{"id":793,"date":"2019-11-25T13:45:23","date_gmt":"2019-11-25T18:45:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teflcoursereview.com\/blog\/?p=793"},"modified":"2021-04-30T14:03:51","modified_gmt":"2021-04-30T18:03:51","slug":"make-the-most-out-of-your-tefl-certification-course-the-practicum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teflcoursereview.com\/blog\/make-the-most-out-of-your-tefl-certification-course-the-practicum\/","title":{"rendered":"Make the Most Out of Your TEFL Certification Course: The Practicum"},"content":{"rendered":"

T<\/span>he most nerve-wracking part of any TEFL certification has to be standing up in front of a class to teach, otherwise known as the practicum. For many aspiring teachers this will be their first taste of actual teaching, and while it might be intimidating it can also be incredibly rewarding.<\/p>\n

Do I have to do a practicum?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The practical side of teaching is best learned by being face-to-face with real life students where your communication skills, patience and creativity will be put to the test.<\/span>All accredited TEFL certifications include at least 20 hours of teaching practice and observation. While you might choose not to get TEFL-certified before <\/i>you search for a job, general wisdom for professional ESL teachers is that, yes, you should do a practicum.<\/p>\n

And for good reasons.<\/p>\n

While the theoretical aspects of any TEFL certification will definitely enrich your teaching practice, the practical side of teaching is best learned by doing– being face-to-face with real life students where your communication skills, patience and creativity will be put to the test. If this sounds a little intimidating\u2026 you\u2019re right! These aren\u2019t always easy skills to acquire. You are sure to learn from your mistakes as you evolve as a teacher.<\/p>\n

And this is another great reason to do a practicum, since you\u2019ll take your first steps in the classroom in a supportive environment, with students and other teachers who are invested in your improvement. Their feedback will help you get a whole lot better at your job in a short space of time.<\/p>\n

One last benefit of the practicum is something that can\u2019t be underestimated in a people-facing job: confidence<\/span>. When you\u2019re searching for jobs after your certification course the practicum will provide you with examples to talk about in your interviews, the knowledge of how your lesson plan will actually pan out in the classroom, and a little extra self-belief for your first day on the job.<\/p>\n

What does teaching practice actually entail?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Most TEFL certification courses define teaching practice (or the practicum) as three activities:<\/p>\n