Teaching Practicum

The Teaching Practicum is a comprehensive, practice-based microcredential focused on professional growth and demonstrated classroom competence.

Across 40 structured hours, you will progress through:

• Guided lesson observations
• Supervised co-teaching
• Independent lead teaching
• Online teaching preparation and delivery
• Structured reflection and formal debrief sessions

Rather than assigning letter grades, this practicum uses qualitative, standards-based feedback guided by five core assessment pillars:

• Methodological Application – Applying TESOL theory and communicative methodology
• Professionalism & Etiquette – Maintaining appropriate classroom conduct
• Engagement & Presence – Fostering meaningful student interaction
• Instructional Design – Effective planning and execution of lessons
• Outcome Achievement – Ensuring lesson objectives are met

By completing this microcredential, you will:

• Observe experienced TESOL instructors and analyse classroom dynamics
• Reflect critically on lesson structure, pacing, and methodology
• Co-teach structured lesson components (grammar, vocabulary, listening, speaking)
• Design and deliver three full 90-minute lead teaching lessons
• Ensure substantial student practice and communicative production
• Develop confidence managing authentic ESL classrooms
• Adapt teaching strategies for virtual delivery
• Write a professional position paper on online teaching
• Plan and deliver a supervised online lesson
• Engage in structured feedback and growth-focused debrief sessions

This practicum moves you from understanding teaching theory to demonstrating classroom competence.

The Teaching Practicum consists of four progressive stages:

Part 1: Observation and Reflection (7 hours)

• Observe three 90-minute ESL lessons
• Take guided observation notes
• Submit structured reflections
• Participate in a formal debrief session

Part 2: Co-Teaching (11 hours)

• Prepare and deliver three 30-minute mini-lessons
• Focus areas: vocabulary/grammar, listening, and speaking
• Observe continued instruction
• Receive written feedback using structured forms
• Participate in a formal co-teaching debrief

Part 3: Lead Teaching (12 hours)

• Plan and deliver three full 90-minute lessons
• Demonstrate communicative, student-centred methodology
• Ensure substantial student production time
• Receive detailed feedback and coaching
• Participate in structured debrief sessions

Part 4: Online Teaching (10 hours)

• Write a virtual teaching position paper
• Prepare and test an online teaching setup
• Analyse example online lessons
• Plan and deliver a 30-minute online lesson
• Participate in a final practicum debrief

Total commitment: 40 hours

This includes:

• 8.5 hours of structured observation
• 6.5 hours of supervised live teaching
• 9 hours of lesson preparation
• 6 hours of structured reflection
• 4 hours of instructor debrief and feedback
• 6 hours of content review and online teaching preparation

The Teaching Practicum is delivered by myTESOL in supervised teaching environments.

Participants receive:

• Access to authentic ESL classrooms
• Supervised teaching placements
• Structured practicum logs
• Standardised feedback forms
• Individualised coaching and mentoring
• Documented assessment records

All required documentation is completed and signed as part of the practicum process.

This microcredential uses formative, standards-based assessment rather than traditional grading.

To successfully complete the practicum, participants must:

• Complete all 40 required hours
• Deliver all co-teaching and lead teaching sessions
• Deliver the required online teaching session
• Submit structured reflections
• Participate in all debrief sessions
• Demonstrate growth across the five core assessment pillars

Successful completion results in documented, supervised teaching hours.

Upon successful completion, you will receive:

NEAS and myTESOL Microcredential Certificate in Teaching Practicum

This certificate recognises the successful completion of a structured, supervised 40-hour TESOL teaching practicum in both face-to-face and virtual environments.

Professional Recognition

This Teaching Practicum is particularly valuable for teachers who have completed a TESOL certificate without a supervised practicum component.

Successful completion provides documented, supervised teaching practice that may enable graduates to meet practicum requirements for employment within:

• NEAS Accredited Provider Colleges

Please note:

This microcredential does not independently qualify a teacher for employment within:

• NEAS Accredited AMEP Program Providers
• NEAS Accredited Schools

These settings have additional qualification and regulatory requirements beyond a 40-hour practicum.

Participants are encouraged to review individual employer requirements when planning their professional pathway.

This practicum is suitable for:

• Teachers holding a TESOL certificate without a practicum component
• Graduates seeking supervised teaching hours for employment eligibility
• Early-career TESOL teachers wanting structured classroom experience
• Educators transitioning into ESL teaching
• Teachers seeking documented, supervised practicum experience

It is especially valuable for teachers who need formal practicum hours in order to meet the requirements of NEAS Accredited Provider Colleges.