Language Internships

Students in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures (LLAC) are encouraged to complete internships that require substantial use of their language of study.

Students completing language internships:

  • Apply and develop language and cultural competency skills in professional situations
  • Gain exposure to different career fields where knowledge of languages is needed or preferred.
  • Gain confidence using the language in real-world-situations
  • Use language skills to assist communities that speak other languages within the US or to engage with people in other countries.
  • Cultivate and improve valuable skills like critical thinking, teamwork, adaptability, communication, and problem-solving.
  • Build networks that can lead to job opportunities

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TYPES OF INTERSHIPS

For-credit vs non-credit: Students can complete language internships for credit or opt to complete an internship without receiving LLAC academic credit for it. For-credit internships are carried out under the management of an on-site supervisor and a LLAC faculty mentor who will also assign and grade all academic work produced in relation to the internship. Academic credit can count towards any language major, minor or certificate program offered by LLAC. We recommend that you meet with a faculty member or advisor in your language to discuss which option is best for you.

Internships may be in person, remote or hybrid. Internships may be paid or unpaid.

CREDITABLE INTERNSHIPS

Students can complete internships with a significant language or cultural component in community organizations, professional settings, or through local or international experiences. This includes:

  • Internships organized by LLAC. See list of available internships here. 
  • Internships with a substantial language/culture component under the supervision of other accredited MU programs. If taking the internship for language credit, credit can be earned simultaneously for both programs. See list of MU programs that may offer internships with a substantial language component here.
  • Students completing a DREAM Fellowship for Professional Empowerment
  • Internships secured by students on their own. See tips on finding your own internship and a list or organizations outside MU offering language internships here.

All students must have their internship approved by an LLAC faculty member in their language of study.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Be in good academic standing (minimum GPA of 2.5)
  • If completing an internship for academic credit:
    • Take LLAC 3986 (1-3 credits depending on hours worked at site during the internship, S/U, ESSV2). Faculty mentor’s consent needed to register (see application process). 
    • Students completing internships during the summer can take LLAC 3986 the following Fall semester. Syllabus and responsibilities need to be discussed with LLAC faculty mentor prior to the start of the internship in the summer.
    • Students can complete more than one internship but only up to 3 crs. per student count for language credit.
  • Students can complete internships as early as their freshman year, depending on the language and the nature of the internship. See contact information for specific prerequisites by language program here.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Students typically start planning their internships in the second semester of their freshman year. 

  1. Secure an internship that fits your career goals. Talk to a faculty member in LLAC, to Dr. Pilar Bellver (LLAC Director of Internship Programs), or Lance Dundee, Humanities Internship Coordinator in the College of A&S, to plan and discuss internship possibilities. 
  2. Verify with a full-time LLAC faculty member that all prerequisites are fulfilled.
  3. If completing internship for credit:
  • 3.1 Complete a Student Learning Agreement (SLA) and email the signed agreement to your faculty mentor to receive permission to sign for LLAC 3986. The SLA will define the parameters of the internship, number of credits to receive, and student responsibilities. Faculty mentors keep the original. 
  • 3.2 Register for LLAC 3986 and meet with your faculty mentor to develop syllabus. All students will need to meet a set of Core Learning Outcomes determined by LLAC. Specific learning goals and outcomes will be tailored to the site’s requirements and the students’ learning needs and interests. 

We strongly recommend students meet with an advisor at the Career Center to learn how to look for sites, prepare resumes and practice for interviews.

FUNDING

All languages

Unpaid Internship Funding Program, Career Center, MU.

French
Students participating in unpaid semester or summer internships within the Department of  Languages, Literatures and Cultures or in any other Marquette-approved internship where French is substantially used can apply to the French Program for financial assistance. The
following unpaid semester or summer internships are funded by a three-year grant from the Villa Albertine (French gov): $300-600 for the International Institute of Wisconsin (or any other local organization), $1500 for Les Aspin, and $4000 for the Oncidium Foundation, Belgium. This grant covers three years (2025-2027) and requires letters from the venues in support of the grant and internship. Venues are subject to change depending on availability. Please contact Dr. Sarah Gendron, Dr. Boubakary Diakite, or Dr. Jennifer Vanderheyden for further information.

German

Students participating in unpaid semester or summer internships within the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures or in any other Marquette-approved internship where German is substantially used can apply to the German Program for financial assistance. Please contact Dr. Jennifer Watson for further information.

Spanish

Students participating in unpaid semester or summer internships within the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures or in any other Marquette-approved internship where Spanish is substantially used can apply to the Todd A. Hernández Endowed Excellence Fund (THEEF). See THEEF web page for eligibility criteria, deadlines and application process. You can also contact Dr. Pilar Bellver, Director of Internship Programs, for more information.