{"id":4608,"date":"2022-01-14T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-14T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teflonline.com\/blog\/?p=1008"},"modified":"2024-10-30T11:18:19","modified_gmt":"2024-10-30T17:18:19","slug":"add-teaching-practicum-to-online-tefl-certification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/add-teaching-practicum-to-online-tefl-certification\/","title":{"rendered":"The Value of Experience: Add a Teaching Practicum to Your Online TEFL Certification!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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After earning your TEFL\/TESOL certificate<\/a>, how ready are you to set out into the real world? While your course prepared you to become an English teacher, you may worry about your next moves, from seizing job opportunities without any experience to beating stage fright when you teach for the first time. Don\u2019t fret! You can prepare yourself for these by completing a TEFL practicum. Let\u2019s look at how you can benefit from a teaching practicum as a newbie in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a TEFL practicum?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you embark on your own TEFL adventure, there\u2019s no doubt that a lot of opportunities await you. Whether you\u2019re looking to teach English online<\/a> or work in a physical classroom, you\u2019ll definitely get to apply the theories and methods that you\u2019ve learned in your TEFL\/TESOL course. However, if you haven\u2019t set foot in a real classroom or given online classes, you may wonder when you\u2019ll be able to finally showcase your skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of waiting for the chance to show what you\u2019ve got as an English teacher, you can do it immediately by taking a TEFL practicum! A tangible way to show employers that you have real teaching experience, a TEFL practicum is an on-site or online training program that includes hands-on teaching work, mentorship, and reflective tasks that aim to hone trainees\u2019 teaching skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do you need a TEFL teaching practicum?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you want to get a great head start in your English teaching career, a TEFL practicum is the way to go! Here\u2019s what\u2019s in it for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Gain teaching experience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You may see that some TEFL\/TESOL job offers<\/a> abroad or online require applicants to have experience teaching in a real classroom. If you\u2019re just starting out, you may not have that background; however, you can still meet this requirement by completing a teaching practicum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read about other ways to get ESL teaching experience.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Margaret, from the U.S.<\/a>, who recently took the Bridge Practicum in Teaching English Online<\/a>, said, “I am very grateful to Bridge for suggesting early on that a student should think ahead to the portfolio they would ultimately create. I\u2019ve started looking for a paid online position and have applied to lots of places.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Teacher Margaret working online<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2. Boost your confidence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Being in the spotlight in front of eager students for the first time may sometimes be nerve-wracking \u2013 you definitely want to start off on the right foot and be ready for whatever lies ahead. With a TEFL practicum, it\u2019s possible to take your teaching-related jitters away! As you will give classes to real students, you’ll get a feel for teaching as well as for working with various materials and technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, practicums prepare you for different issues that may occur while you\u2019re teaching, from dealing with various kinds of learners to solving tech issues when teaching English online. With practice, you’ll become more confident that you can manage these situations and improvise if necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Enhance your teacher profile<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even if you are a newcomer to the English-teaching field, you can still get an edge when you start applying for teaching jobs or marketing yourself as a freelancer<\/a> by adding your teaching practicum to your TEFL\/TESOL resume<\/a> or online profile. Don\u2019t forget that you can also rock interviews<\/a> and attract potential students by mentioning your practicum experience!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get tips on how to create an attractive English teacher profile.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you take the Practicum in Teaching Engish Online<\/a>, you\u2019ll even craft a portfolio of your recorded teaching sessions, which you can showcase in your professional profile and to potential employers. Nowadays, many schools or online ESL companies require you to submit a teaching demo<\/a> or a self-introduction video<\/a> during the application process. If you\u2019ve already created this during your practicum, you won\u2019t have to worry about recording it later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sophia<\/a>, a graduate of the Bridge Practicum in Teaching English Online, created this introduction video before landing a tutoring job with Cambly:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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