What is a teaching practicum?
Teaching experience with actual students
A practicum allows you to put your hard-earned teaching skills to the test by teaching real students in a supportive environment. You’ll gain valuable experience and build more confidence as a teacher – all while partaking in a charity project that’s changing lives around the world.
After completing this practicum, you’ll also gain a soft copy of the practicum certificate, which will show that you’ve completed 36 hours of teaching practice. This gives your resumé a significant boost, and is something that you’ll be able to display to schools when applying for jobs.
How does it work?
It all starts with an internet connection and a passion for teaching
Successful applicants will be matched with real English language students, given a curriculum to follow, and will teach real ESL lessons online using a webcam.
Applications are open now with limited spaces available. Apply early for a chance to join the upcoming Spring 2026 practicum round.
You’ll commit to:
- 1.5 hours of teaching per week, starting on January 12th, 2026.
- 30 minutes of lesson planning and homework review.
- Total commitment: 2 hours per week (36 hours in total over 18 weeks)
You’ll be provided with:
- Pre-practicum onboarding with Paper Airplanes.
- Full curriculum and teaching materials.
- Students matched based on availability and preferences.
Read Eunice’s interview from our previous practicum.
What makes this practicum special?
This isn’t just a teaching experience – it’s an opportunity to change lives.
For many students around the world, it can be difficult to gain access to certified English language teachers. This is especially true for refugees and people displaced by conflict. For such students, learning English language skills can provide them with vital opportunities to improve their situations.
You’ll develop invaluable teaching experience while also helping disadvantaged students access better opportunities.
Application details
Who can apply and what you’ll need to prepare
To apply for this teaching practicum, you’ll need to ensure that you’ll be available to teach during the program dates (January 12th to May 31st, 2026). You’ll also need to have completed our 120-hour TESOL/TEFL course before the semester begins, and you’ll require a basic computer/notebook with a webcam.
Frequently asked questions:
What will you gain after completing the practicum?
- Every teacher will receive a soft copy of the practicum certificate documenting their 36 hours of teaching experience.
- Real-world teaching experience with motivated adult learners.
- Cross-cultural communication experience.
- The satisfaction of making a meaningful difference in students’ lives.
About Paper Airplanes
Paper Airplanes‘ journey began with a simple yet powerful idea: connecting volunteer tutors with Syrian students who needed to practice English. What started as informal Skype sessions has grown into a comprehensive educational platform that has helped thousands of conflict-affected individuals continue their education despite challenging circumstances.
Today, Paper Airplanes operates multiple programs, including one-on-one English tutoring and group speaking classes, all delivered virtually to ensure accessibility for students in conflict-affected regions. Their commitment to education as a tool for empowerment aligns perfectly with our mission at World TESOL Academy.
For more information on the activities of the organization, please visit their site: https://www.paper-airplanes.org/
Practicum news:
Check out videos, updates, and news from previous practicum rounds.
Introducing our new practicum partner: Paper Airplanes
Introducing our new practicum partner: Paper Airplanes World TESOL Academy is thrilled to announce our new partnership with Paper Airplanes, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational [...]
20-Hour Online Practicum – Tips & Insights by Graduate Eunice from Kenya
20-Hour Online Practicum - Tips & Insights by Graduate Eunice from Kenya In this article, we've had a chat with World TESOL Academy graduate and practicum participant Eunice [...]
Online teaching practicum – Round 3 update
Online Teaching Practicum: Round 3 - Update Empowering Future English Teachers We’re excited to announce that round 3 is officially our biggest practicum round yet! This [...]
Apply for the practicum:
You can use the form below to apply for a space on the practicum. We run as many rounds as possible each year, and with each round we’ll always have an application form below.