#j term

[smithbysmithies]

what's smith's j term like?

Hi! J Term, or interterm, is a month long break between semesters where you can take limited classes, do an internship, work on research, do a shorter study abroad experience, or just go home and relax! There are many options for J Term, both on and off campus. I recommend checking out Smith’s Lazarus Center if you are interested in internships, or the Lewis Global Studies Center if you are interested in studying abroad. Socially, J Term is a great extended break from academics and coming back to campus in the spring I always feel relaxed. Thank you for asking, and I hope this helps!

-Emilia ‘23

[a-queer-seminarian]

i’m in a two-week intensive course on Teaching the Bible in Church, with a focus on the Psalms. On the first day of class this past Monday, the teacher asked us to make note of our hopes and fears for the course as well as our “burning questions” regarding teaching the Bible in a church setting.

[image description: two photos of a dry erase board with “Hopes and Fears” written above one list and “Burning Questions” written above the other list. I don’t have the time to write out all the points but some under “Hopes and Fears” include: - what people need or want to hear - harm instead of help - talking at instead of conversation Some points under “Burning Questions” include: - how to keep motivation to think outside the box when the weight of tradition is so heavy - how to help people engage the Bible who have been hurt by it - how to work with various interpretations of the Bible within a room ]

[saucysmithie]

J-Term!

Smith has a period of time between the first and second semester where students are encouraged to do a variety of things - intern, work, take a class, or just relax at home! A J-Term internship kind of fell into my lap. A class of 2016 alum encouraged me to apply for a J-Term internship at Verité. Verité is an organization that does work surrounding labor trafficking. Shortly after applying I received an email telling me that I got the internship in the Amherst office! Though my break was cut short, I was really excited to do this sort of work. 

At Verité I was a Research Intern. My work was focused on a project in Sub-Saharan Africa. I wrote a country report for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The country reports allows companies to have a detailed set of information pertaining to their supply chain so that they can make more ethical decisions. I also did research on how mobile technologies are able to locate and help labor trafficking victims. Sadly, I wasn’t there for long but I really enjoyed my time at Verité. 

Campus was pretty dead during J-Term but I really didn’t mind. Students are able to take classes for one credit or less. The houses stay open and a few dining halls stay open.

[smithbysmithies]

Hi! I am coming into Smith this fall as a transfer student. I am coming from out of state and was wondering about winter break, we can leave all of our things in our room over break right? The only time we need to completely move out is for summer? I will be in a quad room in Baldwin.

Hi! Don’t worry - you don’t need to move everything out before winter break unless you won’t be there for spring semester. Before you leave in December, you’ll receive a list of everything that should be cleaned or arranged before you leave. This includes unplugging everything, making sure your windows are closed, throwing out anything that may spoil when you’re away, etc. Very simple!

Iris ‘20

The only thing to consider is that over winter break (but not J-term) some international students are moved into rooms in cutter/ziskind and if you do end up there, there is a possibility someone will be using your room. By no means do you have to move things out of your room, however, I know some people chose to take out specific items in this case. For example, I took out my white carpet and put it in a friend’s room in the quad. 

Madeleine ‘19

[middlebury-college]

One World Brigades on Instagram: “Our talented Middlebury College students in Ghana with One World Brigades!

These Middlebury students are spending their winter term working with One World Brigades bringing dental care to communities in Ghana.

[middlebury-college]

#JTermInChina

Join Benjy Renton '21 during his #JTerm with @CETStudyAbroad. Renton is an East Asian Studies student and local editor for the Middlebury Campus.

[middlebury-college]

#JTermInCuba

Traveling Cuba’s National Freeway: The Road to Revolution. George Henson, Lead Professor. Course focuses not only on the roots of the Cuban Revolution but also its present-day political, economic, diplomatic, and cultural realities.

[catholicsinspace]

being in dc for this inauguration is literally the worst time