience for students. Students are encouraged to consult with the Internship advisor in the Career Center for further information about these opportunities. A variety of internships may be found through the Career Center's web site, or you can go directly to the internship database. On the database, there are a number of subheadings that pertain to foreign language; for example, under communications there is a subheading: foreign (language, translation, interpreters). There are others under education and government, etc.
In addition to regular internships like those mentioned above, the Community Internships in Latin America, a (CILA) program offered by HECUA, provides an off-campus study opportunity that is built around student internships. The CILA Program, located in Ecuador, places students in internships with community and non-governmental organizations. The bulk of the student's time is spent working in the community with their organization. This is supplemented with seminars that provide an academic and analytical focus to the internship experience. For more information about CILA, contact the Off-Campus Studies Office or Professor Bev Nagel.
Career Advisor: Professor Becky Boling
Program faculty are happy to discuss your career plans with you and help you think about your options for graduate schools, jobs, and planning your course of study to meet your career goals. We also receive lots of information from graduate schools and occasionally receive fliers about jobs. We will forward job and internship announcements to you via email. Other materials are available from our Career Advisor, Professor Becky Boling. And, of course, you should make full use of the services provided by the Carleton Career Center.
Educational Resources Group: recruits faculty for 640 independent (private) schools throughout the country in the areas of Physics, Math, Chemistry, Computer Science, French and Spanish. Private schools look for people with strong liberal arts backgrounds with either a BA and/or MA in their subject area as well as strong child related experiences and major extra-curricular talents.Letters of Recommendation
At some point, you will undoubtedly need letters of recommendation from faculty. Whether you are applying for admission to an off-campus study program, a student fellowship, or post-Carleton employment or study, faculty can write better letters in support of your applications if they know you and your work, and if they have adequate lead-time. Talk to the faculty member from who you are requesting a recommendation well in advance of the application deadline. Keep in mind that although faculty may know your work in their class(es), they may not know about all of your other academic and non-academic interests and accomplishments. It is very helpful to have a brief resumé that summarizes yours goals and objectives, as well as your employment and educational experience. Include volunteer work, special skills, and any academic (or non-academic) "specialties" that you have developed outside the Program and of which we may not be aware.
Before you graduate, we recommend that you open a file at the Career Center, and ask your faculty referees to put letters on file for you, even if you don't foresee needing recommendations immediately. We frequently receive requests for letters of recommendation from students who have graduated a year or two or even longer before, and we are happy to oblige. But faculty go on sabbatical, and may not be on campus when you discover that you need a recommendation. It's best to have the letter on file; it can be replaced with a new one, if necessary.
Conferences and Student Fellowship Opportunities
Carleton offers several fellowships, including Independent Research Fellowships, the Class of 1963 Fellowship and the Larson International Fellowships, that support student travel and research. The competition for these fellowships is announced each fall by the Dean of the College, and applications are typically due in early February. Spanish majors who wish to undertake independent research in Latin American during the summer are encouraged to consider applying for one of these fellowships. The College also makes available limited funds to support student travel to conferences or for more limited research during winter break. For these funds, students must submit letters of application to the Associate Dean of the College. For more information, see Student Grant Opportunities on the Dean of the College's web page.
Getting Together
Each year the Romance Languages and Literature Department Spanish Section, and Latin American Studies Program sponsor a variety of public lectures that bring prominent scholars and public figures to campus. Students and faculty have the opportunity to meet and interact informally with these speakers during their campus visit. In addition, we also sponsor colloquia and social events for students and faculty in the Program. These events are announced throughout the year. If you have ideas about events or speakers that you would like to see us sponsor, contact the Section Head or SDA or DCC members.
Language House
Students have the opportunity to live in Parish House on a floor with other Spanish speakers including a Language Associate who is a native speaker. Applications can be filled out at the end of Winter term for the following year.
In addition, a number of activities occur at Parish House. The schedule of events differs each term, or even each month. Some activities include: Salsa dancing, Sevillanas, cooking classes, movie nights, and tertulias. There is a Spanish Table at Burton usually once a week as well. On certain occasions there are other excursions. Check the calendar at Parish House, or on the Spanish homepage.
Language Assistants
The Spanish section hires students to help teach sections of the grammar classes (101-103). The classes meet with the professor on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and then they meet with the Language Assistant on Tuesday and Thursday. In addition to teaching in the classroom, Language Assistants hold office hours usually one night per week to help students with whatever they need.
La Escuelita brings Latino/a children from Northfield to the campus for two hours per week (Friday afternoon from 4:30 -6:30). Volunteers have a variety of activities for the kids including going to the Creativity Lab, playing in the park, going on walks in the Arb, sledding, swimming, reading with the kids, and other activities. There are usually around 15-20 kids ranging in ages from 5 to around 12.
Do you have an hour a week to spare? The ACT Center's youth tutoring program seeks volunteers to tutor Northfield youths in Spanish, as well as other subjects. Tutors are needed for both students needing assistance in Spanish and in English (for their English as a second language classes). Tutors are needed for this anytime 8-3 and also after school. This is a very rewarding, one hour a week committment, transportation can be provided, and your efforts will be greatly appreciated by the student you help and their family. If you are interested or have questions, please contact Rachel Lund at lundr@carleton.edu in the ACT Center.