Speaker
Description
The graduation internship is widely recognized as a critical phase in preparing university students for their professional careers, offering practical knowledge and supervised experience before they enter the workforce. In light of the increasing attention to internships in higher education, this study explores the perceptions of final-year English Language majors regarding their internship experiences. Conducted at Hanoi Pedagogical University 2 in Vinh Phuc Province, the study employed a mixed-methods design, combining survey questionnaires from 100 students with in-depth interviews with selected participants. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the quantitative data, while thematic analysis was applied to the qualitative interviews. The findings indicate that students perceived significant growth in language proficiency, professional skills, personal development, and the support they received during their internships. However, the study also identified key challenges faced by students, such as insufficient prior knowledge to complete assigned tasks, and the difficulty of managing both academic and internship responsibilities. These insights offer valuable implications for higher education institutions seeking to redesign internship programs to better align with both academic goals and industry demands.
Keywords: internship, English language majors, higher education, experiential learning
Biography
Le Thi Hong Nhung holds a Bachelors degree in English Language from Hanoi Pedagogical University 2. During her time at university, she actively participated in the English club to enhance her language skills, research projects with other students, and discussions related to modern English teaching methodologies. Her areas of interest include second language acquisition and the integration of digital tools into language education. After graduation, she aims to further her academic development and pursue a career in teaching and researching English, particularly in the field of English as a Foreign Language.
Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy is an English teacher and teacher educator at Hanoi Pedagogical University 2. She is interested in fostering students‘ autonomy, combining different teaching methods to develop students‘ communicative competence and practicing formative assessment. Apart from teaching undergraduate students majoring in English language and English language teaching, she has joined many in-service teacher training projects, and has considerable experience in developing curriculum and materials for English language teaching programs.
