Dominican Republic: Ava Peplinski
Program: UW Youth Engagement and Teaching ESL in the Dominican Republic, Summer
Ava’s Majors: Spanish, International Studies, Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies
What is the moment you are most proud of?
During my study abroad experience, I had the honor of teaching English to a dedicated group of young adults at the DREAM Project in the Dominican Republic. My co-teachers and I were responsible for the basic level of instruction, where many students started with minimal prior knowledge of English. We invested significant effort into designing engaging lessons aimed at enhancing both their comprehension and oral communication skills, with the goal of supporting their future career aspirations. Reflecting on my time there, the moment I am most proud of occurred at the end of our two-week program. We organized a presentation for the students’ families and friends to showcase the progress made. The students delivered their presentations with impressive skill and confidence, a testament to their hard work and dedication. Seeing the growth in each student and the positive reaction from the audience was incredibly rewarding. I am deeply proud of the remarkable progress and commitment demonstrated by each student at the DREAM Project. Their development was a profound highlight of my experience.
Overall, my study abroad experience has provided me with practical skills, new perspectives, and a clearer vision of my career path, all of which will be invaluable as I pursue my professional and academic goals.
What did you learn about yourself or the world because of your experience?
Upon completing my program, I have gained valuable insights about both myself and the world. One of the most significant lessons I learned was about the diverse cultural practices and language dialects in different regions of Latin America and the Caribbean. I discovered that within the Spanish language, various regions use different words to describe items or express emotions. This experience provided me with a new perspective on linguistic diversity. Additionally, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in the local community and learn how to cook traditional dishes such as “la bandera” and “los tres golpes.” This taught me a lot about how nations use their natural resources to create some of the most delicious foods in the Caribbean. On a global scale, I learned about the operation of education systems, language differences, and NGOs, which has been eye-opening and has sparked my interest in researching these topics further. I also realized that I can overcome any challenge I set my mind to, and I discovered that I am more capable than I had previously thought. Importantly, I learned that even a brief period of teaching can have a significant impact. My professor on this study abroad program, Dr. Bartlett, shared a quote from Octavia E. Butler that resonated deeply with me: “All that you touch you change. All that you Change Changes you.” This quote perfectly encapsulates my experience. My time abroad has profoundly transformed my life, and I highly recommend this amazing program to anyone interested in studying abroad.
How will your experience benefit you in the future? How might it affect your future career or studies?
My study abroad experience will significantly benefit my future career and academic pursuits. Through this program, I gained valuable lessons about myself and learned how to work effectively with professionals, students, and peers. I developed skills in adapting to new environments, utilizing available resources, and teaching in different languages and countries. As someone interested in educational policy, my ultimate goal is to work as a lawyer in educational law or international human rights law. This program has strengthened my drive to pursue these goals and sparked my interest in volunteering with the Peace Corps as an educator in the Dominican Republic. Additionally, I enjoy researching how different sectors of the state, communities, and governance come together to impact and influence educational access. Learning about educational institutions in the Dominican Republic highlighted the challenges of unequal access to education in rural communities which evidently has deepened my interest in addressing these disparities and working in this field in the future. Overall, my study abroad experience has provided me with practical skills, new perspectives, and a clearer vision of my career path, all of which will be invaluable as I pursue my professional and academic goals.