Internships at the Department of Translation Studies
Is your mother tongue or your language of education English, French, Italian, Russian or Spanish? Are you looking for an internship position in a German speaking country and do you want to work in an international environment? Do you want to experience life at a university “behind the scenes” and do you want to contribute to teaching and administration?
Then apply for a position as an intern at our department. Regularly, we offer unpaid internships in different sections of our department, whereby your learning effect is paramount. You will learn how to accomplish various tasks in different working areas of the University, will be part of a dynamic team, and you can always count on our prudent guidance or, respectively, you can benefit from job shadowing. You can take on a mandatory internship, and - if your home university supports this programme and you meet the necessary conditions - an internship with the Erasmus+ programme.
You should have the following basic profile:
- ongoing or recently completed higher education studies in respective fields (translation studies, translation/interpretation, philological fields of study, secondary school teacher training programme with focus on languages, communication studies, media studies etc.)
- excellent command of your native/academic language
- sound knowledge of written and spoken German (at least B2 according to CEFR)
- interest in creative work with languages and pleasure in contact with other people
You can find detailed information about the conditions for each of the open internship positions below.
Teaching and Translation Internship (Erasmus+/Turing) at the Department of Translation Studies of the University of Innsbruck
The internship in our English section is designed as a year-abroad (or gap year) opportunity for students (or recent graduates) of German or Translation Studies with a particular interest in language teaching and/or translation.
It is available for either 5 months (1 semester) or 10 months (2 semesters). A maximum of two places are available each year.
Internship periods
- 15th of September – 8th of February (5 months) OR
- 15th of February – 8th of July (5 months) OR
- 15th of September – 8th of July (10 months)
Workload
- 20 – 35 hours a week (depending on your home university’s requirements)
Tasks
- assisting with English language and translation classes
- providing native speaker input in interpreting (and subtitling) classes
- participating in teaching and translation projects as well as extra-curricular activities
Requirements
- Excellent (spoken and written) native language skills
- Good level of German (B2 or above)
- At least two years of undergraduate study in a relevant degree programme (German, English or Translation Studies) at an English-speaking university
- Thoroughness, reliability, initiative
- Good oral communication and writing skills
Workplace
Founded in 1669, the University of Innsbruck is the largest research university in Western Austria, with more than 27,000 students and over 5,000 employees. The Department of Translation Studies offers a bachelor’s degree programme in Translation Studies as well as three different master's degree specialisations in Technical Translation, Literary and Audiovisual Translation, and Conference Interpreting. In addition to German as a foreign language and English, the languages taught at our department include French, Italian, Spanish and Russian (as major languages) as well as Portuguese, Swedish and Chinese (as elective modules).
Benefits
- Continuous support and guidance throughout your internship
- Close collaboration with several different members of our English team
- Detailed instructions and teaching materials for class preparation
The internship itself is unpaid but meets the basic requirements to allow you to apply for an “Erasmus+ traineeship” or “Turing Scheme” grant at your home university.
We have been welcoming interns since 2015 and have a lot of experience in providing you with detailed guidance and tailor-made materials to make your stay with us an enjoyable and fruitful experience.
Further information
Beate Steinhauser (Internship Coordinator)
Application documents
- Letter of motivation (one A4 page, specifying your desired internship period) and
- Curriculum vitae
- in both German AND English
Application deadline
31th of January (for the following academic year)
Please send your bilingual application documents as a single PDF file to Beate Steinhauser.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Ihre Muttersprache oder Bildungssprache ist Englisch, Französisch, Italienisch, Russisch oder Spanisch? Sie sind auf der Suche nach einem Praktikumsplatz in einem deutschsprachigen Land und wollen in einem internationalen Umfeld arbeiten? Sie möchten die Universität „hinter den Kulissen“ kennenlernen und haben Lust darauf, sich in Lehre und Administration einzubringen?
Dann bewerben Sie sich doch um einen Praktikumsplatz an unserem Institut. Wir bieten in verschiedenen Abteilungen unbezahlte Praktika an, bei denen Ihr Lerneffekt im Vordergrund steht. Sie lernen, wie man diverse Aufgaben in verschiedensten universitären Arbeitsbereichen erfüllt, sind in ein dynamisches Team eingebunden und werden dabei von uns umsichtig angeleitet bzw. betreiben Job Shadowing. Sie können ein unbezahltes Pflichtpraktikum bzw. – sofern Sie die Bedingungen dazu erfüllen – ein Pflichtpraktikum mit einer Förderung durch Erasmus+ bei uns absolvieren.
Als Grundprofil sollten Sie Folgendes mitbringen:
- laufendes oder kürzlich abgeschlossenes Hochschulstudium in einschlägigen Bereichen (Translationswissenschaft, Übersetzen/Dolmetschen, philologische Fächer, Lehramt mit Schwerpunkt Sprachen, Kommunikationswissenschaft, Medienwissenschaft etc.)
- Ausgezeichnete Beherrschung Ihrer Muttersprache/Bildungssprache
- Fundierte Deutschkenntnisse in Wort und Schrift (mindestens B2 nach GERS)
- Freude an der kreativen Arbeit mit Sprache und am Kontakt mit Menschen
Detaillierte Ausschreibungsbedingungen je nach Stelle entnehmen Sie bitte den untenstehenden Angeboten von Praktikumsplätzen.
Derzeit liegen leider keine Praktikumsangebote vor.
¿Es el inglés, el francés, el italiano, el ruso o el español tu lengua materna o lengua de escolarización y formación? ¿Estás buscando un país de habla alemana donde poder realizar tus prácticas curriculares y a la vez trabajar en un entorno internacional? ¿Te gustaría conocer a fondo cómo funciona una universidad “por dentro” y realizar tareas de enseñanza y administración?
Si es así, en el INTRAWI te ofrecemos la posibilidad de realizar prácticas no remuneradas en distintos departamentos, donde tu aprendizaje será nuestra máxima prioridad. Aprenderás a realizar diversas tareas en diferentes áreas de trabajo de la universidad en un equipo dinámico e internacional, en el que te guiaremos y asesoraremos personalmente durante todo el proceso. Asimismo, podrás realizar prácticas dentro del programa Erasmus+ siempre que tu universidad de origen lo permita y que cumplas las condiciones para participar.
Requisitos:
- Tener estudios universitarios recién acabados o ser estudiante universitario en cualquiera de los siguientes ámbitos: traducción e interpretación, filología, docencia de lenguas, comunicación, ciencias de la información, etc.
- Dominar perfectamente tu lengua materna o tu lengua de escolarización.
- Mostrar un buen conocimiento del alemán oral y escrito (como mínimo se requiere el nivel B2 del MCER).
- Disfrutar con la realización de proyectos creativos relacionados con los idiomas y el contacto con otras personas.
Consulta por favor las ofertas de prácticas que figuran a continuación para conocer en detalle los requisitos específicos para cada puesto.
En este momento no hay ninguna oferta.
Votre langue maternelle ou votre langue scolaire est l’anglais, le français, l’italien, le russe ou l’espagnol ? Vous êtes à la recherche d’un stage dans un pays germanophone et vous souhaitez travailler dans un contexte international ? Vous désirez découvrir le fonctionnement de l’université et vous investir dans l’enseignement ?
Alors postulez pour une place de stagiaire au sein de notre institut. Nous proposons des stages non rémunérés dans différents départements, propices à l’apprentissage. Apprenez comment remplir diverses tâches dans différents domaines d’activités universitaires, intégrez une équipe de travail dynamique tout en étant accompagné.e et coaché.e par nos soins. Vous pouvez réaliser dans notre institut un stage obligatoire, éventuellement avec une subvention Erasmus+ sous condition que votre université d’origine le permette et que vous remplissiez les conditions nécessaires.
Pour correspondre au profil de base recherché, vous devez remplir les critères suivants :
- être actuellement en études supérieures ou les avoir récemment terminées dans des domaines pertinents tels que la traductologie, la traduction/l’interprétariat, les disciplines philologiques, le professorat basé sur les langues étrangères, les études de communication et les médias, etc.
- avoir une excellente maîtrise de votre langue maternelle/langue scolaire/seconde
- avoir des connaissances approfondies en allemand, orales et écrites (minimum niveau B2 selon le CECR)
- avoir une créativité linguistique et apprécier le contact avec les autres
Pour en savoir plus sur les stages proposés, veuillez consulter la liste de nos annonces.
Malheureusement, il n'y a pas de postes vacants au département de français pour le moment.
La vostra madrelingua o lingua di formazione è l’italiano, il francese, l’inglese, il russo o lo spagnolo ? Siete alla ricerca di un posto di tirocinio in un paese di lingua tedesca e volete lavorare in un’ambiente internazionale? Volete conoscere l’università dall’interno e avete voglia di impegnarvi nell'insegnamento e nell’amministrazione?
In questo caso potete fare richiesta per un posto come tirocinante al nostro istituto. Offriamo regolarmente tirocini non retribuiti in vari dipartimenti dell’istituto dove l'apprendimento è in primo piano. Imparerete a svolgere compiti nei vari ambiti di lavoro universitari, sarete coinvolte/i in un team dinamico, verrete guidate/i da noi accortamente durante il lavoro o farete il cosiddetto Job Shadowing. Qui potete svolgere un tirocinio obbligatorio, facoltativo o un tirocinio con il sostegno dell’Erasmus+, a condizione che l’università del vostro paese proveniente sostenga questa iniziativa.
Come base per un tirocinio avete bisogno di:
- uno studio universitario in corso o finito da poco negli ambiti relativi (traduttologia, traduzione/ interpretazione, materie filologiche, studio per l’insegnamento delle lingue straniere, scienze della comunicazione, studi sui media ecc.)
- conoscenza perfetta della vostra madrelingua/ lingua di formazione
- buona conoscenza della lingua tedesca scritta e orale (almeno B2 secondo il QCER)
- piacere nello svolgere un lavoro creativo con le lingue e a contatto con altre persone
Condizioni dettagliate per la partecipazione al concorso a seconda dell’impiego sono reperibili nelle offerte sottoindicate di posti di tirocinio.
Offerte permanenti per uno stage
Stage di insegnamento e di amministrazione presso il dipartimento di italiano dell'Istituto di Traduttologia dell'Università di Innsbruck.
Durata del tirocinio:
- Preferibilmente dalla fine di settembre all'inizio di febbraio o dalla fine di febbraio all'inizio di luglio; le date e la durata dello stage possono anche essere determinate individualmente. Le relazioni/certificazioni e le valutazioni possono essere preparate prima della fine ufficiale dello stage, se necessario.
- Nota bene: non possiamo accettare stagisti durante le vacanze estive (luglio – settembre) o durante le vacanze di febbraio.
Compiti
- Assistenza nelle lezioni di lingua
- Inserimento della madrelingua in vari corsi (ad es. comprensione di lettura, interpretazione di conferenze)
- Partecipazione ad attività socio-educative (ad es. organizzazione di eventi: caffè poliglotta, presentazione di libri, ecc.)
- Assistenza diretta agli insegnanti nella realizzazione di progetti didattici o di traduzione.
- Svolgimento di vari compiti amministrativi a supporto degli insegnanti nelle loro attività quotidiane
- Svolgimento di vari compiti amministrativi e di coordinamento nel campo della mobilità e delle relazioni internazionali
- Traduzioni e lavoro di layout; partecipazione a progetti di ricerca
Presenza settimanale
- 20-40 ore settimanali; il numero esatto di ore lavorative è da stabilire in base ai requisiti di tirocinio dell'università di provenienza/programma di tirocinio Erasmus+ per studenti borsisti
Profilo desiderato
- Studi in traduzione/interpretariato o mediazione linguistica con combinazione italiano/tedesco; studi di lingua e cultura tedesca
- Ottima conoscenza dell’italiano orale e scritto (lingua madre o lingua scolastica, livello C2 secondo il QCER)
- Buona padronanza del tedesco (almeno livello B2 secondo il QCER)
- Interesse all'interazione orale, abilità nel redigere testi
- Precisione, affidabilità, capacità organizzative, iniziativa, autonomia, spirito di squadra, attitudine alle relazioni interpersonali, flessibilità
- Ulteriori competenze: interesse per la didattica delle lingue e/o la traduzione, nonché per la comunicazione e la cultura
Ambiente di lavoro
Fondata nel 1669, l'Università di Innsbruck conta 27.500 studenti e oltre 4.500 dipendenti. È la più importante istituzione di istruzione superiore, studio e ricerca dell'Austria occidentale. L'Istituto di Traduttologia dell'Università di Innsbruck offre un corso di laurea triennale in traduzione e tre corsi di laurea magistrale (traduzione specialistica, traduzione letteraria/multimediale e interpretazione di conferenza). Le lingue offerte, oltre al tedesco e all’italiano, sono l'inglese, il francese, lo spagnolo e il russo.
Vantaggi per i tirocinanti
- Esperienza di lavoro all'estero, utile per il CV (incluso un certificato di tirocinio e valutazione)
- Miglioramento delle competenze linguistiche in tedesco e relative alla cultura austriaca in ambito accademico; contatto regolare con persone madrelingua sul posto di lavoro.
- Supervisione e supporto del tirocinante da parte di insegnanti qualificati durante l'intero soggiorno; istruzioni dettagliate sia per le attività che per i materiali didattici
- Integrazione nel gruppo di docenti del dipartimento di italiano
- Possibilità di partecipare gratuitamente ai corsi dell'Istituto di Traduttologia dell'Università di Innsbruck (a seconda della disponibilità e del livello di lingua).
- Possibilità di riconoscimento del tirocinio nel corso di studi (gli stagisti devono chiarire questo punto con l'università di provenienza).
Il tirocinio non è retribuito; vitto e alloggio sono a carico del tirocinante. Inoltre, i tirocinanti sono tenuti a sottoscrivere un'assicurazione sanitaria e contro gli infortuni valida in Austria.
I candidati selezionati possono beneficiare di una borsa di tirocinio Erasmus+. Per maggiori informazioni in merito, siete pregati/e di contattare direttamente l'Ufficio Relazioni Internazionali della Vostra istituzione. È Vostra responsabilità preparare e presentare la domanda.
Naturalmente è possibile candidarsi a uno dei nostri tirocini anche in mancanza di una borsa di studio Erasmus+; la possibilità di ottenere una borsa di studio dipende dal numero di ore che si desidera svolgere e dalla durata del tirocinio.
Contatto
silke.scherfler@uibk.ac.at (coordinatrice tirocini italiano)
Modulo di candidatura (in tedesco e in italiano)
- Lettera di motivazione (una pagina in formato A4)
- CV
Scadenza e procedura di candidatura
Si prega di inviare la candidatura in un unico allegato PDF all'indirizzo silke.scherfler@uibk.ac.at. Entro poche settimane Vi comunicheremo se la Vostra candidatura è stata accettata. In caso affermativo, sarete invitati/e a un colloquio di lavoro online (videoconferenza). Vi informeremo entro 15 giorni dal colloquio se la Vostra candidatura è stata accettata.
An internship abroad
Are you studying at the Department of Translation Studies at the University of Innsbruck and want to improve your foreign language skills, explore new cultures, gain professional experience in a European country, and simultaneously develop personal skills such as independence and flexibility? Then an Erasmus+ internship in another European country would be the ideal opportunity for you to achieve this and enable you to put your theoretical knowledge into practice.
In the course of a paid or unpaid internship, you have the opportunity to request a monthly grant through the Erasmus+ programme. Please note that you must apply for the grant at least two months before the start of the internship. To receive this grant, you must be enrolled at an Austrian university that participates in Erasmus+. Furthermore, the internship must be relevant to your studies, i.e., its content should correspond to your field of study. Furthermore, the internship must comprise at least 35 hours per week and the entire duration must be at least two months. When combined with other stays abroad funded through Erasmus+, the internship may not exceed twelve months per study cycle (bachelor's or master's degree programme).
Please note that finding an internship must be undertaken on one’s own initiative. You have the opportunity to gain practical experience in a wide variety of fields at a wide range of companies, institutions, or organisations. However, it is not possible to complete an internship at an EU institution or at a company or organization that is administered by or funded by EU programmes while simultaneously receiving an Erasmus scholarship. In any case, it is important that you contact the funding agency (International Relations Office) as soon as you have found an internship, as the Department of Translation Studies is not responsible for advising and managing the administrative aspects of your stay.
When you want to do an internship abroad is entirely your decision, as you alone are responsible for organising your internship and your studies. However, it would certainly be advisable to complete the internship in the summer or when your studies are nearing completion and you are only required to write your bachelor's or master's degree thesis. If you interrupt your studies for the internship, this will likely result in delays in your studies, which are beyond the university's responsibility.
Alternatively, you also have the option of completing a graduate internship directly after graduation. However, you must apply for an Erasmus grant while you are still studying and be de-registered from your studies by the time you begin your internship.
General information about an Erasmus+ internship can be found on the International Relations Office website.
Of course, you can have an internship credited towards your bachelor's degree (elective module 16 or elective module 17) as well as your master's degree (elective module 19 or elective module 20). You can find more detailed information in the relevant sections of our curricula, excerpts of which you will find below.
However, to receive a grant, the suitability of the internship for credit must be confirmed by the Coordinator of Studies. Please submit an application for credit well in advance of starting the internship and submit an internship report or internship certificate AFTER the internship has been completed with the following information:
- Description of the internship activity
- Precise details of the number of hours of the internship (the workload should not be stated in working days, but in working hours – 60, 180 or 240 hours)
- Evaluation of internship performance
BA curriculum in Translation Studies
16. Elective module: Practice I (2.5 ECTS credits)
Students of the bachelor's degree programme in Translation Studies can complete an internship amounting to 2.5 ECTS credits (60 hours) to test and apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired, to gain an understanding of the conditions of professional practice, and to acquire additional qualifications. The internship can also be undertaken during the semester break. Undertaking an internship abroad is recommended.
Approval from the university's Director of Studies must be obtained before beginning the internship. The internship must be undertaken at institutions in accordance with Section 1, Paragraph 4.
A certificate from the institution where the internship was completed must be submitted regarding the duration, scope, and content of the work performed; a report must also be written. Elective modules 16 and 17 can also be completed at the same institution (comprising 10 ECTS credits or 240 hours).
Learning objective of the module:
Students apply acquired knowledge and skills in a professional environment; upon completion of the module, students are familiar with the conditions of professional and/or academic practice.
Registration requirements: none
Source: University of Innsbruck (2016) curriculum for the bachelor’s degree programme in Translation Studies at the Faculty of Language, Literature and Culture at the University of Innsbruck.
BA curriculum in Translation Studies
17. Elective module: Practice II (7.5 ECTS credits)
Students of the bachelor's degree programme in Translation Studies can complete an internship amounting to 7.5 ECTS credits (180 hours) to test and apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired, to gain an understanding of the conditions of professional practice, and to acquire additional qualifications. The internship can also be completed during the semester break. Undertaking an internship abroad is recommended.
Approval from the university's Director of Studies must be obtained before beginning the internship. The internship must be undertaken at institutions in accordance with Section 1, Paragraph 4.
A certificate from the institution where the internship was completed must be submitted regarding the duration, scope, and content of the work performed; a report must also be written. Elective modules 16 and 17 can also be completed at the same institution (comprising 10 ECTS credits or 240 hours).
Learning objective of the module:
Students apply acquired knowledge and skills in a professional environment; upon completion of the module, students are familiar with the conditions of professional and/or academic practice.
Registration requirements: none
Source: University of Innsbruck (2016) curriculum for the bachelor’s degree programme in Translation Studies at the Faculty of Language, Literature and Culture at the University of Innsbruck.
MA curriculum in Translation Studies
19. Elective module: Practice I (2.5 ECTS-Credits)
Students of the master's degree programme in Translation Studies may complete an internship amounting to 2.5 ECTS credits (60 hours) at institutions pursuant to Section 2, Paragraph 3 to test and apply their acquired knowledge and skills, to familiarise themselves with the conditions of professional practice, and to acquire additional qualifications. The internship can be undertaken during the semester break. Undertaking an internship abroad is recommended. Approval from the university's Director of Studies must be obtained before beginning the internship.
Learning objective of the module:
Students apply acquired knowledge and skills in a professional environment in accordance with Section 2, Paragraph 2; upon completion of the module, students are familiar with the conditions of professional and/or scientific practice.
Registration requirements: none
Source: University of Innsbruck (2020) curriculum for the master’s programme in Translation Studies at the Faculty of Language, Literature and Culture at the University of Innsbruck.
MA curriculum in Translation Studies
20. Elective module: Practice II (7.5 ECTS credits)
Students of the master's degree programme in Translation Studies may complete an internship amounting to 7.5 ECTS credits (180 hours) at institutions pursuant to Section 2, Paragraph 2 to test and apply their acquired knowledge and skills, to familiarise themselves with the conditions of professional practice, and to acquire additional qualifications. The internship can be undertaken during the semester break. Undertaking an internship abroad is recommended. Approval from the university's Director of Studies must be obtained before beginning the internship.
Learning objective of the module:
Students apply acquired knowledge and skills in a professional environment in accordance with Section 2, Paragraph 2; upon completion of the module, students are familiar with the conditions of professional and/or scientific practice.
Registration requirements: none
Source: University of Innsbruck (2020) curriculum for the master’s programme in Translation Studies at the Faculty of Language, Literature and Culture at the University of Innsbruck.
For more information on an internship with Erasmus+, please click on the following link:
Internship reports from students
In the summer of 2023, I had the honour of completing a six-week internship at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet of the Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Economic Development and French Nationals Abroad. Olivier Becht, the then Minister Delegate, is a cosmopolitan person par excellence. He hails from Alsace and speaks French and German. I had the opportunity to get to know him at a time when Germany was France's most important European trading partner.
During this internship, I gained a general insight into a ministry that plays a key role for France worldwide. I was able to gain a glimpse behind the scenes of the cabinet, where the advisors, secretaries, and other staff members form the core. My responsibilities included occasional support for the advisors, memo drafting, and general support duties within the cabinet. I also attended cabinet meetings and accompanied the minister on several business trips in the Paris region.
Overall, this internship experience provided me with an excellent opportunity to learn the sophisticated vocabulary and language of the ministry. Furthermore, special events shaped the French political landscape in September, which made this period even more exciting for me: the publication of the Foreign Ministry's economic roadmap, Osez l'export (in English, 'Dare to Export,' a document aimed at strengthening the international presence of small and medium-sized enterprises), the Senate elections, a state visit by King Charles III, and a visit by Pope Francis.
I was also fortunate enough to be in Paris for the 40th edition of the European Heritage Days. This weekend is dedicated to culture and history. For this cultural celebration, not only are museums offering free access to their collections and the RATP (République des Beaux-Arts) offering unprecedented tours (for only 20 people) of the metro's hidden tunnels and ghost stations, but numerous institutions are also opening their doors to the public, including the Senate, the National Assembly, the Élysée Palace, and many other breathtaking buildings that tell stories from times gone by.
Text: Judith Stella Pagliardini
By chance, I stumbled across a job posting for a translation internship at a French NGO in early March 2023. Unaware of what to expect, I submitted my application. Two days later, I was invited to a training course in Mandres-les-Roses , an hour outside of Paris. There, in mid-March, I met the NGO, which organizes science camps in various countries, and the team.
Four months later, I was sitting on the train, ready for my two-month Erasmus+ internship, with my full 40-liter backpack. My internship took me to two NGO science camps: I spent three weeks in Chandolin in the Val d'Anniviers, Switzerland, and another three weeks at the Musiflore Center near Bourdeaux in the Drôme department . There, I was able to experience the NGO's work up close, participate in the (scientific) activities myself, and clarify questions about the science camps and the NGO's work.
My main tasks during the internship consisted of translating articles from French into German and proofreading previously translated articles. The topics ranged from volcanism in Hawaii to the study of Collembola in the trees of Provence to the observation of exoplanets in the Swiss Alps. In addition to translating and proofreading, I also independently created a translation memory and a terminology database. This allowed me to hone my skills in using CAT tools and observe how not only my efficiency but also the quality of the translations improved. In my search for the best possible translations, cultural specifics and technical terms often drove me to the brink of despair: A "éventail à empreintes" is a type of stencil for identifying animal tracks in the ground; "élan" (in Europe) and "orignal" (in North America) are two terms for "elk"; and "la boum" is a music and dance party held at the end of a camp. I regularly found serious translation errors during proofreading or even content errors in the source texts ("Le lac Léman est le plus grand lac d'Europe."; but: Lake Geneva is actually the largest lake bordering the Alps and, after Lake Balaton in Hungary, only the second-largest lake in Central Europe.) This confirmed for me once again that the work of translators is much more than simply translating a source text into another language. My internship supervisor was always available for questions, allowing me to practice correspondence with future clients.
Since I was working remotely, I took the opportunity to combine my internship with a varied Interrail trip. This took me from the pristine nature of the Valais Alps, to the "Innsbruck-like" Grenoble, the sweltering heat of the Drôme department (maximum temperature: 48°C in the car), the cool sea air of Boulogne-sur-Mer in the Pas-de-Calais department, to the big city madness of Paris and the hostel lifestyle in charming Lille, all the way to the sandy beaches of Dunkirk. Finally, I visited two friends in Mons (Belgium) and Frankfurt am Main before embarking on my final journey home after a total of two months. Thanks to the ERASMUS+ funding, my costs for accommodation, train tickets, meals, activities, and souvenirs during my unpaid internship were – to my relief – covered down to the last cent.
The combination of professional development, intercultural experience, independence, and the opportunity to get to know different places and people made my internship a unique and enriching journey. I also learned how challenging a 40-hour workweek can be, how much planning is required for remote work, how much I enjoy working independently, where AI still reaches its limits, how drastically temperatures can vary in Europe during the summer, and that "walkie-talkie" (for whatever reason) is "talkie-walkie" in French.
Text: Melanie Wachter