THE ADVANTAGES AND CHALLENGES OF ENGLISH LINGUISTICS AND LITERATURE GRADUATION INTERNSHIPS: VOICES FROM THE STAKEHOLDERS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46827/ejfl.v10i2.6815Parole chiave:
graduation internships, English linguistics, experiential learning, stakeholder perspectives, professional communicationAbstract
Internships play a vital role in bridging the gap between academic training and professional practice for English Linguistics major students. They are great opportunities for students to apply the knowledge in real-world settings, enhance professional competencies, and develop essential soft skills for future careers. The research aims to examine and explore the effectiveness of the internship of English Linguistics and Literature major students from the perspectives of stakeholders. Data were collected through surveys of students participating in internships, internship guidance reports from advisors, and interviews with representatives of internship institutions. The findings revealed that most interns experienced a dynamic and professional working environment that fostered their growth in linguistic competence and interpersonal skills. High satisfaction scores were recorded in areas such as workplace integration, equipment and facilities, mentorship support, and task relevance. Nonetheless, the study also explored several challenges, including initial adaptation difficulties, inconsistent work schedules, limited exposure to specialized tasks, and a lack of real-world experience. Based on these insights, the study offered significant recommendations for improving the internship programs and supporting students’ academic and career development.Riferimenti bibliografici
Aldabbus, S. (2020). Challenges encountered by student teachers in practicing teaching. International Journal for Social Studies, 5(2), 227-235. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359119390_CHALLENGES_ENCOUNTERED_BY_STUDENT_TEACHERS_IN_PRACTICING_TEACHING
Anjum, S. (2020). Impact of internship programs on professional and personal development of business students. Future Business Journal, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-019-0007-3
Andersson, M., Bernhardsson, L., & Norström, L. (2020). Work-integrated learning boosts students’ experience of readiness for working life. INTED Proceedings, 1, 4101-4105. https://doi.org/10.21125/inted.2020.1133
Baert, S., et al. (2021). Student internships and employment opportunities after graduation. Economics of Education Review, 83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2021.102141
Banker D, Borchardt J (2025). Students’ perspectives on an internship experience. Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JRIT-07-2024-0198
Bilsland, C., & Nagy, J. (2015). Work-integrated learning in Vietnam: Perspectives of intern work supervisors. Asia-Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education, 16(3), 185-198. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282952792_Work-integrated_learning_in_Vietnam_Perspectives_of_intern_work_supervisors
Bilsland, C., Nagy, J., & Smith, P. (2015). Work integrated learning internships in transnational education: Alumni perspectives from Vietnam. Education + Training, 57(3), 359-374. https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-06-2016-0111
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Chen, Y., & Gan, N. (2021). Sustainable development of employability of university students based on participation in the internship promotion programme of Zhejiang Province. Sustainability, 13(23), 13454. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313454
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Sage Publications. Retrieved from https://books.google.ro/books?id=PViMtOnJ1LcC&printsec=frontcover&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
Johnson, B., & Christensen, L. (2014). Educational research: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed approaches (5th edition). Sage Publications. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264274753_Educational_Research_Quantitative_Qualitative_and_Mixed_Approaches_Fifth_Edition
Johnson, L. M. (2019). Enhancing employability skills through internships: Perceptions of student interns in a business program. Journal of Education and Learning, 8(3), 198-207.
Kaldarova, A., Kulgildinova, T., Berdenova, S., Zakirova, G. and Zhanabayeva, S. (2024). Subject-related communicative language competence: Exploring future informationtechnology specialists' learning and teaching. Journal of Education and e-Learning Research, Vol. 11, No. 1, 26-35, 2024. https://doi.org/10.20448/jeelr.v11i1.5288
Li, X. (2018). Tailoring T&I curriculum for better employability: An exploratory case study of using internship surveys to inform curriculum modification. Onomázein Revista de lingüística filología y traducción, 40, 159-182. https://doi.org/10.7764/onomazein.40.10
Loyalka, P., Mistree, D., Fairlie, R. W., & Khanna, S. (2024). Job training, English language skills, and employability: Evidence from an experiment in urban India. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5032028
O’Mahony, Siobhan, and Beth A. Bechky (2006). Stretchwork: Managing the career progression paradoxin external labor markets. The Academy of Management Journal 49(5): 918–941. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/20159809
NACE. (2023). Student Survey Report. https://www.naceweb.org/store/2023/2023-nace-student-survey-four-year
To, V., & Lung, S. (2020). Beyond the university: The importance of internships to bridge the gap for English majors in professional communication. International Journal of TESOL Studies, 2(4), 45-58.
Tran, N. T., & Trang, V. T. Q. (2020). An investigation of the benefits and challenges of graduation internship perceived by students of English language studies. International Journal of Language and Literary Studies, 2(4), 83–97. https://doi.org/10.36892/ijlls.v2i4.455
Dowloads
Pubblicato
Fascicolo
Sezione
Licenza
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).


