Ranieta Putri Hendrayani, a student of the English Literature Study Program, Faculty of Adab and Cultural Sciences, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, undertook an internship program at PT Taman Wisata Candi (TWC) Prambanan and Ratu Boko Unit for approximately two months, from 4 November 2025 to 2 January 2026. This internship program constituted part of the implementation of contextual learning aimed at developing students’ linguistic competencies, intercultural communication skills, and professionalism within the international tourism sector.

PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan, and Ratu Boko is a state-owned enterprise (BUMN) operating in the management of historical cultural heritage tourism areas. The Prambanan Unit itself is one of Indonesia’s international tourism destinations, welcoming thousands of domestic and international visitors each day. As one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Prambanan Temple complex plays a strategic role in supporting Indonesia’s tourism sector at the global level.

During the implementation of the internship program, the student worked under the supervision of Mr. Wagimin as the Head of the Human Resources and General Affairs Department, with a total working duration of 327 hours and 3 minutes. Throughout the program, the student performed two primary roles: serving as a customer service and information center officer during the first to third weeks and the eighth to ninth weeks, followed by assignments in the secretarial division during the fourth to seventh weeks.

In the customer service and information center division, the student was directly involved in providing services to tourists in the Prambanan Temple tourism area. The responsibilities included welcoming international tourists, providing information regarding facilities and operational hours of the temple complex, assisting with entrance ticket scanning procedures, guiding visitors in completing free welcome drink forms, serving as a doorman at the international tourist ticket counter, and handling lost-and-found announcements and public calls at the information center.

These activities provided direct experience in interacting with tourists from various countries possessing diverse cultural backgrounds, languages, and accents, including visitors from India, China, France, and several other countries. Such conditions encouraged the student to develop intercultural communication competencies and cultural sensitivity within the context of international tourism services.

Furthermore, the student also encountered challenges when assisting tourists who were unable to communicate in English. In such situations, the student utilized digital translation tools and nonverbal communication strategies to ensure that information could still be conveyed accurately and courteously. This experience provided an understanding that effective communication depends not only on linguistic proficiency, but also on empathy and the ability to understand cultural differences.

In addition to focusing on tourist services, the student also gained experience in tourism promotion through marketing activities involving Prambanan–Ratu Boko and Prambanan–Borobudur ticket bundling packages to visitors. These activities further enhanced persuasive communication skills and tourism service strategies within a professional context.

During the subsequent phase of the internship, the student was assigned to the secretarial division and carried out various administrative tasks within the company. The activities included drafting and numbering official correspondence in accordance with company standards, managing the flow of incoming and outgoing mail expeditions, archiving company documents based on categories such as Nota Takah, SKB, Combined Letters, and SK GM, as well as conducting the digitization of company archives.

Through these activities, the student gained an understanding of formal administrative procedures and internal as well as external communication systems within a state-owned tourism enterprise. Accuracy, discipline, and time management became essential competencies continuously developed during the execution of administrative duties.

In addition to daily work routines, the student also had the opportunity to participate in a trial run for the opening of a new tracking route in the Prambanan Temple area on 30 November 2025. During this activity, the student participated in testing a 3.5-kilometer route while also providing feedback regarding the development of new tourism facilities within the temple complex. This activity reflected PT TWC’s commitment to presenting innovation and more diverse tourism experiences for the public.

Throughout the internship program, the student demonstrated excellent performance achievements in both tourism services and company administration. In visitor services, the student was able to provide information regarding directions, facilities, operational hours, and visitors’ needs accurately and efficiently. In addition, the consistent use of traditional Javanese greetings such as “Prambanan sugeng enjing/siang/sonten” contributed to creating friendly and memorable service experiences for tourists.

Meanwhile, in the secretarial division, the student successfully maintained an accuracy rate of up to 99 percent in correspondence numbering and expedition management with minimal revisions from managers. Based on these achievements, the student obtained an average score of 92.6 with an A grade based on evaluations covering aspects such as work initiative, workplace communication, adaptability, discipline, and performance achievement.

Furthermore, the field supervisor, Mr. Wagimin, provided an “Excellent” evaluation in all assessment aspects, noting that the student had demonstrated mastery of the assigned field of work, particularly in the secretarial division. PT TWC Prambanan and Ratu Boko Unit also issued an official internship certificate signed by the General Manager, Mr. Ratno Timur, S.T., M.T., as a form of appreciation for the successful completion of the internship program with outstanding results.

This internship program contributed significantly to the development of the student’s competencies, particularly in the fields of international communication, tourism services, professional administration, and understanding of the global tourism industry. The experience also demonstrated that graduates of English Literature possess an important role in bridging communication between Indonesian tourism destinations and international tourists through linguistic proficiency and intercultural communication skills.

The implementation of this internship program also reflects the commitment of the English Literature Study Program at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta in supporting experiential learning in order to prepare students to face an increasingly global and competitive professional environment. (MIM/HFS)