Abstract:
This research, titled “The Role of Real-World Practice in Boosting Interns’
Confidence Communicating in English with Customers at Pedro Sun Plaza
Medan,” aims to explore the impact of real-world practice on the confidence and
communication skills of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) interns in a
professional setting. The data was collected by a qualitative descriptive approach,
they were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation
analysis involving four interns and three mentors at Pedro Sun Plaza Medan. The
study evaluated interns’ confidence levels, linguistic proficiency, adaptability, and
the role of mentorship in addressing psychological barriers. The findings reveal
that real-world practice significantly enhances interns’ confidence by exposing
them to authentic interactions and providing immediate feedback. Mentorship was
instrumental in overcoming fears and fostering resilience, resulting in
improvements in fluency, vocabulary expansion, and problem-solving skills. The
study concludes that structured real-world practice and mentorship are essential
for bridging the gap between theoretical learning and practical application in EFL
contexts.
