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Study in Auburn, work in Italy: WLLC prepares students for international careers

Two Auburn students will spend eight months living and working in Milan, Italy, through a competitive intercultural training experience for teaching assistants.

Journalism student Garrett Ashley and history student Lucy Beard were two of only 50 students selected by the Study Intercultural Training Experience (SITE) program for the 2025-2026 academic year.

The SITE program, established in 2005, offers a unique opportunity to work as teaching assistants in high schools across the Lombardy region of Italy. SITE recipients, who are paid during their stay, immerse themselves in Italian language and culture while supporting local teachers in the classroom.

Ashley and Beard will teach 12 hours of English per week and spend 13 hours preparing lessons and cultural activities, as well as assisting with other academic subjects such as history, geography or social sciences and cultural studies.

During their internship, SITE students develop skills beyond language proficiency such as adaptability, interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, confidence and self-reliance.

Since 2016, Auburn’s Italian Studies program in the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures has recommended students to SITE. A minor in Italian Studies is a prerequisite to apply, and Auburn students who major in subjects from German to Apparel Merchandising have been selected.

“In a world that is indeed a global village, it is fundamental to go beyond one’s own language and culture,” said Associate Professor of Italian Anna Chiafele. “A global village, just like any individual member, only thrives thanks to the exchanges of diverse experiences, perspectives and collaborative approaches. Our students’ academic merits, along with practical responses to international challenges, are essential keys to future achievements. Their success is ours, both as educators and community members.”

Auburn alumni who participated in SITE said the experience not only boosts their personal and professional growth, but also significantly increases their chances of success in any career they chose.

Nathan Goodwin, a history master’s graduate, is currently teaching in Varese, Italy, combining historical research with interactive language lessons to foster cross-cultural understanding.

“This role has put me in a position to improve upon the lessons and materials I devised while I was a World History TA at Auburn a year ago,” Goodwin said. “One of my favorite memories so far was watching the fifth-year class I see weekly give presentations on World War I era poets. They had so many insightful things to say and I was so pleased and impressed!”

Nathan is very glad he took “this wonderful opportunity and it’s a bittersweet prospect having to come back to the U.S. in a few weeks.”

Sydney Batson, the first Auburn student to join the SITE internship in 2016, attended Emory University School of Law as a JD candidate, then taught middle school English-Language Arts before becoming a contracting officer at Georgia Tech Research Institute.

Stephanie Lambert Sexton, an instructor at Santa Fe College in Florida, said her SITE internship has provided numerous academic and corporate opportunities.

Michael Frack, now pursuing master’s degrees in Italian at Middlebury College and German at Uppsala University, found his passion for teaching during the SITE internship. He is now fluent in Italian, German and Swedish, and studying New Irish and other Celtic languages.

“Through all these languages and learning to think like a linguist, I have travelled the world, met wonderful friends in the most unlikely of places and have even seen literally dozens of lives physically rescued and restored as a direct result of my language education,” Frack said.

To learn more about the SITE internship, contact Dr. Anna Chiafele.

Tags: World Languages Literatures and Cultures Communication and Journalism History Students