In accordance with the objectives of the high school and our goal of international openness, the completion of an internship in a company abroad can strengthen or even accentuate their ambition to pursue studies in the field internationally, either by working in a profession linked to the rest of Europe or even wanting to live and work elsewhere in Europe. It is also an opportunity to discover a new social and cultural environment. During this period, trainees are supervised by a dynamic team of dedicated staff who may not necessarily be their usual teacher. This functional team is composed of teachers of languages, eco-management, mathematics and sport. It brings together all the volunteer teachers to prepare and supervise students during their trip and thus support the project throughout the school year. While in the country, the focus is put on the follow-up of the internship in companies, through the link between the teachers and the tutors, and on the evaluation. The teachers will also be guides for the trainees to explore cultural sites in the evenings and weekends. The involvement of the greatest number of teachers enhances the motivation of the teaching team and perpetuates the project.
The Lycée des Glières is located in Annemasse (74), an agglomeration close to the Swiss city of Geneva. We are in the heart of a cross-border conurbation of 860,000 inhabitants, which is noted for its multilingualism because many foreigners from all over the world who work on both sides of the border and live on French territory. By bringing together 1,200 students, our school draws its richness from its versatility, as we find general sections, tertiary technology and professional services. Social mix is very pronounced and brings its own benefits as well as challenges. The target of this four weeks project in Spain or Ireland includes students who are selected to go as well as those who stay, our local and foreign partners, families and teachers. The main objectives for participants are to develop their language skills in a business context, to compare the practices between foreign and French companies, and to become aware of the impact of this experience on their subsequent studies upon returning home.