Experience Guide
Make the most out of your university career by taking advantage of all that Laurier has to offer you. Volunteer work, campus clubs, leadership programs, studying abroad, work experience – there are so many ways you can extend your classroom experience into the real world.
Year-to-Year Experience Guides
The following is a year-to-year outline of the kinds of experiential learning activities that work well with your program.
- Languages Lang Click this tab to view content pertaining to Languages
- French Fren Click this tab to view content pertaining to French
- Spanish Span Click this tab to view content pertaining to Spanish
Be Inspired: Maximize Your Academic Opportunities
First Year
- Take Languages courses and explore other programs of interest.
- Learn about co-op – apply at the end of your first year.
- Review your program requirements and plan for a successful degree path.
Middle Years
- Explore courses in related areas of study and begin thinking about a minor or an option to complement your degree.
- Consider taking social entrepreneurship or entrepreneurship courses.
- Submit your academic work to the Laurier Undergraduate Journal of the Arts for a chance to be published.
- Take culture and literature courses to discover the diversity of the Languages program.
- Practice French, Spanish, German or Italian abroad on an international exchange.
- Meet with your academic advisor to make key academic decisions.
Final Year
- Learn about Research or Instructional Assistantship opportunities in Languages.
- Take upper-level literature, culture and capstone courses to enrich your learning.
- Apply for a Teaching Assistant position.
- Thinking of pursuing graduate school?
- Talk to your professors and visit the Career Centre.
- Sign up for a scholarship proposal-writing workshop or book a writing consultation for help with your proposals.
Be Involved: Explore Work, Volunteer and Leadership Experience
First Year
- Join student clubs such as the Laurier French Club, Spanish Club, Laurier Italian Society, German Culture Society or a special interest club. Or create your own!
- Participate in residence leadership opportunities or attend LOCUS events.
- Consider the Explore program in the spring to enhance your spoken French.
- Contribute to Laurier’s weekly newspaper, The Cord, or submit a creative piece to Blueprint Magazine.
- Explore your interests by volunteering on campus (e.g., Sustainability Office, Schlegel Centre's Innovation Squad, peer programs, Students' Union and more).
- Join intramural sports or participate in recreational activities.
Middle Years
- Be a note taker through the Accessible Learning Centre.
- Volunteer to be an O-Week Icebreaker and welcome incoming first years.
- Volunteer at a local school to gain language and professional experience.
- Volunteer as a language tutor.
- Connect with local organizations to learn about volunteer opportunities.
Final Year
- Consider applying to be a language assistant in France or Spain for a year.
- Apply for an executive position in an on-campus club.
- Attend the Career and Job Fairs to network with employers.
- Look into the LaunchPad program for the opportunity to discover, validate and launch an innovative new venture.
Be Engaged: Broaden Your Perspective
First Year
- Visit the Diversity and Equity Office and become a member of the student service provider groups.
- Visit Laurier International to learn about international options available to you to enrich your university experience.
- Complete the Intercultural Effectiveness Certificate to build your intercultural competence and global perspective.
Middle Years
- Study abroad for an academic term.
- Visit Laurier International’s Global Kitchen or Soup Tuesday at the Indigenous Student Centre.
- Consider the Alternative Reading Week trip with Habitat for Humanity.
- Attend the Library Learning Commons Culture Series.
Final Year
- Complete the Diversity Certificate.
- Consider attending the Ashoka U Exchange.
Be Inspired: Maximize Your Academic Opportunities
First Year
- Take French courses (you will be placed based on your French background) and explore other programs of interest.
- Learn about co-op – apply at the end of your first year.
- Review your program requirements and plan for a successful degree path.
Middle Years
- Explore courses in related areas of study and begin thinking about a minor or an option to complement your degree.
- Submit your academic work to the Laurier Undergraduate Journal of the Arts for a chance to be published.
- Consider taking social entrepreneurship or entrepreneurship courses.
- Go on an international exchange to practice French abroad.
- Meet with your academic advisor to make key academic decisions.
Final Year
- Learn about Research or Instructional Assistantship opportunities in French.
- Take upper-level literature, culture and capstone courses to enrich your learning.
- Thinking of pursuing graduate school?
- Talk to your professors and visit the Career Centre.
- Sign up for a scholarship proposal-writing workshop or book a writing consultation for help with your proposals.
- Apply for a Teaching Assistant position.
Be Involved: Explore Work, Volunteer and Leadership Experience
First Year
- Join student clubs such as the Laurier French Club, Golden Speakers Club or a special interest club. Or create your own!
- Participate in residence leadership opportunities or attend LOCUS events.
- Consider the Explore program in the spring to enhance your spoken French.
- Contribute to Laurier’s weekly newspaper, The Cord, or submit a creative piece to Blueprint Magazine.
- Explore your interests by volunteering on campus (e.g., Sustainability Office, Schlegel Centre's Innovation Squad, peer programs, Students' Union and more).
- Join intramural sports or participate in recreational activities.
Middle Years
- Be a note taker through the Accessible Learning Centre.
- Volunteer at a local school to gain language and professional experience.
- Volunteer as a language tutor.
- Volunteer to be an O-Week Icebreaker and welcome incoming first years.
Final Year
- Apply for an executive position in an on-campus club.
- Attend the Career and Job Fairs to network with employers.
- Look into the LaunchPad program for the opportunity to discover, validate and launch an innovative new venture.
- Consider applying to be a language assistant in France for a year after graduation.
Be Engaged: Broaden Your Perspective
First Year
- Visit the Diversity and Equity Office and become a member of the student service provider groups.
- Visit Laurier International to learn about international options available to you to enrich your university experience.
- Complete the Intercultural Effectiveness Certificate to build your intercultural competence and global perspective.
Middle Years
- Study abroad for an academic term.
- Visit Laurier International’s Global Kitchen or Soup Tuesday at the Indigenous Student Centre.
- Consider the Alternative Reading Week trip with Habitat for Humanity.
- Attend the Library Learning Commons Culture Series.
Final Year
- Complete the Diversity Certificate.
- Consider attending the Ashoka U Exchange.
Be Inspired: Maximize Your Academic Opportunities
First Year
- Take required Spanish courses and explore other programs of interest.
- Learn about co-op – apply at the end of your first year.
- Review your program requirements and plan for a successful degree path.
- Study abroad with a faculty member during the summer to experience Spanish language and culture in its own setting.
Middle Years
- Explore courses in related areas of study and begin thinking about a minor or an option to complement your degree.
- Consider taking social entrepreneurship or entrepreneurship courses.
- Submit your academic work to the Laurier Undergraduate Journal of the Arts for a chance to be published.
- Consider enrolling in the University of Waterloo Spanish/English Translation Diploma.
- Meet with your academic advisor to make key academic decisions.
Final Year
- Learn about Research or Instructional Assistantship opportunities in Spanish.
- Take upper-level literature, culture and capstone courses to enrich your learning.
- Apply for a Teaching Assistant position.
- Thinking of pursuing graduate school?
- Talk to your professors and visit the Career Centre.
- Sign up for a scholarship proposal-writing workshop or book a writing consultation for help with your proposals.
Be Involved: Explore Work, Volunteer and Leadership Experience
First Year
- Join student clubs such as the Spanish Club, Laurier French Club, or a special interest club. Or create your own!
- Participate in residence leadership opportunities or attend LOCUS events.
- Contribute to Laurier’s weekly newspaper, The Cord, or submit a creative piece to Blueprint Magazine.
- Explore your interests by volunteering on campus (e.g., Sustainability Office, Schlegel Centre's Innovation Squad, peer programs, Students' Union and more).
- Join intramural sports or participate in recreational activities.
Middle Years
- Be a note taker through the Accessible Learning Centre.
- Volunteer at a local school to gain language and professional experience.
- Volunteer as a language tutor.
- Connect with local organizations to learn about volunteer opportunities.
- Volunteer to be an O-Week Icebreaker and welcome incoming first years.
Final Year
- Apply for an executive position in an on-campus club.
- Achieve the official certificate for Basic Business Spanish by taking courses and writing the Madrid Chamber of Commerce and Industry exam.
- Look into the LaunchPad program for the opportunity to discover, validate and launch an innovative new venture.
- Attend the Career and Job Fairs to network with employers.
Be Engaged: Broaden Your Perspective
First Year
- Visit the Diversity and Equity Office and become a member of the student service provider groups.
- Visit Laurier International to learn about international options available to you to enrich your university experience.
- Complete the Intercultural Effectiveness Certificate to build your intercultural competence and global perspective.
Middle Years
- Study abroad for an academic term.
- Visit Laurier International’s Global Kitchen or Soup Tuesday at the Indigenous Student Centre.
- Consider the Alternative Reading Week trip with Habitat for Humanity.
- Attend the Library Learning Commons Culture Series.
Final Year
- Complete the Diversity Certificate.
- Consider attending the Ashoka U Exchange.
Checklists
Completing the checklists below will also help ensure your academic, professional, and personal success during your time at Laurier – and beyond.
Academic Success Checklist
- Discover the Library – librarians can help you find and evaluate scholarly information for your assignments.
- Book a career consulting appointment to explore career options in the context of your academic studies.
- Complete the Student Awards scholarship and bursary applications on LORIS.
- Visit the Writing Centre and Study Skills to get feedback on your work, develop your learning skills, and further enhance your writing.
- Attend the Further Education Fair to learn about postgraduate programs.
- Apply to graduate and attend convocation to celebrate your success.
Experience Checklist
- Get involved with the Students’ Union (e.g., Foot Patrol, Peer Connect, Shinerama).
- Apply for part-time jobs on campus (e.g., Athletics and Recreation, Wilf’s, Residence, Bookstore, peer programs, and more).
- Have your resumé reviewed in the Career Centre.
- Earn your Career Development Certificate.
- Be a changemaker – visit the Purpose Lab and get involved in social innovation.
- Get to know the location of the Wellness Centre for emotional, mental and physical health support.
- Create a profile on LinkedIn and laurier.tenthousandcoffees.com to connect with Laurier alumni.
- Add co-curricular activities to your Laurier Experience Record.
- Network with alumni at career events to gain insight into possible career paths.
- Apply to part-time, summer and full-time jobs for after graduation through the Career Centre’s Navigator portal.
Career Opportunities
When you're ready to start thinking about your life after graduation, you should check out the career and postgraduate options for people with a language degree.