To native English Speakers: Please help!

[Micha]

Long story short:

What verb is used with "voluntary social years"? It´s a year-long voluntary service which many girls and a few guys "do" to get some working experience between school and college, usually spent in hospitals or homes for mentally handicapped people. You are payed poorly but it is supposed to make you more mature and it also looks good on the Curriculum Vitae when applying for a social job...

Do you say "I did a VSY", or "I served a VSY", or "I made a VSY"? Or something else?

A small effort for a native speaker, a big leap for me!

Thank you for reading (and hopefully answering soon)!!!

-Micha

[Wezil]

performed?
accomplished?

[Japher]

"I volunteered as a"
"I interned as a"
"I served as a"
"I served in a"

[SlowwHand]

I vote interned.

[LordShiva]

Floccinaucinihilipilificated.

[Harovan]

I think the word you're looking for is "wasted".

More seriously, although I'm not a native speaker, from the variants the native speakers provided, "I served in a VSY" sounds most correct to me.

[Lorizael]

If this is something directly associated with the school you're going to, I'd go with intern. Otherwise serve sounds good.

[-Jrabbit]

"I performed Voluntary Social Years service at (facility) from 200x to 200y."

"I performed VSY service..."
"I served my VSY at..."

[snoopy369]

On a CV/Resume, I'd use "Volunteered with/on/at" because of the key word. Many resume readers, both electronic and human, look for key words like "Volunteer". It's only technically correct if you were not paid at all, however; if you were paid, it is more technically correct to say "Interned". It sounds more like a volunteer work though (candy-striper is the american/english word for someone who does that sort of thing at a hospital, usually 15-18 years old).

You could say "I volunteered a year of my life working with (X) in the VSY program" - that's more correct while still using the word volunteer for key word engines.

[UnOrthOdOx]

If you are referring to just volunteering in the hosptial for good measure, and potentially using it as good on your resume. These people were traditionally referred to as "Candy Stripers". But, today, simple "volunteers" is considered more appropriate.

You could google candy striper for more info on them.


The other possibility, which doesn't seem to fit your description so well would be the term "clinical duty". This is often referred to as "clinicals" in the medical vernacular.

The number of hours you need to spend in clinical duty depends on the specific job you are applying for, so '1 year' might not apply universally. My wife had to do some 3 years of clinicals. But, those were while also in school as well, and total hours could probably be done in a year if you did them full time.

But this is associated directly with your education.

[lord of the mark]

if it was a real standard program, that lots of folks participated in and everyone knows about "I did a VSY" would sound very normal, but quite informal. (at least in the northeastern USA) Something one might say to ones peers, but not put on a resume/CV.

[lord of the mark]

'"Anyway, I don't debate. I argue. If you want to debate go troll LotM." - Kidicious'

Hey wezil, what was THAT about? I think I like it.

[Lorizael]

I asked him too many questions about an issue without trying to prove a point, and he didn't like that.

[Wezil]

LotM - I can't remember the actual thread/topic but I agree, it was too funny to let go.

[Micha]

Wow, thank you all for your replies!

Well, it is a common thing to do (like "Au pair"), so the recipient does know what it is. Also, it is not connected with the education.

I´ll go with serve, thank you!!!