In April 2018, I began a very special journey: I had the opportunity to travel to London for several weeks and complete an internship abroad as part of the European Erasmus+ programme. This was not an ordinary school trip or holiday, but a valuable chance to gain practical work experience in an international environment.
The Erasmus+ programme gives selected students the opportunity to live and work in another European country for a limited period of time. Its aim is to provide young people with new professional and personal perspectives. At the same time, participants can improve their language skills, gain intercultural experience and become more independent.
As I had always been interested in other countries, different cultures and foreign languages, taking part in the programme was an exceptional opportunity for me. Until then, I had mainly known London from books, films and English lessons. Now I was able to experience the British capital for myself and become part of everyday life there for several weeks.
Preparing for the Internship Abroad
Before the journey could begin, several preparations were necessary. One of them was an English language test, which was used to assess my existing language skills. After all, it was important to make sure that I would be able to communicate during my internship and understand the tasks I was given.
After successfully completing the test, I was placed in a challenging internship position at Astberry’s Property Services in Kensington. Kensington is one of London’s best-known districts and is famous for its impressive buildings, well-maintained residential areas and international atmosphere. For me, it was particularly exciting to gain an insight into the daily work of a property company in this part of the city.
As the departure date approached, my excitement naturally increased. Alongside the anticipation, I also had many questions. What would daily working life in a British company be like? Would I be able to communicate confidently in English? How quickly would I find my way around such a large and busy city? This uncertainty was part of the experience and made the journey even more exciting.
My Internship at Astberry’s Property Services
During my internship, I became familiar with different areas of daily work in a property company. I gained an insight into organisational and administrative processes and was able to observe how properties were managed, listings were handled and customer enquiries were dealt with.
It was especially interesting to discover the differences and similarities between working practices in Germany and the United Kingdom. Naturally, many tasks, conversations and procedures took place in English. This allowed me to use my language skills not only in theory, but also in real professional situations.
At first, it was unusual to experience an entire working day in English, from the morning greeting to the individual tasks I had to complete. However, I became more confident with each passing day. I learned new vocabulary related to the property industry, understood conversations more easily and was gradually able to work more independently.
The internship also showed me how important reliability, punctuality and a friendly attitude are in professional life. Even tasks that appeared simple had to be completed carefully and responsibly. As a result, I learned to take responsibility and gained a realistic impression of the expectations and requirements of everyday working life.
Living and Working in London
In addition to the internship, living in London itself was an extremely valuable experience. The city is international, diverse and constantly moving. People from many different countries and cultural backgrounds live and work together there. This diversity could be felt throughout the city and made my stay particularly interesting.
At the same time, everyday life in an unfamiliar city presented me with new challenges. I had to find my way around, plan routes, use public transport and organise my daily routine independently. These everyday situations helped me become more self-reliant and confident within a short period of time.
There was also plenty to discover outside working hours. London combines famous landmarks and historic buildings with modern neighbourhoods, shops and a lively cultural scene. Every day brought new impressions and further opportunities to use the English language in different situations.
I realised that one of the best ways to learn a language is to use it regularly in everyday life. Conversations with colleagues, reading signs and timetables, and dealing with everyday situations all helped me improve my English continuously. At the same time, I became less afraid of making mistakes and more comfortable speaking freely.
An Important Personal Experience
My time in London had a lasting impact on me, both professionally and personally. I developed new skills, improved my English and gained my first experience of working in an international environment. However, the personal development connected with the stay was even more important.
Living and working in another country for several weeks meant leaving my familiar surroundings and adapting to many new situations. I had to take responsibility for myself, approach other people openly and deal with challenges independently. This helped me become more self-confident, flexible and independent.
Of course, not every moment went perfectly. Unfamiliar situations and occasional language misunderstandings could be challenging at first. Looking back, however, these moments were particularly valuable. They showed me that we grow through new experiences and are often capable of more than we initially believe.
My Conclusion on the Erasmus+ Experience
My Erasmus+ internship in London was a unique and rewarding experience that I still remember fondly today. The combination of professional work experience, language practice and life in an international city made the journey truly special.
I not only learned about the everyday work of a property company, but also developed personally. I took on responsibility, broadened my horizons and gained experiences that went far beyond traditional classroom learning.
The stay showed me how valuable it is to remain open to new cultures, people and challenges. Programmes such as Erasmus+ allow young people to look beyond their familiar surroundings and gain important experience for both their personal and professional future.
For me, the journey to London was therefore much more than just an internship abroad. It was an important step towards greater independence and an experience that had a lasting influence on my view of language, work and life in other countries.