Guided Teaching Practicum
20-Hour Specialized Online TEFL / TESOL Certification
Gain real teaching experience and become more competitive for jobs by adding a practicum to your TEFL certification.
This 20-hour, blended online and hands-on training is designed to provide valuable teaching practice for TEFL / TESOL trainees or current teachers. You’ll first establish an onsite mentor, then complete 10 hours of tutor-guided online preparation, 5 hours of EFL teacher observation, and 5 hours of hands-on teaching practice in a real EFL classroom. You can complete this Guided Teaching Practicum Certification from anywhere in the world, working at your own pace during the 3-month course timeframe.
Start Learning Today!
20-Hour
Guided Teaching Practicum
Gain valuable teaching experience and put your TEFL skills to the test in a real classroom.
Jay, Bridge grad from the USA
Explore the
Guided Teaching Practicum
Course Features
Get Real Experience Teaching English
- Bridge will help you find a nearby location to complete your teaching practice. Options include language schools, community centers, churches, tutoring centers, literacy centers, and refugee or immigrant support centers. After selecting your location, you will work with a mentor to complete your in-person teaching practice.
Interactive Platform:
Tutor Support
- Your Bridge tutor will be there to support you with lesson planning, reflective thinking, and teaching methodologies. You’ll also have a one-on one video meeting with your tutor to discuss your progress and get help as you develop your portfolio.
Produce a Portfolio
- You’ll create a portfolio documenting your completion of assigned tasks, including structured observations of other teachers, reporting on those observations, establishing an on-site mentor, setting personal goals for your teaching, keeping a teaching journal, and responding to feedback.
Bridge's Best in Class Experience
100% online
Start anytime and work from any device.
Continuing education units
Earn up to 2 Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
Personal tutor
Get feedback and ask questions throughout the course.
Job placement assistance
Access the Bridge Job Board to connect with our Preferred Employer Partners and explore resources to support your TEFL job search.
Flexible schedule
Work at your own pace–complete in as little as 3 weeks!
Interactive content
Instructional videos, downloadable resources, quizzes & activities, and discussion board.
Share Digital Badges on
Guided Teaching Practicum Course Information
| Length | 12 weeks | |
|---|---|---|
| Start date | The course starts the day you enroll. | |
| Certification hours | 20 hours | |
| Price |
|
|
| Format | 100% online and self-paced. | |
| Language requirements | B1 CEFR level; proof of language proficiency is not required. (See Requirements below for more details.) | |
| Instructors | Personal tutor (experienced ESL/EFL instructor) to grade assignments and provide support. | |
| CEUs available | 2 CEUs. (Learn more about earning CEUs below.) | |
| Get answers to common course questions | ||
The 20-hour course includes 10 hours of online preparation (including guidance from your tutor), 5 hours of EFL teacher observation, and 5 hours of hands-on teaching practice in a real EFL classroom.
| Module 01 | A Reflective Model for Novice Teachers |
|---|---|
| Module 02 | Basis of Reflective Practice |
| Module 03 | Working with a Mentor |
| Module 04 | Class Management |
| Module 05 | Successful Student Outcomes |
10
Hours Classroom Practicum*
10
Hours Online Study and Planning
14
Graded Tasks
1
Online Video Session with Tutor
*Classroom practice happens in a worldwide location with students of your choice. See FAQs for more details on finding a center for your practicum.
Learning Objectives
When you complete your course, you’ll be able to:
- Describe teacher behaviors observed in classrooms.
- Evaluate effective instructional strategies based on student/teacher observations.
- Construct lessons based on instructional strategies in readings and viewings.
- Summarize teaching experience in journals and lesson reports.
- Assemble a professional teaching portfolio.
These resources are designed to make the process of finding TEFL jobs or advancing in the field as clear and easy as possible for our graduates. You’ll learn how to improve your resume, find and apply to TEFL jobs, and ace your interview so that you can get the teaching job of your dreams. If you’re already teaching, you’ll find helpful information on continuing professional development, recommended TESOL organizations you can join, and teaching resources you can use in your own classroom. You’ll also learn how to take advantage of Bridge’s job placement services and connect to our community of TEFL teachers and schools worldwide.
| Module 01 | Finding a Job, Downloading Your Certificate, and Updating Your Resume |
|---|---|
| Module 02 | Stay Connected with Bridge! |
| Module 03 | TEFL / TESOL Professional Development Opportunities |
| Age | 18 years of age or older. |
|---|---|
| Language | An intermediate or higher level of English proficiency (B1 level, according to the CEFR, the Common European Framework Reference for Language). Proof of language proficiency is not required. |
| Experience | Previous English language teaching experience or a general TEFL / TESOL certificate (recommended)* |
| Technology | Internet access with the ability to stream and watch videos. Access to desktop/laptop computer highly recommended. |
*Students can simultaneously enroll in a Professional TEFL / TESOL Course to meet this recommendation.
Continuing Education Unit (CEUs) are nationally recognized units of measurement for participation in non-credit, continuing education programs. Bridge is accredited by ACCET (the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training), and any ACCET-approved Bridge course, including our online TEFL programs, can be taken for 1 CEU per 10 hours of TEFL course instruction.
Learn moreThe Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) is the regulator of qualifications, examinations and assessments in England and the regulator of vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland.
Bridge courses have been similarly reviewed and recommended for university credit equivalencies by The American Council on Education (ACE Credit) and many university partners. Bridge is a post-secondary institution accredited by ACCET (recognized by the U.S. Department of Education) and AQUEDUTO (Association for Quality Education and Training Online). Our certifications are regulated by our accrediting agencies, and we ensure that the targeted knowledge, skills, and outcomes are addressed through depictive course assessments. Further, we are committed to making sure that our learners have a positive experience from start to finish and that our programs prepare modern teachers for career success.
To learn more about Bridge’s accreditation and university credit opportunities, please review the following chart. Please note that Ofqual equivalencies are equated to the university credit recommendations provided by the American Council on Education (ACE Credit®) and our university partners.
OFQUAL
|
BRIDGE COURSES AND HOURS | UNIVERSITY EQUIVALENCEY & CREDIT BEARING DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
| Level 7 |
IDELTOnline™(International Diploma in English Language Teaching)150 hours |
|
| Level 6 |
Master TEFL Certificate120 Hours |
|
| Level 5 |
Specialized Certificates(20-60 hours) |
|
| Level 4 |
Micro-Credentials(10-30 hours) |
|
Bridge courses are:
Common Questions about Specialized TEFL / TESOL Certification
In this Specialized Certification course, you’ll first establish an onsite mentor at a teaching location in your area. (Suggested teaching locations are community centers or English language institutes, and you may teach in a paid or voluntary capacity.)
You’ll then complete 10 hours of online preparation, with the guidance of a tutor. Following that, you’ll work under your established onsite mentor to complete 5 hours of in-person EFL teacher observation and 5 hours of hands-on teaching practice in a real EFL classroom.
Throughout the course, you’ll also complete a variety of components that will comprise your required teaching portfolio.
You will have 3 months from the day you enroll in your Specialized Certificate to complete it. (Most students finish the course sooner – in four to six weeks.)
If you sign up Specialized Certificate along with one of our TEFL courses, we recommend you first complete your general TEFL course and then start your Specialized Certificate course. You will then have 3 months from the day you begin your Specialized Course to complete it.
If you don’t finish in time for any reason, you can purchase an extension to complete your Specialized Certificate course, either before it expires or for up to one year after expiration. Extensions cost $100 for an additional 3 months. Please note that once your course/extension has expired, you will no longer have access to the course.
To take Bridge Specialized Certificates, you must be at least 18 years old with a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent.
It is recommended that you are either already TEFL / TESOL certified, or enroll concurrently in a Professional TEFL / TESOL course, such as the IDELTOnline™ to take a Specialized Certificate course.
If you are not a native English speaker, we recommend an intermediate or higher level of English proficiency (minimum B1 level, according to the CEFR, the Common European Framework Reference for Language).
Specialized Certificate courses can be taken on their own to complement general certification or teaching experience you already have. They may also be added on to your enrollment in any Bridge course. If you’re new to teaching English, we recommend starting with a Professional TEFL Certificate.
If you add a Specialized Certificate to Bridge certification, your final certificate will reflect the total number of hours completed, with individual components listed. For example, if you added a Specialized Certificate in Teaching Young Learners (60 hours) to the IDELTOnline™ (150 hours), you would receive a 210-hour Bridge certificate. The two courses would be listed below the total hours.
Yes, you may sign up for as many as you like. We recommend you complete one certificate course before beginning the 3-month timeline on the next one.
No. All the materials you will need to complete your course are available 100% online. You can complete these courses from anywhere in the world with Internet connection.
Yes. In this self-study course, you will have a tutor available to answer any questions you have and also to provide feedback and a grade on your written assignments.
You must earn a minimum of 70% on your course assignments/final exam, in order to pass and receive your Specialized Certification.
Yes! You'll earn 1 CEU for every 10 hours of Bridge certification. For example, if you successfully complete a 40-hour Specialized Certificate, you will earn 4 CEUs. Click here to learn more about CEUs.
Upon successful completion of your Specialized Certificate course, you can download and print your certificate from our online certificate verification portal for free. You may also order a hard copy certificate mailed to you anywhere in the world for an additional fee. Click here to view fees for hard copy certificate orders.
Bridge can support you in finding locations to complete your practicum.
Commonly, alumni of this course have completed their teaching practice at language schools, community centers, tutoring centers, churches literacy centers, and refugee or immigrant support centers in their community. After you have selected your location, you will work with a mentor (usually an existing teacher at that location) to complete your in-person teaching practice. You will observe their classes and ask that they observe your teaching practice. Your online Bridge tutor will support your lesson planning, reflective thinking, and understanding of teaching methodologies. Upon enrollment, one of Bridge’s program advisors will reach out to check on your plans and assist with suggestions for securing your teaching location.
Krzl Nunes, Bridge Program Advisor
