UNDERSTANDING THE COMMUNICATION SKILL REQUIREMENTS OF INTERNS: INSIGHTS FROM HOST TRAINING ESTABLISHMENTS (HTEs)
This study explored the English communication skills requirements of interns as reported by the internship supervisors of the host training establishments. The research sought input from the supervisors of the HTEs on specific areas of the essential language skills required of interns, important oral and written communicative events in English deemed necessary for them, and the specific areas of English communication in which interns faced difficulties. The study used the mixed method, utilizing qualitative and quantitative approaches. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics for qualitative and quantitative data, respectively. The findings provide valuable insights on the importance of the four language skills—oral and written communicative events in English—deemed necessary for interns to improve their English communication abilities. The result of this study revealed that language communication skills are deemed necessary for interns, and presentation skills as well as writing reports in English are correspondingly very essential. Speaking and writing are areas of English communication in which people commonly face difficulties. This study can inform the development of targeted interventions and support systems to better prepare interns with the essential English communication skills required in their professional settings. By recognizing these needs and tailoring English communication training programs to address them, interns can enhance their professional growth, boost their confidence, and effectively contribute to the organizations they serve. Moreover, it could be a basis for higher education institutions (HEIs) to review and revise their curricular offerings and enrich their internship training programs.
English Communication Skills, Host Training Establishments, Feedback, Targeted Interventions, Professional Settings