Preparing Students for an International Internship: A Checklist for Teachers
Good preparation is the difference between a pleasant trip and a mobility that changes a student’s career. A checklist for accompanying teachers.
A two-week internship abroad is short. Students who arrive knowing what to expect start learning on day one; students who do not can spend the first week finding their feet. This checklist is for teachers and coordinators preparing a group for an Erasmus+ internship.
Documents and practicalities
- Valid passport or ID card, with photocopies held by the accompanying teacher.
- Travel and health insurance details, plus the European Health Insurance Card where relevant.
- Signed learning agreement and any parental consent forms for students under 18.
- Emergency contact sheet with the host coordinator’s number, the accompanying teacher’s number and the accommodation address.
- A note of any medical needs, allergies or dietary requirements, shared with the host partner in advance.
Set expectations about the workplace
Many students have never worked in a company before, at home or abroad. Talk through what a normal working day looks like: start times, breaks, dress code, phone use and how to ask for help. Explain that being given simple tasks at first is normal, and that showing reliability is how they earn more responsibility.
Prepare for a new culture
Spend a session on the host country. In Türkiye, for example, hospitality is central to daily life, tea is offered constantly and personal relationships matter at work. Small things, such as greeting people properly or learning a few words of Turkish, make a strong first impression.
Agree learning goals with each student
Ask each student to write down three things they want to learn or practise during the internship. Revisit the list at the mid-point and at the end. It keeps them focused and gives you material for the final report.
Plan for wellbeing
Homesickness, tiredness and group dynamics are part of every mobility. Agree in advance how students can raise a problem, schedule short daily check-ins and make sure they know the host coordinator is there for them, not only for the teacher.
After they return
Give students a chance to present what they learned to classmates or younger students. It helps them process the experience, spreads the value of the mobility and often recruits the next group.
Planning an internship mobility to Antalya? Read about our internship programmes or contact our team.
