Job Discussion Forums

[atomic_donut]

Can anyone who has completed, or will complete by the end of this year, one of either a Grad. Diploma in TESOL or Master of Arts (TESOL), advise whether a practical teaching placement is provided in the course curriculum? It doesn't matter whether you are doing the course/program face-to-face or by distance.

Thanks.

[sojourner]

David,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.Have been quite busy over the past few days with uni assignments - and the course ? - something closely related to what you mentioned to in your last posting !

I'm currently enrolled in UNE's online MA (Applied Linguistics) programme - this covers much of the ground of a postgraduate TESOL programme,but is much more theoretical.In it,I believe,you can arrange to do a research project based upon some aspect of ESL teaching,although this would not strictly be regarded as a 'practicum'.Incidently,why are you asking whether a 'practicum' is involved in your proposed programme of postgraduate study ? Is it because you are basically a 'theoretical' type (like me !),rather than a 'practical','hands on' sort of person ? With postgraduate TESOL programmes,I'm almost certain that there would be no way to avoid doing a practicum.(Incidently,at UNE you can do an M.Ed.,with an emphasis on TESOL.I think,most,if not all of the units can be done either online or via the traditional distance education mode - although,as I have mentioned in an earlier thread,there could be problems in arranging a practicum outside of Australia - however,the uni,I'm sure,would provide useful hints in that regards.)

However,if you wish to teach ESL at primary schools in Aust, or in 'quality' or 'selective' primary or international schools o'seas,it might be advisable for you to enrol in a recognised primary teaching programme,eg Grad.Dip. or Master's (possibly B.Ed or B.Tch.) in Education.In these programmes, you can often include units involving TESL.I'm pretty sure that a Grad.Dip/Master's in TESOL would NOT qualify you to teach ESL in primary schools in Aust - would probably also be the same situation with respect to 'quality' privately-run primary and international schools o'seas.

Consider the distance education/online option if your goal is to obtain a postgraduate TESOL qualification - especially if you're keen to depart Aust's shores ASAP ! (But get a CELTA first)

About 12 months ago,there was a person called 'naturegirl' who often posted queries to these forums relating to postgraduate programmes in TESOL/Applied Linguistics,practicums (sp?),etc.However,after a lot of research and thought,she came to the conclusion that a grad.dip. programme in education (ie school teaching) is the best way to enhance her future career path with respect to ESL teaching o'seas.So,this could also be the way for you - rather than a Grad.Dip./Master's in TESOL.Some of the units for a Grad.Dip./Master's can be done externally - but you would also need to be 'internally enrolled' for such purposes as classroom observation,practice teaching,etc.I believe that the emphasis on many school teaching Grad.Dip. programmes, nowadays, is on the practical work of teaching - not merely on theory,even if a 'practicum' is involved.

Peter

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[atomic_donut]

Hi Peter,

Good to hear from you. I asked about whether there was any supervised teaching as part of any university-run TESOL qualifications. In some of the course descriptions I have looked at, there has not been mention of any, and I thought that perhaps it could be based predominately on theory. I will admit that I am a much better researcher and reader than being a hands on person to teaching, but with ESL I feel that it is important to get good classroom exposure and undertake and understand all aspects of ESL teaching. Even though I could follow steps in planning lessons well and delivering them in a manner that may well seem alright, I could well still be doing stuff incorrectly, and walk away from classes realising what I need to improve upon.

Another factor in me choosing a suitable program is that I have a hankering of moving away from Melbourne for a change of pace, hence why I have considered Canberra as an alternative, since it is in between Melbourne and Sydney. But at the University of Canberra, the TESOL Grad. Dip is 1 year, and the Graduate Bachelor of Ed. (primary or secondary) is 2 years in length, with a minimum of 45 days classroom teaching and/or observation. For me, time is of critical importance, but then again, so is the quality of the course too, and what prospects await in the long run.

By the way, my absence was due to a bit of laziness in checking my messages, as well as doing my final touch-ups on my final piece of assessment to be handed into my supervisor in 2-3 weeks time.

Cheers

David