A German vocational school used Beyond Words to improve students' Spanish speaking skills, increasing their chances of securing international internships.
At a Berufskolleg (vocational college) in Germany, Spanish coordinator Diana Helling faced a practical problem: her students needed to speak Spanish well enough to secure and succeed in professional internships abroad, but most couldn't hold a professional conversation.
The school's language instruction covered grammar and reading adequately, but speaking practice was insufficient. Students performed well on written tests but froze during interview simulations and real conversations with potential employers.
The school integrated Beyond Words into its Spanish language program, focusing on professional scenarios directly relevant to students' internship placements — job interviews, workplace introductions, presenting projects, communicating with supervisors and handling day-to-day professional interactions in Spanish.
Students practiced regularly in the language lab and independently, building the fluency and confidence they needed to present themselves credibly to Spanish-speaking employers.
The impact on placement outcomes was significant. More students secured Spanish-speaking internships, and employer feedback on communication skills improved markedly compared to previous cohorts.
The program demonstrated that targeted speaking practice in professional contexts directly translates to better career outcomes for vocational students.
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