updated: 12-Mar-08

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Vancouver English Centre

Business Internship Program
(unpaid)

Description

Vancouver English Centre offers a Business Internship Program for international English as a Second Language (ESL) students in Vancouver, Canada.  Students complete work experience internships with Canadian companies after studying Business English at Vancouver English Centre.  The objective of the Business Internship Program is to help ESL students improve their business English and learn more about Canadian business.  The Business English courses make up the first half of the Business Internship Program.   The last half of the program is the work experience practicum.

The practical work experience that interns gain on the job helps them learn more about how Canadians do business, as well as the English language.  Vancouver internships are arranged to complement the education and career interests of the interns.  Practicum assignments have been successfully completed in various Vancouver organizations and companies, including banks, accounting firms, publishers, and clinics.  The Vancouver English Centre Business Internship Program runs year-round and is available to most international ESL students who have advanced English language abilities.

Although interns do not receive remuneration,  they are treated with the same respect awarded all other employees at the workplace.

Internship practicum assignments are in or near Vancouver, Canada.  Vancouver is a beautiful city with spectacular scenery and a pleasant, moderate climate.  Many people believe that Vancouver is the most attractive city in Canada.  Vancouver English Centre is located in the heart of downtown Vancouver.

Sample Schedule - 8 week program

The First Four Weeks of Instruction

All Business Internship students are required to spend the first four weeks in the Business Internship (BINT) class.

	Week 1 - Interns work on completing: Intern profile/resume Applicant questionnaire Career choice breakdown list Intern/school contract Meeting with Business Internship Coordinators to discuss work placement procedures.
	Week 2 - Attend regular classes
	Week 3 - Attend regular classes and scheduled interviews
	Week 4 - Attend classes, finish up interviews and prepare for internship.

Interns in the 16-week and 24-week programs do not receive interviews until the month prior to their practicum assignments.

Typical Four Weeks of Internship
(example)

	Week 1 - Interns begin the first day of work. The Program Coordinator contacts the company to see how the intern is adjusting.
	Week 2 - An Intern Progress Report is faxed to the sponsor to evaluate the intern’s performance so far. If there are any problems with the job, this is the time to arrange a meeting with the Internship Coordinator.
	Week 3 - Continue to work on the job.
	Week 4 - An End Progress Report is faxed to the corporate sponsor to evaluate the intern’s entire performance. The intern may be asked to share experiences with a new class of interns. A certificate and reference letter can be given.

VEC is located in Yaletown, in the heart of downtown Vancouver. The campus has 54 classrooms, as well as a kitchen area with a microwave, refrigerator, television, and free coffee and tea. The computer labs, with approximately 60 computers, are available for students use and offer free access to the Internet from 8am to 6pm on weekdays, and 9am to 4:30pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Our computers have high- speed Internet connections and all are equipped with mainstream software such as, MS Office and Windows. Scanners, web-cams and fax machines for staying in touch with home, are also available.