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The Japanese Section and the Language Learning Hub (LLH) in the School of Modern Languages and Applied Linguistics (MLAL) have hosted an Erasmus+ intern from April 1st to June 4th. Siham Ouled Ali is a first-year postgraduate student of the MA in Languages and Societies (Translation and Multilingual Communication) with Japanese in the University of Orléans (France). 

What brought you to UL? 

I travelled to Ireland in 2022 and, in only four days, I realised how kind the Irish people are. I fell in love with the country, its history and heritage, so I decided to come back. I knew I didn’t want to be in a capital city, so Limerick was a great option for me. Also, communication with the Japanese Section in UL was quick and clear – they told me straight away which tasks I’d be doing, and that made me very excited. It almost seemed too perfect to be real! 

What were your first impressions of UL? 

The first thing I noticed about UL was its buildings. I was very impressed by the beautiful spacious campus. My colleagues in the LLH gave me a tour of the campus on the first day; it was in that moment I realised I was going to be part of something great. 

Is there anything that stands out during your internship? 

When I first met my internship supervisor, Dr Erika Marcet, she said to me “Eid Mubarak!”. I had arrived in Ireland just after Ramadan. This made me feel like I belonged, and it also gave me a boost of motivation. I knew I was in the right place. Everyone has been kind and welcoming. Everyone I met in MLAL has been so inspiring, motivating and supportive. They have truly made me feel at ease. 

What was your biggest challenge? 

I came here at the very end of the semester, when classes were finishing up, but I still had the opportunity to attend a few Japanese language and literature classes. I wanted to help students, but I didn’t know how much help they really needed – everyone’s Japanese level was so high! At times, I felt like all the students had better Japanese than me, so I decided to focus on supporting those students who were shy or perhaps not participating as much. 

What have you gained from your time in UL? 

My time in UL has helped me to come out of my shell. My English skills have improved, especially my fluency, and so have my Japanese skills. In only two months, I have definitely experienced a great deal of professional and personal growth. 

What was your favourite task? 

Creating social media content for the Japanese Section. The Japanese Section’s Instagram account is very engaging, so being able to contribute to that and showing the world how much fun learning Japanese is, and how great UL is, has been a dream come true. I have to say that UL’s marketing is great – much better than in my university, that’s for sure! 

What would you say to anyone thinking about applying for an internship in MLAL? 

You will definitely have a great time here – one of the best experiences you’ll ever get! You’ll get out of your comfort zone. You’ll be busy. But if you have the chance to apply, you’ll love every single minute of it. 

Any final words? 

Being able to do my work placement with the Japanese Section and the LLH has been a great opportunity. It has given me inspiration for my future career! From the beginning to the end, it has been awesome. Thank you, Erika and Catherine, and everyone else, for your kindness and support. 

If, like Siham, you are interested in applying for an internship in the LLH or MLAL, you can contact llh@ul.ie or mlal@ul.ie for more information.