What is a teaching practicum?
Observed teaching experience with actual students
A practicum allows you to put your hard-earned teaching skills to the test by teaching a real class. You’ll gain more confidence as a teacher, get feedback on your lessons, and give your resumé a significant boost – all while partaking in a charity project which is changing lives around the world.
After completing this practicum you’ll also gain an additional certificate which will display that you’ve completed 20 hours of teaching practice. This 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
For many students around the world, it can be difficult to gain access to trained English language teachers. As part of this new project, Global Virtual School is helping to set up physical classrooms in remote regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan (with more regions to follow).
Students from the surrounding areas will be given the opportunity to visit these learning spaces each week to study English.
This is where you come in. The teachers for these lessons will join online as part of our 20-hour teaching practicum. Your students will all be together in the classroom and you’ll be able to host a lesson with them using Zoom.
A unique teaching experience
Combining online teaching with classroom support
One of the things that makes this a unique opportunity is that all of your students will be in the same classroom together. This gives a much more dynamic learning environment and can help to prepare you for both teaching in physical classrooms and tutoring English online.
Global Virtual School will also have classroom assistants on the ground who’ll be able to help you to conduct dynamic and engaging lessons.
They’ll be able to help to print off worksheets and hand them out to the students, to help you if your students have any technical difficulties, and to collect any homework materials that you might choose to issue.
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 (September-October 2023). You’ll also need to have completed our 120-hour TESOL/TEFL course (or currently be enrolled), and you’ll need to have a basic computer/notebook with a webcam.
Exact teaching days and times will be confirmed closer to the time. If there are certain days of the week that you are/are not available then please make sure to mention those in your application at the bottom of this page.
Frequently asked questions:
What will you gain after completing the practicum?
Teachers who successfully complete the practicum will receive a free hard copy certificate detailing your 20-hour practicum component. This includes free shipping where available.
You’ll also receive an evaluation report to show how well you’ve done through the practicum and how you’ll have grown as a teacher. You’ll be able to use this report and certificate with your future job applications – whether teaching online or overseas. The skills you’ll gain will also help you to be a more effective teacher as you’ll have experience teaching a class of students.
About Global Virtual School
Global Virtual School is an exciting new project that’s being launched as part of the Worldwide Education Fund of The Dallas Foundation. Their mission is to help children in underserved areas of the world to improve their English language skills and learn about opportunities around the world.
The Worldwide Education Fund (WEF) was started in 2009, by Connie & Kamal Daya after a trip to South Asia brought them face to face with the urgent needs of underprivileged students. Since being established, WEF has helped to educate and empower over 10,000 students through numerous initiatives.
With this specific practicum, Global Virtual School works with learning spaces on the ground in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and remote areas of Pakistan. They arrange for physical classrooms to be established and then connect these spaces with English language teachers from around the world. For more information on the activities of the foundation, please visit their site: wefdallas.org