Lauren S. - Tinton Falls, NJ
Heidi H. - Charleston, SC
Je pense que l’exposition aux nouveaux environnements, cultures et personnes influencent notre perspective et nos croyances. Bien que ce n’était pas ma première fois en dehors des États-Unis, c’était ma première visite aux Caraïbes. Dans l’ensemble, je considère transformateur mon temps en Guadeloupe. J’ai appris que la longueur d’un voyage ne détermine pas son impact, c’est plutôt l’attitude que vous adoptez et la façon dont vous vous immergez dans l’environnement : chaque expérience internationale a la capacité d’avoir un impact profond sur votre caractère. Ma semaine en Guadeloupe a réaffirmé ma passion pour les voyages et les cultures, et aussi mon intérêt et mon amour pour la langue et le français.
Grace L. - Washington, D.C.
Just WOW! Kathy planned our honeymoon for us, going off what I told her I had always dreamed about – an African safari, as well as some beach time. She was off and running with the perfect itinerary. We stayed in the most amazing safari lodge in South Africa, enjoyed wine tasting outside of Cape Town amongst stunning vineyards, and finished our trip in the Maldives. This was literally the TRIP OF A LIFETIME! I also took Spanish for beginners class with Kathy. Not only was it so much fun, but very convenient and no pressure learning environment. Kathy is a great teacher and I hope to travel with her and use my Spanish soon!
Danielle M.
Traveling with Kathy is an absolute joy and dream! She is incredibly kind, generous, and knowledgeable about the places she travels. She is cognizant and respectful of local cultures and practices, finding wonderful small businesses to support and local areas to explore. Kathy is an incredible linguist and makes traveling in areas of other languages an absolute breeze. I loved every moment of the trip with Kathy to Mexico and cannot wait to travel with her again!! She planned every detail of the trip and made it an absolutely magical experience. I cannot recommend her highly enough to help immerse you in your next adventure! Five stars all the way.
Adrian R.
Kathy planned my Costa Rica trip and I don’t think I will ever plan another trip without her again! We have never been to Central America, so the idea of coordinating transports and excursions was very intimidating. Kathy took care of all the worry and stress and presented us with a picture perfect vacation itinerary! She listened carefully to what we wanted to do, and tried her best to fix any problems that came along the way. Even while we were on the trip, she checked in with us to make sure we were ok! We felt taken care of while being thousands of miles away from home! We can’t wait to hire her again for our next adventure!
Isabelle C.
I coordinated a semester-long study abroad program in the heart of France and Kathy was the sole French professor during that time. I saw Kathy connect with the students and nourish their desire to learn the language and culture to relate to the villagers around them. I believe anyone studying with her will gain a newfound appreciation for education and travel.
Keenon W. - Hattiesburg, MS
Kathy was our guide and translator for a class trip to Ecuador during spring break. She quickly got to know our group and was a pleasure to travel with. This was one of my first trips outside the U.S., and I was inspired by Kathy’s comfort level in new places and curiosity to meet and understand locals’ perspectives. It was clear that her goal was to also build our confidence and respect for other cultures.
Tija P. - Portland, OR
Professor Kaufmann (or as we called her, Captain K) was a highlight of my study abroad experience! She is clearly passionate about learning and teaching languages, and it is evident in all that she does. I learned not just the “official” French, but she also taught us colloquialisms and useful phrases for travel and navigating around France. She goes the extra mile to help her students too – not just in language, but in life. When I was traveling after my program, I had a super tight train connection to make and a very broken suitcase. She met me in the train station in Paris and helped me drag my luggage to the connecting station (I made the train!).
Jennifer W. - Detroit, MI
I met Kathy when I attended a language learning trip to the US. I was anxious about my English, but Kathy was very friendly and nice to me from the beginning. Her classes were so creative and fun that she even prepared a small Thanksgiving meal for us in the middle of summer! I could learn American culture and history through fun experiences. What I loved about her was that she was enjoying teaching and always listened to me with a smile. This great experience made me want to study English more.
Noriko K. - Gifu, Japan
Learning a new language is very daunting, especially in your 30’s. I took three semesters of French in undergrad, instructed by Kathy, and she was amazing! Her courses were fun, educational, and engaging. I would highly recommend working with her!
Candace V.W. - Summerville, SC
Kathy led my high school summer immersion program to Spain, which was my first time ever in Europe. I was really nervous to travel abroad without my family for the first time, but Kathy put my mind at ease with her knowledge of the country and language. Overall, traveling with Kathy was not only fun, but also very rewarding as she encouraged us to take full advantage of each city we visited and try new foods (like grilled squid!).
Jocelyn G. - Wallingford, PA
The study abroad island immersion to Guadeloupe was a life changing event. Being fully immersed into the French Caribbean culture helped change my outlook on what learning a language meant to me. While studying a language abroad you understand the importance that the cultural aspect has on your learning capabilities. Waking up and going through your day hearing everyone around you, in and outside of the classroom, speaking the French language really helps you pick up on the dialect and the vocabulary. The events that were coordinated by Madame Rubio outside of the classroom shaped the entire trip. Whether it was a boat trip across the ocean to a neighboring island or a scavenger hunt throughout the city, we always had an exciting activity that taught us more about the culture while having a great time. I would never advise someone to shy away from such a learning and cultural experience.
Kyle H. - Manhattan, NY
In the summer of 2018, I had the pleasure of traveling to Martinique for my final French class of college. It was initially daunting to travel to a new country with four other strangers and a professor, but it turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. Not only did my French language skills improve astronomically through living with a host family and our daily classes, but Madame was by far the best and my favorite teacher that I’ve ever had and I grew so close to the other students in just a matter of hours. She truly cares about her students in the classroom and far beyond. I’m sure the trip would have been completely different without her incredible language abilities and passion for adventure and I wish we could’ve stayed on our little island speaking French for forever! I could not recommend traveling with her more, so merci Madame for an extremely fulfilling summer!
Megan D. - Aspen, CO
Kathy is a very hard-working and passionate individual when it comes to foreign languages and cultures, especially French. We originally met at French club meetings when I was in college. At the time, she was also an instructor of French, as well as in charge of conversation classes for beginner – intermediate students. We bonded over our love for other languages, as we additionally organized events together when I was in charge of our on-campus French/German-speaking dorm. Kathy was also one of the first people I met who put me at ease while speaking French; I was never put down because of making mistakes and she helped me build my confidence, which allowed me to use French in my everyday life while studying abroad in Paris, as well as for work when I moved to Strasbourg in Alsace after finishing my degree. I am currently based in Hamburg, Germany, working as an administrator for a coffee distributor where I also use French with my colleagues based at our branch in Geneva, Switzerland. Those initial meetings and conversations courses provided me with and helped me develop lifelong skills for which I am extremely grateful and say, je te remercie beaucoup, Kathy!
George G. - Hamburg, Germany
In 2014 I took part of a study abroad program in a small village in France. Previous to this, I had already lived in a larger French city for about a year. My knowledge of French was good, but Kathy’s classes helped me take it to the next level. I looked forward to her lessons and I enjoyed being her student. I was able to practice the language and take advantage of having a multilingual teacher who was an excellent educator.
Bianca S. - Brooklyn, NY
Saying that Kathy is amazing is an understatement! I attended a High school service-learning program in Belize for my daughter’s school and we were fortunate enough to have Kathy as our guide. She was very familiar with the culture and was able to educate us on the locality and customs of the towns and cities we travelled to. We felt immersed in the culture and safe at all times and attribute that completely to Kathy’s expertise on global travel. Our trip was as memorable and exciting as it was because of her!
Heather M. - Longmont, CO
In high school, I did a travel program to Nice, France. Kathy led the group and was always quick to help and make sure we were having the best experience. She even planned a special excursion to a theme park for one of the student’s birthdays. I met my two best friends on that program and ended up working in international education. That was a great program and Kathy was a fantastic program leader!
Jessica H. - Philadelphia, PA
Kathy directed an excellent summer immersion program in Nice, France. When traveling to a foreign country, it is essential to go with someone who makes you feel not only safe but also guarantees you have everything taken care of. Kathy consistently provided excellent shopping and dining recommendations on top of coordinating fantastic tours. For instance, we took an excursion to Eze, and Kathy was a wealth of knowledge about the history of the city (so much so you might even mistake her for a local). Most importantly, Kathy can bring together a group of people to make unforgettable memories. On Kathy’s program, I met life long best friends, and we have since then traveled all over the world together. We’re already planning our next trip back to Nice!
Marissa M. - Houston, TX
Kathy was an integral part of one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. I participated in a summer program in Nice, France and felt fully immersed in the culture, thanks to Kathy. At 16 years old, I was insecure about my French language skills- Kathy assured me that I could effectively communicate if I only tried. Above all, the collaborative environment that Kathy fostered led me to meet people on the trip that continue to be my very best friends to this day. Kathy allowed me to feel comfortable and confident abroad…and it truly changed the way I saw myself as I transitioned into adulthood. Thank you, Kathy!!
Sophie V. - Oakland, CA
Kathy was one of my English teachers when I came to study English in Mississippi. She helped me develop and deepen my skills in a foreign language. She was very helpful, and with her guidance, I was able to get more proficient in English. Kathy’s intensive training pays off even today as I now work with foreigners and build a successful career.
Michaela M. - Prague, Czech Republic
As an undergraduate studying abroad in a sleepy Loire village, Kathy’s intermediate French class not only bolstered my understanding of verb tenses, idioms, and other tricky parts of the language, it also prepared me with the practical, everyday French I needed to navigate supermarkets, converse with locals at the pub, book taxis and accommodations over the phone, and much more. Out of the many French teachers I had in my college career, Kathy was by far my favorite, and her class gave me the knowledge and confidence to travel in France on my first trip abroad.
Kyle S. - Hattiesburg, MS
Señora Rubio was an amazing Spanish teacher! I learned so much about the language and culture of multiple Spanish speaking countries while taking her classes. Every time I walked in her classroom, I felt like I was immersed in the culture and language. I looked forward to it every day! You can tell that she truly cares about the subject by her spirit and enthusiasm in the classroom. I originally took Spanish classes as they were required for my undergraduate studies; however, after taking her courses, it motivated me to receive my minor in Spanish. She was a wonderful instructor and mentor!
Mary Katherine H. - Tuscaloosa, AL
I had never excelled in language classes until I took a French class with Madame Kaufmann. She takes the time to build relationships with her students and figure out how to best help them succeed in her classes. She made me fall in love with not only the language, but French culture as well. When I heard that she was taking a small study abroad group to Martinique and St. Lucia, I knew it would be an amazing learning experience! Madame Kaufmann has an amazing understanding of the culture there and took us on the most magical, educational journey I have ever been on. My entire group not only got to the level of French where we could have passing conversations with our host families, we also were able to make friends with locals that we still keep in touch with. I am forever grateful for the language program in Martinique as well as Madame Kaufmann who is without a doubt the best teacher I have ever had.
Sydney S. - Greenville, SC
I had a lot of fun in Kathy’s class. Her class was always full of laughter. I remember we played some games in English to get to know and deepen ties with my classmates. She knew many ways to teach us English, as well as American cultures, etc. whilst having fun.
Misaki K. - Tokyo, Japan
I still look back fondly on my immersion program in Nice when I was 16, where I met Kathy who was our program director. I don’t think I’d be where I am today had it not been for that summer and Kathy’s kind mentorship. While it made me fall in love with France, as cliché as this may sound, it also helped me start being more comfortable with myself. I have just graduated from Georgetown, heading to Paris in a few weeks to start my master’s program in energy diplomacy and environmental policy at Sciences Po. I think 16-year-old me would have been a bit terrified but even more excited by the whole thing. 22-year-old me is certainly both. I know for sure that that summer in Nice helped put me on this path.
Andrew B. - Miami, FL
I had Kathy as a teacher during a study abroad program in France. Learning a language is often difficult, buy Kathy managed to make it both easy and fun. Kathy’s French classes not only improved my French, but made my entire study abroad experience better and sparked a love of languages and travel that burns brightly to this day.
Morgan Grace M. - Washington, D.C.
I was lucky enough to travel with Kathy during a high school summer language immersion program in Nice, France. It was my first time spending so much time away from my family, but Kathy was instantly welcoming and made me feel safe and at home in Nice. I truly couldn’t have asked for a better experience, and that is thanks to her! I also enjoyed keeping in touch with her after the trip, especially when she became a French professor at my college, and we got to catch up at our local French pâtisserie. Kathy is the best!
Aubrey G. - Charleston, SC
Kathy was amazing in giving suggestions for beautiful hikes, beaches, and delicious restaurants that only the locals know about. And throughout the entire planning process, Kathy was simply a delight to work with – super friendly and personable. We cannot wait to plan a REAL vacation to an exotic destination with Island Immersion!
Kelly & Adam - Taneytown, MD