Language issues ranked fourth in importance, after student selection, employer selection and matching. It would seem that most programs placed their students in cultures that speak the same language. However, many respondents included the ability to speak the local language in their criteria used when selecting students. There are programs that require their students to complete at least one year of language training prior to registering in an international co-op placement to a country that does not speak the same language as theirs. The consortia that place students in Japan are a good example as are programs in the European Union that place their students with member countries.
International co-op students who are about to travel to a foreign country must be prepared for and able to adjust to cultural differences, both on and off the job. These can be as trivial as variations in vocabulary ('take-out' for 'take-away' food; 'truck' for 'lorry') or as sensitive as differences in attitudes toward equality, work ethic and religion. As seen earlier in part A of this section, important criteria used when selecting students included: sensitivity and tolerance to other cultures, flexibility and adaptability, a willingness to experience new cultures, and a non-judgmental attitude. Listed below are a few examples of practices some programs use in preparing their students for cultural differences:
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| Cautionary Tale: Initially, the unfamiliar environment can cause students to behave abnormally. Dramatic changes in cultural, social and financial circumstances have resulted in homesickness, loneliness, disruptive behaviour, unpaid bills, sporting incidents and medical problems. One student who was persuaded to indulge in a little hackingı into the companyıs computer system got the sack, another returned home within a week due to homesicknessı leaving an unpaid hotel phone bill over twice the room charge. A student suffering from jet-lag who accepted an invitation to dinner with his employer was considered to be suffering from manic depression and was commited to hospital. |
A number of programs reported the importance of helping students obtain more realistic expectations about taking international co-op placements. Lower salaries, fewer job opportunities and reduced degrees of responsibilities were cited as important for discussion. Students must also remember that while they are on an international co-op placement, they are guests in the foreign country and must therefore act as good ambassadors as well as good employees.
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A Guide for Developing International Co-op Programs |  |