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Teaching Internships
So, you’re almost done with college and ready for some professional experience in a career field of your choice. Or, having just graduated, you are awaiting the next step so you can excel into the real-world.
Perhaps you just have nothing to do over the summer; we’ve all been there.
No matter the reason, interning abroad in the USA will combine education with useful work experience while granting an opportunity to interact in a global environment. Now more than ever is the time to do so.
Why Intern Abroad in the USA?
To intern abroad in the USA is to work in one of the world’s largest economies. You will have the chance to learn from what the World Economic Forum calls highly sophisticated and innovative companies.
On board? Let’s find out what you will need.
First, you should see if you meet the legal requirements for interning abroad in the USA. A prospective intern must attain a J-1 Visa prior to entering the country. You may qualify for this if you:
· Are a foreign national who is currently attending a foreign post-secondary academic institution, or who has graduated within 12 months of your program start date.
· Speak English sufficiently enough to participate in your program.
· Carry medical insurance at your program’s minimum required level.
Before you are able to obtain a J-1 Visa, there are some other steps you must follow, as long as you meet the minimal requirements above for interning abroad in the USA. Begin with selecting an occupational field you would like to join. The US offers many fields of internships including:
· Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing;
· Arts and Culture;
· Construction and Building Trades;
· Education, Social Sciences, Library Science, Counseling and Social Services;
· Health Related Occupations;
· Hospitality and Tourism;
· Information Media and Communications;
· Management, Business, Commerce and Finance;
· Public Administration and Law; and
The Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Mathematics and Industrial Occupations.
We will focus on teaching (education) internships. Different internship programs will require different prerequisites, but generally, organizations looking for teaching interns will require that you are a full-time student acquiring the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in education.
Interns looking to join this field must demonstrate excellent oral communication skills and have passion, or immunity, for writing. Creativity, resourcefulness, and openness are a must for future educators in a progressively liberal world.
Will I get paid?
Once you have picked a field, you must decide what kind of internship best suits your needs or wants. As a student interning abroad in the USA, you are most likely looking for an academic internship. This is not your only option. Many organizations offer non-academic internships.
Academic internships offer a chance to earn college credit for completing a desired program. This must be approved by your academic institution and can be sponsored by a faculty advisor, as mentioned above.
Non-academic internships offer experience in a professional setting and may offer a salary, compensation, or future employment.
Finding a Sponsor
After you have decided on a field and kind of internship, you must find a State Department-designated sponsor.* Sponsors offer internship programs within the U.S. and issue the DS2019, or the Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange visitor (J-1) Status, a document needed to apply for a J-1 Visa. You can apply for a J-1 Visa at your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Sponsors also monitor your progress under their programs while abroad.
You can find a list of sponsors at http://linktodiversity.com/ or at http://j1visa.state.gov/. You should make sure the sponsor you choose offers the desired program field and kind of internship. Should you choose an academic internship, your college may have a list of sponsors in their career services department. Lastly, think about where in the U.S. you would like to intern and what time of year.
*For academic internships, you may be assigned a faculty sponsor.
Is That Everything I Need to Know?
For more information on internships abroad in the USA, such as cost and documentation requirements, visit the J-1 Visa website, stop by your college’s career services department, and/or contact a desired sponsor.
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