Internships (LAN 425)

The Department of Languages and Cultures offers a three, six, nine or twelve credit-hour internship to junior or senior majors and minors in languages or linguistics and to graduate students in French, German and Spanish who wish to enhance their study of a world language in communication, culture, and linguistics with an educational experience directly in the workplace, either in the United States or abroad.

Interns are expected to engage in written and oral experience in the studied language on a regular basis. Internships help students test and develop their skills of expression and communication in the world language or in English, if the internship involves the Teaching of English as a Second Language or English linguistics. Internships may be salaried, but unpaid or volunteer positions also qualify.

Students who seek to pursue this type of elective credit-bearing on-the-job experience by teaching a world language, Teaching English as a Second Language or by working for a company that conducts business in one of our languages or in areas related to English linguistics should contact their advisor to review information regarding job search, company contacts, contractual procedures and semester credit evaluation and approval. Graduate level LAN 525 internships may be arranged as the elective component of the Master of Arts in Languages and Cultures, for up to 12 credits.

Timing of Enrollment

Since the department has to approve and build the internship, and the faculty member has to meet with the student and contact the employer, the internship should be approved by the employer and the department no later than one month prior to the start of the semester in which the internship will take place. The internship is a contract and must be finalized appropriately ahead of time.

Required for Eligibility for these Internships

  • Minimum of 75 credits accumulated (through fall of junior year)
  • Minimum overall GPA of 2.75
  • Minimum GPA in the language of 3.0
  • Completion of 15 semester credits in the language or placement equivalent to third year or 300 level coursework

Internshp Curriculum Requirements

  • Minimum of 10 hours a week for three months (120 hours) for three credits, 20 hours a week for 6 credits (240 hours), 30 hours a week for 9 credits (360 hours), 40 hours a week for 12 credits (480 hours).
  • Summer session internships are possible for 3 credits for 24 hours per week for five weeks (120 hours total); a 6-credit internship may on occasion be arranged during a summer session under very special circumstances.
  • Written contractual job description and student expectations to be approved by the faculty advisor and signed by both student and on-site supervisor at the beginning of the internship.
  • Workbook log to be submitted weekly in the language or in English, if related to TESL or English linguistics, by the student to the faculty advisor
  • Regularly scheduled meetings of intern and on-site supervisor to review intern performance and log.
  • Presentation of on-site supervisor's final written evaluation to the intern and the department.
  • Final written report (10-20 pages, according to the number of credits) by the student at the end of the internship to the faculty advisor, in the language, or in English if related to TESL or English linguistics, including self-evaluation of growth and professional development accomplished and language and learning experience achieved.

Suggested Internship Opportunities

  • Airlines or airports with services using Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish (US Airways, Lufthansa, Philadelphia, Dulles, BWI)
  • Banks with operations using Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish (World Bank, Deutsche Bank, Dresdner Bank)
  • Computer companies with operations using Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish (IBM, Hewlett Packard)
  • Area firms working with the local Hispanic populations or institutions (Comunidad Hispana, Taller Puertorriqueño, local law offices, banks, hospitals, Vanguard, Salvation Army, Chester County Volunteer English Program, the Migrant Education Program of the Chester County Intermediate Unit)
  • Area firms doing business in Latin America, Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain)
  • Organization of American States
  • FACC, French American Chamber of Commerce of Philadelphia
  • Firms doing business in Germany (SAP, Siemens), Russia, Italy
  • Area firms like Cephalon with production facilities in Europe
  • Area consulates of other countries (Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, etc.)

Internships in Spanish