The internship for FLIT majors is taken as a regular course, for which prior registration is required. The course is FL 495. Its catalogue description is as follows:

Provides structure for application and expansion of knowledge gained through extensive preparatory course work in the subject area for the internship, as well as in the foreign language which has been studied. Normally taken abroad, in a country where the foreign language acquired by the student is universally used. Not for graduate credit. Prerequisite: senior standing and written approval from the Director of FLIT. This approval is subject to satisfactory completion of both oral and written language competency exams before the internship begins.

Because the internship is preparation for a permanent job, the responsibility of initiating the steps to and procuring an internship rests ultimately with the student. FLIT Language Advisors provide guidance, leads on previously served internships and other resources available, and writing letters of recommendation. The FLIT Office provides copying, faxing, and mailing services.

A foreign internship provides 3-6 units of credit towards the foreign language requirements for the major. It should be taken after completion of all course work and it is done under the supervision of a FLIT Language Advisor. Obviously, previous work experience cannot be retroactively counted as an internship.

The first step in arranging the internship (assuming an area of specialization has been developed) is to fill out the "Internship Check List" (including FLIT Language Advisor's signature) and submit it to the FLIT Office at least six months before the internship begins. Regulations and processes for the internship are attached to the Internship Check List.

The internship should be abroad, in a country where the language which has been learned is used in the business community. It should be understood that a foreign internship will be an expense. Students who do not anticipate being able to meet the expenses of an internship are advised not to enter the FLIT (or PFLT) major. There is no rule for salaries--they range from no salary to enough to cover basic living expenses. No internship sponsor, however, pays for overseas transportation or for SIUC tuition for the course. Additionally, the intern must have health insurance coverage during the full period of the internship. Please be advised that internships are only available to students currently enrolled at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Chinese

• Wan Guan Hang Kung Wai Yu Zi Xun Zhong Xin, Taichung, Taiwan
• NEC Electronics Taiwan Ltd., Taipei, Taiwan
• K.E. Kingstone Co., Taipei, Taiwan
• Beijing-Tianjin Scientific and Tech Co., Beijing, China
• Central Mercantile Corp., Singapore
• Sichuan Corporation, Chengdu, China
• Sanco Technologies Limited, Dong Guang, China
• Hunan Xiangxiang Foreign Economic Trade Import and Export Corp., Xiangxiang Hunan, China
• Dalian Hua Fu Limited, Dalian, China
• Accton Technology Corporation
• Dalian Empire Customs Broker, Dalian, China
• Far East Broadcasting Company, Hong Kong

German

• Österreichisches SALEN-Kunststoffwerk, Wien, Austria
• Chemiefasern Textilindustrie, Frankfurt, Germany
• Die Sparkasse in Bremen, Bremen, Germany
• Brosius-Koehler Computer, Dusseldorf, Germany
• Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany
• Voralberger Wirkwarenfabrik, Hard, Austria
• Mäser Werbeagentur, Dornbirn, Austria
• Footwork Hamacher, Bremen, Germany
• Raiffeisen Zentralbank Österreich, Wien, Austria
• U.S. Dept of Commerce, Grand Rapids MI
• Doppelmayr Maschinenfabrik, Wolfurt, Austria
• Dyna Data, Wolfurt, Austria
• Mühlbauer Buchhaltung in Zeitarbeit, Stuttgart, Germany
• Mannesmann Rexroth GmbH, Lohr a. Main, Germany
• Migros, Laufen, Switzerland
• Heumann Pharma GmbH, Nurnberg, Germany
• Verbund, Wein, Austria
• Zumtobel Staff, Dornbirn, Austria
• E.D.I.T.S., Munchen, Germany
• Edel, Hamburg, Germany
• Gomme International, Hamburg, Germany
• BOMAG GmbH, Boppard, Germany
• Emco Maier GmbH., Hallein, Austria

Russian

• Vladimir Production Firm, Vladimir, Russia
• Active Business Center, Sofia, Bulgaria
• Joint Stock Company Russkii Dom, Vladimir, Russia
• Inessa, Puskin, Russia
• Water Filter Distributions, Vladimir, Russia
• Vladimir Technical Associates, Vladimir, Russia
• Hewlett-Packard, Moscow, Russia
• Credit Suisse First Boston, Moscow, Russia
• Alinga Consulting Group, Moscow, Russia
• MacFarlane and Associates, Vladimir, Russia

Japanese

• Kuraray Chemical Company, Nakajo, Japan
• Passage Company, Tokyo, Japan
• Amnet Inc., Tokyo, Japan
• Mizusawa Chemical, Niigata, Japan
• SIAM Tinplate, Bangkok, Thailand
• Tomigawa Inc., Tokyo, Japan
• Marubeni Trading Corp., Taipei, Taiwan
• Tekko Ironworks, Nakajo, Japan
• Niigata Ricoh, Niigata, Japan
• Recruit Co., Tokyo, Japan
• Kokuyo Company, Niigata, Japan
• Novus, St. Louis, MO
• Industrial Equipment Trading Company, Boston, MA
• Omron Healthcare, Vernon Hills, IL/Mie, Japan
• IRC Group, Washington, D.C.
• Kato Denzo Shoten, Tochigi, Japan
• Miyaki Inc., Tokyo, Japan
• NYS Co., LTD, Iwate, Japan
• Sanyo Kinzoku Co., Tokyo, Japan
• Oogiya Shokuhin, Matsuyama City, Japan
• Tokyo Sanyu Shipping Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan

French

• Credit Agricole, Agen, France
• Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand, France
• Chambre de Commerce, Agen, France
• Matthey Johnson, Paris France
• Credit Agricole, Grenoble, France
• Laboratoire Foch, Bordeaux, France
• Credit Agricole, d'Albi, France
• Chambre de Commerce d'Angouleme, Angouleme, France
• Credit Agricole, Cedex, France
• Eraerts, Dragages et Enterprises Jumet, Belgium
• Grenobloise d'Electronique et d'Automatismes, Meylan Cedex, France
• Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City, Quebec
• JANGIL, Cedex, France
• Elaboration Paris, France

Spanish

• Pastas Vigui, Costa Rica
• Demeterco & Cia. LTDA, Curitiba Parana, Brazil
• Duo Fast Europe, Burgos, Spain
• ITW Espana SA, Barcelona, Spain
• Baxter Healthcare, Valencia, Spain
• State of Illinois Trade Office, Mexico City, Mexico
• State of Indiana Trade Office, Mexico City, Mexico
• Inlubsa Industria Nacional de Lubricantes SA de CV, Zapopan, Mexico
• Restaurante "El Rancho Grande," Barcelona, Spain
• U.S. Department of Commerce, St. Louis, MO
• U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA, Chicago, IL
• Rantoul City Schools Migrant Summer School Program, Rantoul, IL
• Illinois Migrant Council, Chicago, IL
• Scott Air Force Base, IL
• Venture Stores, St. Louis, MO
• Republic National Bank of Miami, Miami, FL
• Group Long Distance INC, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Chicago Partnership Board INC, Chicago, IL
• KMart, Bridgeton, MO
• Grupo Finver, Guayaquil, Ecuador
• IL Dept. of Commerce and Community Affairs, Chicago, IL
• Estudios E Ingenieria Aplicada, SA, Bilbao, Spain
• Instituto de Desarrollo Regional, Sevilla, Spain
• Van Kampen Merritt, Oakbrook Terrace, IL
• La Maga Newspaper, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Caja Nacional de Salud, LaPaz, Bolivia
• Catholic Relief Services, LaPaz, Bolivia
• Asofollajes, San Jose, Costa Rica
• John Deere, Monterrey, Mexico
• Deportivo Saprissa, San Jose, Costa Rica
• Christopersen S.A., Montevideo, Uruguay
• Trelleborg, Monarch, Inc., Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and Venezuela
• U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Foreign Commercial Service, Buenos Aires, Argentina

          Marketing and sales have been the largest areas of employment; however, the majority of those finding jobs have been scattered throughout almost all areas of business, including marketing research, contracts, taxes, exports, and administration. Businesses are not initially interested so much in a generalist, even if he or she does have language skills. Initial hiring is usually for a specialization area, e.g. accounting, computer programming, marketing, production, or market research. After being hired into a specific position, the new employee spends time learning the company's products, procedures, customers, and structure. In U.S. business this usually precedes assignment to the international division.
The required internship serves as a forerunner to permanent employment. Students must conduct an internship "job search," in the process of which they do a resume, send out letters of inquiry, and have interviews. After being "hired" they usually receive on-the-job training.