The human face of Internships:

emotions, skills, strategies and self-esteem in students of Hispanic Language and Literature

Abstract

The teacher training process is not easy, especially during the evaluation period. At the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, Managua, the time allotted for this process comprises two periods: Pre-professional Practicums, which take place in the first semester, and Professional Practicums, which take place during the second semester. This exploratory study, "The Human Face of Practicums: Emotions, Skills, Strategies, and Self-Esteem in Hispanic Language and Literature Students," aims to describe the experiences related to emotional intelligence, socio-emotional learning/competence, and professional teacher development of fifth-year students during their Professional Practicums at UNAN-Managua. Therefore, its approach is qualitative. To gather information, a focus group was conducted with five students from the Hispanic Language and Literature program. The results showed that social strategies and skills help students manage their emotions and strengthen their self-esteem in the face of evaluation. Thus, as evidenced during the evaluation process, 40% of the learners exhibited nervousness in the presence of their tutor for evaluation. However, it was also observed that their confidence and composure overcame these negative emotions, strengthening their self-esteem. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that the study participants expressed fear, anxiety, confusion, and apprehension when being evaluated using portfolios due to difficulties in using the technology