Lived Experiences of Work Immersion Students in Housekeeping

Abstract

The study analyzed the experiences of ten Grade 12 intern students in housekeeping. Qualitative research methods through in depth interviews and observations as well as Colaizzi's descriptive phenomenological method were used to analyze the data, focusing on preparation, work immersion environment, relevance, implementation, and overall implementation. The results showed that students were well prepared physically, academically, and morally during the preparation for the internship. During the immersion, the workplace provided relevant skills and training, but also caused frustration and distraction. Problems faced by respondents included inadequate training, lack of equipment and a home lab, work schedule adjustments, mismatched skills, financial difficulties, work-related pressures, academic problems, and poor evaluations. Recommendations for improving the program include phasing in, purchasing necessary equipment, planning, proactively adapting to situations, seeking budget support, standardized grading, and updating teachers' knowledge and skills. Those responsible for implementing Work Immersion should work together to address gaps, seek support, and adapt learning approaches to allow experiences to grow with the demands of the real world.