TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1

Instructors’ Evaluation Sheet 2

Practicum Evaluation sheet 3

REFLECTION PAPER 4

References (if any) 8

Appendices (if any) 9

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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Instructors’ Evaluation Sheet
VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY_HCMC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES & HUMANITIES Independence – Freedom – Happiness
FACULTY OF ENGLISH LINGUISTICS & LITERATURE
_________________
____________________________

HCMC,____________________

INSTRUCTORS’ EVALUATION SHEET

Student’s name: ..................................................................... Student ID: ..................................

Grading Criteria Scale Score

Mid-term (30%)
(1) Working attitude during the field trip 2.0
(2) Journal/Activities at the site of the field trip 2.0
(3) Physical Photo Book 6.0
Total (Midterm): 10.0
Final (70%)
(1) The practicum process (reflected in the Practicum Evaluation 3.0
Sheet by the student’s direct supervisor in the company)
(2) The instructor’s evaluation of the student’s performance on 3.0
the Workshop Presentation of the Photobook (Nov 7, 2024)
(3) The instructor’s evaluation of the student’s written report (i.e. 4.0
quality & content of the report)
Score bonus from extra contribution (max. +1.0)
Total (Final): 10.0
Overall Score: 10.0

Comments or suggestions for improvement of the practicum portfolio:

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Instructor
(Signature & full name)

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Practicum Evaluation sheet
PRACTICUM EVALUATION SHEET

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 REFLECTION PAPER

I. Introduction
The reflective essay covers my experiences in the recent internship, describing not only the
technical responsibilities performed but also personal growth, insights, and educational
experiences obtained. Starting from basic training regarding corporate culture and
extending to hands-on activities relating to visa documentation and content creation, the
time spent in the organization proved to be a great chance for me to explore different roles,
gain professional skills, and face the challenges a professional setting presents. This paper
is going to discuss every aspect of my experience, focusing on how it has shaped my career
goals, skills, and outlook on life.

II. Report on the internship process

During the beginning of my internship, I received training on corporate culture, vision, and
mission. This perfectly aligned with a course on Business Culture that I am taking. To be
honest, at the beginning, this corporate cultural focus felt a little perfunctory; too much
time was spent watching videos on company policies and processes. Although the training
sessions were informative, I longed for hands-on, challenging work. I then took the
initiative to write a personal statement, which I later presented to my supervisor for review,
hoping to be commended for my proactive attitude.

Although my boss appreciated my enthusiasm, I was put back in mind of the importance of
hierarchy and protocols in a professional setting. I was politely told that tasks like
preparing official documents were assigned to full-time employees, not interns. I felt
disheartened by this feedback because I had hoped my dedication would be valued.
Although initially disappointed, I quickly understood the value of following protocols and
patience required in a professional setting.

As I progressed in my internship, I finally had a chance to take on more responsibilities

and get involved in some meaningful work beyond basic tasks, where I could demonstrate
my initiative and develop new skills. They introduced me to the basics of U.S. university

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classifications, rankings, and procedures of preparing applications for study-abroad
programs by watching their record videos. I have been familiar with the processes for visa
applications, including filling out the DS-160 form, writing recommendations, and
developing resumes, and also helping with scheduling interviews. However, my early tasks
were minimal, including copying papers and assisting with DS-160 forms. Those were
pretty humbling, as I yearned to be challenged and found a way to balance initiative with
the sharp limits on my role. It became frustrating to stay idle when others were busy
working with an understanding that I was not contributing much. Finally, my persistence
paid off when I was trained to write recommendation letters. My boss took notice and
praised me for my efforts, especially because I was an intern. That praise brought about a
chance for me to join a new team, where I could take up real responsibilities and make a
more significant impact. As a result, in the new team, I proved to be capable of more than
an intern's job, demonstrating flexibility and readiness for big responsibilities. My new
team members welcomed my questions and encouraged me to be curious; hence I could
contribute with even more autonomy. My work would soon expand to include helping
students with their resume content in the Extracurricular Activities section, including
planning social media posts for our charity's fan page, creating presentations for college
admissions of an imaginary event, and even developing a board game. I took over the
TikTok marketing and branding efforts of the company and led all related activities in
terms of organizing and implementing content strategies by my own accord. The
experience was very empowering, since it offered me a chance to put my skills into
practice effectively and to work quite independently. Seeing the successful realization of
my efforts was very satisfying, as it contributed meaningfully to the company's branding
and marketing strategies.

Beyond office work, the field trip gave me my first taste of teamwork in a large group of
thirteen, which is my largest team project to date. The dynamics in such a large group were
challenging to manage yet insightful, especially observing the leader's role in keeping both
harmony and efficiency in the team. It also provides much insight while watching other
teams present their projects, showing much more of the group management and further
perspectives of society. The practical aspect of working in teams really made me appreciate
hard work and joint effort even more, and further solidified my appreciation for diversity,
workplace collaboration, and proper communication.
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 III. Lessons learned from the internship
The internship gave me insight into the dynamics in the workplace, particularly in the
subtleties of interaction with colleagues and superiors alike. I found that professional
relations are built not on respect alone but rather on corporate culture and the boundaries
within communication. Furthermore, exposure to the visa application process and
documentation helped me develop practical skills useful both professionally and
personally. For instance, I am now confident that I can prepare my visa documents for
personal travel or work opportunities without external help, which is the practical
knowledge I gained.

The experience also highlighted my potential for growth when given opportunities. The
realization grounded my intention to seek a work environment that challenges my abilities
and nurtures my career growth rather than one that is replete with dull and repetitive tasks.
This understanding guided me toward career paths that offer both personal and professional
gratification, fitting well with my desire for a dynamic workplace.

The English courses I have undertaken as part of my BA program proved beneficial during
this internship. Courses like Intercultural Communication and Business English were
invaluable. They expanded my knowledge of differing perspectives, allowing me to work
cooperatively with colleagues from diverse cultural backgrounds and to better understand
the expectations of my supervisors. Moreover, studying Business English has prepared me
for the problems that generally arise while running a social media channel, which in turn
would enable an increase in brand visibility on TikTok, even without prior experience.
This course has provided me with basic knowledge in digital marketing, which can be
applied theoretically into practice. The literature courses provided a very strong base in
writing, which empowered me to write with very few mistakes, something very useful in
my first professional internship. In Particular, USSH's Internship 1 program itself helped
me understand what a company values in an employee. This experience has enlightened me
on the crucial aspects of a resume, helping me secure an internship at such a reputable
organization.

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The internship has given me new confidence in my abilities and a big appetite for learning.
I am constantly chasing after knowledge, realizing that curiosity pushes me to learn one
new thing each day. This has become both a strength and a challenge, as I still grapple with
finding a career path that aligns with my vast interests and flexibility. At this point, I
realize that the dream job should be creative, challenging and stable, yet the path forward
remains uncertain. This ambiguity is both exciting and daunting, reminding me of the
journey of self-discovery I am currently on.

IV. Suggestions
If I were to suggest improvements, I would strongly advocate for a stronger focus on career
preparation in both the internship program and the English major curriculum. Many
students, myself included, find the subject of English to be very broad and somehow
nebulous, often associating it only with careers in teaching or translation. It would be great
to get more exposure to different career options using English skills, and this way let
students discover fields outside academia and translation. An internship program that
combines career guidance could better prepare students for a fulfilling professional life by
placing them with industries where there are practical applications of what they have been
studying.

V. Conclusion
This internship was a pivotal learning experience, providing me with opportunities for
both professional and personal development. I learned how to balance initiative with
respect for boundaries and gained valuable insights into workplace functions, the
preparation of visa documents, and branding and marketing as a content creator. The field
trip, which involved working with a large team, gave me a deeper understanding of
collaboration and leadership. As my responsibilities grew, I became even more confident
and clear about my career path. Ultimately, I realized that I thrive in places where there is
creativity, challenge, and growth, which has further solidified my professional aspirations
and prepared me for success in the future.

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References (if any)

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 Appendices (if any)
Appendix 1: Daily Reflection Notes

Appendix 2: First Self-Initiated Essay - Not Assigned

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Appendix 3: Company Training

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Appendix 4: Examples of Assigned Tasks and Responsibilities

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Appendix 5: Learning of Study-Abroad Application Preparation Process

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Appendix 6: Fan Pages Administered

Appendix 7: Prepare Presentations for College Admissions

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Appendix 8: Creating a Board Game concept

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Appendix 9: Tiktok branding

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Appendix 10: Photos of My Internship Experience with Colleagues

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Appendix 11: Photos of My Field trip Experience with Teammates

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