Specialised English Language programs - FAQs
Certificate II in Professional Communication Skills - Internship programs
What is the Certificate II in Professional Communication (International)?
The Certificate is an accredited award in English language and communication skills for qualified or trainee professionals. The certificate is awarded to persons who successfully complete the course leading to the Certificate. The course is registered on the Australian Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). The Certificate was originally developed for migrant professionals. It has now been adapted for international students and professionals who wish to develop their English communication skills through an intensive language course at an advanced level followed by a supervised industry internship in which communication skills are refined through placement in their own professional area.
How long is the course?
The course is twenty weeks. It consists of two parts, ten weeks of intensive English classes in the Language Centre at the Stage 5 (Advanced) Level, and ten weeks in an Industry Internship (Industry Based Learning Practicum). Who can take the course? Persons who are not native speakers of English and who are professionally qualified or students who have successfully completed at least two years of a tertiary course in their own country may apply to undertake the course.
What are the entry requirements?
Persons wishing to undertake the course must provide evidence that they have:
- an English proficiency entry level equivalent to at least 5.5 on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) OR 520 (190 electronic test) on TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), or have satisfactorily passed a Language Centre Stage 4 course.
- a degree from a recognised university, OR a professional tertiary qualification, OR a certificate of completion of at least two years of a course leading to a degree or professional qualification from a recognised tertiary institution, with at least a B average.
What are the fees for the course?
The fees are the same as the fees for other Language Centre courses of twenty weeks.
When does the course start?
Students who are accepted into the course can start on any of the course start dates advertised in the current Language Centre brochure.
Information on study and internships in 2002
What is an internship?
An internship is a supervised placement of a student or professionally qualified person in business, industry, or company environment.
What is the goal of the internship?
The goal of the internship is to offer international students or professionals an opportunity to apply the theoretical learning and skills of their professional training in a real life situation in an international context, and to refine their professional communication skills.
What is the English language proficiency level of interns?
Before the start of the internship, interns will have completed an intensive 10 week (250 hours) Language Centre course in Business English at an Advanced level. Students who have NOT satisfactorily completed the assessment tasks of this course will NOT be permitted to proceed with an internship.
How long is the internship?
The internship for the Certificate II in Professional Communication Skills (International) is ten weeks. During the internship interns must spend a minimum of 335 hours in a company.
What will the intern do during the internship?
All internships must be pre-planned well before they start, so that the internship experience will be of value to the company as well as a learning experience for the intern.
The intern will undertake a program related to his/her professional training, under the supervision of the intern's supervisor. The details of the program will be finalised in the form of a Learning Agreement signed by the intern's supervisor and the Language Centre study supervisor. The Learning Agreement will incorporate the meaningful tasks or projects from the position description.
The intern will demonstrate practical learning as well as work achievement during the internship. The intern's performance will be evaluated by the intern's supervisor.
During the internship, interns are required to attend Language Centre seminars, workshops and consultations with the Language Centre supervisor for a minimum of 2 hours per week, and to complete a number of assessment tasks related to professional communication. Satisfactory completion of the communications assessment tasks are a requirement for the award to the Certificate II in Professional Communication Skills (International).
What are the expected outcomes of the internship for the intern?
Satisfactory completion and evaluations of all parts of the internship will be credited towards the award of the Language Centre's Certificate II in Professional Communication Skills, and may, by agreement with a student's home tertiary education institution, be credited towards an award from that institution.
What are the intern's responsibilities?
Before the internship, during the intensive course: develop a Learning Agreement with the study supervisor and obtain the intern's supervisor's signature on the Agreement
Complete and sign a La Trobe University Confidentiality Agreement to safeguard confidentiality of any information accessed during the internship
During the internship complete the responsibilities listed in the Learning Agreement
How does one apply for this course?
Applicants must complete the normal Language Centre application form for enrolment in a Language Centre course and send it to the Language Centre with:
- a letter of application for the Certificate II in Professional Communication Skills
- curriculum vitae
- two written references supporting the applicant's suitability to undertake an internship
- evidence of language proficiency level.
- evidence of at least two years of tertiary education with a minimum B grade average
- a comprehensive statement of reasons for wishing to enrol in this course, professional skills, the type of work experience sought during the internship, and any other relevant matters in support of the application
- a non-refundable enrolment fee ($200)
Applications should be received at least four months before the beginning of the course, so that a suitable internship can be arranged. When the Language Centre is sure that a suitable internship is available, confirmation of an offer of a place will be sent, with an invoice for the full course fees. Enrolment is confirmed on the receipt of the full fees.
What is the course curriculum and how is it assessed?
The curriculum and competencies to be assessed are contained in the attached "Statement of Competencies and Assessments for the Certificate II in Professional Communication Skills (International)". In addition the interns performance in meeting the responsibilities of the "Learning Agreement" developed in consultation with the study supervisor and the intern's supervisor form a part of the overall assessment. The intern's supervisor's evaluation of the intern's performance in the workplace is also part of the assessment for the award of the Certificate.
