On Wednesday, Oct. 4, Grove City College’s Department of Modern Languages hosted their annual internship panel which provided students the opportunity to share how they used foreign languages in their internships over the summer.
The goal was to show the real-life application and distinct advantages of foreign languages in the workplace.
The first panelist to speak was Jessica Mattson, a senior Spanish education major from Pittsburgh who worked with Mano en Mano in Milbridge, Maine. Over the course of two months Mattson worked as a secretary and Spanish translator at the Blueberry Harvest School, a school for the children of migrant workers who go to Maine for the blueberry harvest in the summer. Jessica was able to learn the details of how a migrant program runs and use her Spanish to facilitate communications between teachers and the families of students.
Craig Peoples, a junior finance and Spanish double major from Allentown, Pennsylvania, spoke next about his internship at Morgan Stanley, a wealth management company. Craig was able to utilize Spanish to conduct business calls to financial firms in Spain, Chile, and Mexico and communicate with an expansive client network. Craig shared that although it was difficult, his ability to partner with multinational financial corporations was incredibly important. “Throw out any information you think you know,” he said. “Open up your mind to the industry and what it has to offer.”
Becca Shafter, the third panelist, is a senior Spanish and communications double major from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Her internship at That Fish Place / That Pet Place was uniquely designed to allow her to earn college credit while also catering to her strengths in public relations and marketing. Shafter used her Spanish to translate advertising material for the pet store, including their slogan and rewards card package; developed informational brochures about pets; and assisted Spanish-speaking customers.
The final panelist to speak was Megan Crutcher, a senior history major from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who interned with a branch of the Christian Missionary Alliance in Mali, West Africa. Crutcher’s passion for long-term ministry and cross-cultural contexts led her to this position teaching English and American history to adult students in Mali. Crutcher taught in French 60 to 70% of the time and said the keys to success in any international internship are confidence, humility, knowledge, relationship building, and a sense of adventure.