Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University offers the students wide opportunities for academic mobility. We talked to Polina Suptelia, a third-year student at Faculty of Foreign Philology, about her experience of internship abroad. In her interview, the young lady talks about the challenges of academic mobility, new acquaintances and first professional steps, and also shares advice for those who dream of an internship abroad but are afraid to take this step.
– How did you find out about our University and why did you choose it?
– I come from Zaporizhzhia. When the war started, I was in the eleventh grade. It so happened that my family and I moved to Lutsk. When the semester began and it was necessary to choose a university, I chose Lesya UkrainkaVolyn National University. I always knew that I understood languages, that I could do it. I studied at a school with advanced study of foreign languages, so it happened that I ended up here. Why Romance Philology? I came and Larysa Leonidivna Makaruk said: if you know English so well, so what is the point of enrolling on the first English course instead of the French one. I learned it at school, so it somehow happened that I entered here. Honestly, I am very enthusiastic about this University, student life, because it is very active. I am a member of the student body, that is, we organise various events. It is very cool here and I am glad that I entered this university.
– What student activities are there at Faculty of Foreign Philology?
– We have a lot of events at the faculty. For example, last year, there was a faculty day, “Who is on top?”, we organised Halloween. In general, there are a lot of different events. Now we are thinking about new ideas to organise something interesting.
– You have been on academic mobility in France. Tell us more about the programme itself and how you got the internship.
– In January 2024, Lesya Ukrainka University signed an agreement with a federation specialising in internships between France and Ukraine. We were the first from our University, me and five other female students from my faculty, to go on this programme. There were no difficulties with the documents. Curators, lecturers at our faculty helped us. The most important thing I was worried about was the interview after which they decided whether we were going on a professional internship or a linguistic one. When I was at the interview, I thought that I would get a linguistic internship. It's a month in France, you live in a French family, study the language, culture. I thought that in order to get on a professional internship, my language level would not be enough. But then I had an interview and the president of the federation, a French man, said: you are very modest, you have a good level of language and you need to go on a professional internship. It includes three or two months in France, I was hired to work as a waitress. I was really happy, because it is cool to work in a gastronomic restaurant in France. I also did internships in two restaurants. At first it was central France, and then I was sent to the south to a gastronomic restaurant, that is, a restaurant with fine cuisine, it was generally cool there.
– How did the French treat you?
– Everyone tried to help as much as possible, all the bosses, superiors. Even the president of the federation himself came more than once, checked how I was, asked about my French, if everything was okay, so there were no problems with that. The first month, it was difficult to start speaking, I was a little shy. When you are in the environment, it is a little difficult, but, despite this, everyone always said that my French was good, that I speak well. Everyone supported me.
– How brave was it go to another country on your own, being in your second year? Another country, a language… Wasn’t it scary?
– It was my dream, this is, generally, what I want to do in life. And I won’t miss such an opportunity. That’s why I immediately, without hesitation, decided to go. Yes, it was scary to go to another country and through absolutely everything on my own. I was probably driven by my desire and motivation that I had set for myself back in my first year. I wanted to go work there, get new experience, I love French. So, I was probably driven by this desire and love for the French language.
– Tell me about your experience in academic mobility?
– First, I feel like I started speaking in pairs after the internship, there is definitely progress. All the teachers say that my language level has improved. Secondly, professional skills. Before France, I had never worked as a waitress. It’s just an unforgettable experience to work in France as a waitress in good restaurants, not in a bistro. It develops not only professional skills, but also personal ones. You are there alone and solve all the problems and questions yourself. It’s an experience for a lifetime.
– Are there any funny stories from the internship that you will remember for the rest of your life?
– There were a lot of funny stories, actually. For example, when you communicate with customers and you are still inexperienced, the French language is difficult to perceive, especially when spoken quickly. I could have misunderstood something and brought the wrong thing. I had to get out of different situations. They told me to bring an ashtray, and I brought a drink, because the words are similar. But it didn't matter, everything ended well.
– Did you go alone or with one of your groupmates?
– I went alone. When sent away the students from the same faculty or university are sent alone. This is to make us stronger, so that we can be alone and learn to cope with everything on our own. But when I moved to the south of France, to another restaurant, there was an intern from Dnipro, we became friends, started communicating, it was easier there.
– Did you manage to find new friends or acquaintances in France?
– Yes, this is Yana, whom we met during the internship, we still keep in touch. By the way, she has visited Lutsk recently. She really liked our city. We also had some French acquaintances, some of whom we still keep in touch with. When I worked there, I actually met a lot of people. I am very sociable and love to communicate.
– Are you planning any more trips to France?
– Yes, I am in love with France, so I am planning to go again next summer on this program.
– Did you manage to travel during your internship?
– I managed to travel to several cities in France. I was in Limoges, I was able to visit a race track, I was in the passenger seat, it was really cool. Then, when I moved to the south, the main city I went to was Toulouse. I was also in Cahors, a very beautiful and cozy city.
– What would you advise the students wanting to go on academic mobility but being afraid?
– First of all, it is really not to be afraid, because, as I said, I underestimated myself. You need to get it all out of your head and if you have a dream, then go for it and do not be afraid. This experience will stay with you for life, you will never forget it.
Interviewed by Olena YEMETS
Photo: Oleg Burlaka,
personal photos of Polina Suptelia
