Profile:
Italian Studies Internship Course, ITA388H5 & ITA400Y5
These courses provide students with a month-long training period with their professor, after which they are paired with a school or a organization for an internship related to Italian language. Students spend the majority of their time on site, working at the school or organization’s location. At the end of their internship, they are assessed through reflective assignments, rather than research papers. They are invited to write about their experience and contributions to their placement organization in a business style presentation, which is also attended by the professor.
Program Details
Instructor / Program Coordinator(s):
Professor Teresa Lobalsamo
Profile(s):
External Partners Faculty & Staff Students
Division:
University of Toronto Mississauga
Benefits to Students:
These internship experiences allow students to apply their coursework in workplace settings. They can build their academic portfolio around this by choosing which skills they most want to develop. Students determine what the focus of their internship will be and then develop their experience around their identified goals.
Benefits to External Partners and the Community:
These courses provide greater connection between the University and the community, as students typically find placements with schools and organizations located near UTM. Placements often involve working with not-for-profit organizations, allowing students to participate in meaningful and reciprocal relationships.
Benefits to the University:
These internship courses contribute to the skill building of students who engage in active learning. Students are integrated within the learning experience which can support them in enhancing a multitude of skills. Through participating in one of these courses, students are better prepared to seek other opportunities within their discipline and beyond. It also bolsters their skills through independent learning and prompts them to branch out into different academic and professional paths.
Information for Interested Students:
Visit the UTM Department of Language Studies’ website at https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/language-studies/programs/italian/experiential-learning/italian-studies-internship-italian-studies-education or email ita.pc.utm@utoronto.ca for more details.
Advice for Faculty and Staff Interested in Creating a Similar Experiential Learning Opportunity:
One of the most important pieces of advice is to rely on the University’s existing resources. The experiential learning units across campus can offer support in various areas, including developing partner connections and introductions to preexisting networks. To foster partnerships, it is a good idea to invite partners to the table and involve them in the process. In terms of logistics, creating an application package where students are able to share their interests and experiences beyond their academic performance allows for strong matches and ensures more inclusive opportunities.
Internship host on site
Details
Partnership Based
Curricular
Unpaid