School and internship
After I completed the language training in Bonn for two months, I moved onto the second phase of the program, which according to the program flyer was “Training/School attendance and an internship while living with a German host family”. I remembered when I was applying to this program, I scrutinized the flyer for details on school and internships but found the vague descriptions unsatisfying. Do you also find the flyer unsatisfying and are anxious for more information? Rest assured, as a past program participant, I will give you a brief introduction and tips on both of these topics.
If you become a program participant, you can expect five months of schooling and five months of internship for the remaining ten months of your program. This schedule, however, is not set in stone. In the past, there were participants who started internship early and only attended school for two or three months. Regardless of how the schedule turns out, the participants usually find both experiences rewarding. I will start by introducing the education system so you will know what to expect.
School
In Germany, there are four types of schools— Gymnasium, Realschule, Hauptschule, and Gesamtschule. Students from different schools will finish school at a different grade level. For example, the Gymnasium goes up to the 12th and 13th grade (The government recently adopted a policy that shortened the Gymnasium school years). Following a student’s final year at the Gymnasium is the final exam, or Abitur. Students at a Realschule, on the other hand, take a different final exam after 10th grade. The final exam for the Gymnasium, Abitur, is a document that permits the students to attend colleges.
When I went to school in Germany, I was placed in the 12th grade of a Gymnasium. The participants usually get placed into 11th or 12th grade at a gymnasium. I had a school buddy and I adopted my school buddy’s schedule. The class schedule covers a variety of subjects, such as chemistry, religion, and economics. German students usually choose their “Leistungskurs”, or “major field of study”, when they are in the 11th or 12th grade. When they choose their Leistungskurs, it means that these students will have that subject five hours a week, whereas other classes are three hours a week. As for you, the schedule is flexible and can be changed according to personal preference. For example, for my schedule, I dropped physics, which I do not particularly enjoy, and added French, which I studied in high school. French was one of the subjects that I understood better at that time. When you go to school, you might not understand a lot of the words the teacher use. There is no need to panic if you do not understand the teacher. Just remember, going to school in Germany is mainly about the schooling experience and the opportunity to meet more Germans.
Internship
So far your past experiences relate to schooling, but have you ever wondered what it would be like to work? The internship experience will let you sample the flavor of working in specific fields. The field of the internship depends on your interest. The internship opportunity, as the program flyer describes, could potentially come from a separate field, but your area representative will strive to find one that interests you. Most of the participants finds an internship through their area representative. Although the area representatives are helpful, you should also be prepared to interview for those positions. In addition to acquiring a position through your area representative, you can also actively seek internships yourself. For example, I found a business-related internship myself and I submitted the appropriate paperwork with the help of my area representative. Before you start your pursuit of an internship, however, be aware that there are fields that are difficult to find an internship for because they require certain education. If this is the case, I would recommend talking with your area representative for other preferable alternatives.
When you start the internship, remember that you can make a difference in how your internship turns out. By actively taking on responsibilities, you will get to learn more about the specific field and make your internship a rewarding experience. Before you finish your internship, I strongly advise you to ask your supervisor for a recommendation letter. In addition, I would recommend keeping a list of the tasks that you have done at the company throughout the internship. This list can be valuable when you fill in the details for your resume months later.
Sparknotes:
-The participants usually get placed in 11th or 12th grade
-The class schedule is flexible and can be change according to personal preference
-The vocabulary used in school can be difficult to understand
-you can actively seek internships yourself
-discuss internships opportunity with your area representative
-ask your supervisor for a recommendation letter
-keep a list of the tasks that you have done at the internship
0 comments:
Post a Comment