STUDENTS PREPARE FOR GLOBAL ECONOMY

Alyson Fritz hopes to work overseas when she graduates from Southeast Missouri State University.

She might be well on her way after her experience this semester as an intern for Sanders Enterprises Inc., where Fritz is Southeast's department of foreign languages' first intern.

"We are the first foreign languages department in the state having students in internships," said Dr. Dieter Jedan, chair of the department of foreign languages.

Jedan said the department is breaking new ground, adding that conventional wisdom once said there were limited internship opportunities for foreign language students.

"It used to be that teaching was the only option for foreign language students," Jedan said. "Now, there are so many fields open to them including broadcasting and business. Language majors have skills that we really cannot do without in a global economy."

Jedan said it is important that students get practical application of foreign languages as well as theoretical teaching.

Since the start of the spring semester, Fritz, a senior German and political science double major from Berwick, Ill., has worked eight hours a week with Sanders Enterprises Inc., a plastic recycling manufacturer on Nash Road near Cape Girardeau.

The company recycles plastics such as milk and soft drink bottles to manufacture noise barrier walls. When the semester is completed, Fritz will have worked 160 hours and earned three Southeast credit hours.

"It's a lot of fun and a lot of hard work," Fritz said. "It's been a great experience."

Harry Sanders, president of Sanders Enterprises and a native of Belgium, pioneered the company three years ago. Prior to launching his own business, he was instrumental in the opening of M & W Packaging in Cape Girardeau.

Fritz is responsible for translating technical information and literature on plastic recycling, written in German, into the English language.

Launching the foreign language internship program "is a great opportunity to break into a whole new market," Jedan said, adding that more foreign language internships will be started soon.

"We think this region is international minded," he said.

He added that there are almost 100 companies in the region that could use foreign language interns.

"Just here in Cape Girardeau, there are about 15 companies that are foreign-owned or do business overseas," Jedan said. "They need people who know languages and cultures and therefore can keep this region prosperous."