This summer, the three of us—Petra Benedová, Dominika Kocmichová, and Lucie Votavová—had the incredible opportunity to embark on a 10-week internship in the vibrant city of Birmingham, England. During our time at Birmingham International Academy (BIA), we gained invaluable experience in running an English preparatory course for international students preparing to study at the University of Birmingham but needing to improve their English proficiency.
Thanks to the cooperation between faculties and the strong mutual relationships built over the years, we were fortunate to work within one of the prestigious Russell Group universities, the University of Birmingham. In doing so, we proudly followed in the footsteps of previous UAN students who had participated in this internship in the past two years.
The support we received from the internship coordinators was excellent. With the uncertainties of Brexit looming, we initially weren’t sure what to expect, and it made us appreciate even more the advantages of being part of the EU. However, thanks to the clear and helpful communication from the BIA team, our concerns were quickly addressed. All the necessary administration—such as visas and other documentation—went smoothly, and soon enough, we found ourselves happily stepping into the UK. One great aspect of the internship was that BIA provided and fully covered our accommodation in the university halls, so we didn’t have to worry about spending the majority of our Erasmus+ grant on rent. Plus, our office was just a 15-minute walk away!
Our working hours were from Monday to Friday, around 9 AM to 5 PM. The internship was incredibly varied, with tasks spanning multiple areas. We monitored student attendance, assisted with general administrative work, attended weekly meetings with the teaching staff, and were invited to observe lessons and attend teacher development workshops. In the afternoons, we could apply what we had learned in the language support sessions for students. One of the highlights was running our own conversation club, which we organised regularly. We also helped the Social Team with extracurricular activities, including everything from designing posters to running workshops. Our weekends were free, allowing us to spend the portion of our stipend saved from rent on exploring the beautiful sights of Britain guilt-free.
Although we didn’t anticipate experiencing much culture shock, being Europeans and students of English, some local customs were still a bit of a challenge! However, we quickly adapted and came to appreciate things that we might otherwise take for granted at home, such as opening times, cosy tea rooms, proper beer with a good head, and free education and healthcare. We learned that “cheers” doesn’t only mean “to your health,” mastered the art of small talk, grew to enjoy tea with milk, and made sure to carry an umbrella at all times—because in the UK, you never know when it might rain, especially when you’re out for a walk all day!
The 10 weeks flew by. Thanks to the friendly and multicultural environment, we found that different accents and dialects of English became much easier to understand, and we drew lots of inspiration from observing different teaching styles. We also discovered more about our own capabilities. On top of all this, we met some amazing people and made valuable international connections. This is just a glimpse of what our stay in the UK had to offer.
We would definitely recommend this internship to anyone considering it. It’s a fantastic opportunity to live and work in an English-speaking country, even for just a short while, surrounded by a great team of people. It doesn’t just improve your language skills but also develops you professionally and enriches your life in so many ways. We feel that passing up an opportunity like this would be a real shame, and we hope some of you will take the plunge next summer!
Tara-a-bit!
