Vancouver, BC, is a city that attracts large numbers of international students. Over the years, businesses have hired international co-op students and taken on interns from language schools who were seeking to improve their English. Employers have worked with co-op students from Hong Kong, Ecuador, South Korea, Brazil, China and South Africa, and more. Students learned a lot of cross-cultural competencies from each other as well, since they often work together closely on projects. Language schools, of which there are many in Vancouver, have worked with employers to provide 1-2 days per week of work activities, usually for 8 weeks, designed to help students with their business English and carry out basic work duties. Language school students include those from Germany, Japan, Mexico and Venezuela.
The benefits for the students:
- Improving their language skills, particularly oral and written business English.
- Getting that much-needed Canadian experience, which is a huge help for those wanting to stay in Canada after they graduate and take on a job in their field.
- Gaining and practising business consulting skills and responding to emails, phone interviews, carrying out and tabulating surveys, writing reports.
- Getting coaching and support from an interested and engaged supervisor.
The benefits for employers:
- Learning how business is approached/carried out in other countries.
- Gaining an appreciation of how to work productively with people from other cultures.
- Receiving high quality work and services at an economical cost.
- Improving leadership and mentorship skills for employees who supervise the students.
- Energy and enthusiasm brought into the workplace by students.