16. The Practicum – EDLI 504
16.1 Practicum – Professional Experience – what do these mean?
16.2 Will EDLI 504 provide me with accreditation for the EFL/ESL centre I work in?
16.3 What’s involved in the practicum and how long does it take?
16.4 Can I do the practicum where I live?
16.5 I think I know where I can do my practicum: how do I get it approved?
16.6 I have no idea where I could do my practicum: can I still apply?
16.7 Do supervisors have to sign an agreement with UNE?
16.8 Are there extra fees involved for the practicum?
16.9 Can I pick specific points of teaching to be the focus of my practicum supervision?
16.10 Can I get Advanced Standing for a TESOL practicum done elsewhere?
16.1 Practicum – Professional Experience – what do these mean?
The official name of EDLI504 is TESOL II, but it contains a ‘Professional Experience’ component which involves you teaching within a TESOL centre. That Professional Experience is managed and approved via UNE’s Professional Experience Office, and there are very detailed guidelines on how it works in the Professional Experience Booklet which you will receive when you enrol in EDLI504. The word ‘practicum’ is simply a general term for this kind of Professional Experience, and may be used to refer to the whole unit, EDLI504, or just to the teaching placement.
16.2 Will EDLI 504 provide me with accreditation for the EFL/ESL centre I work in?
Since requirements vary widely between countries and between educational contexts (e.g. schools, universities, private providers), it is not possible for UNE to guarantee this. However we have structured the TESOL stream (EDLI502 and EDLI504) in such a way that graduates should meet the practicum requirements of Australia's accrediting body NEAS (National ELT Accreditation Scheme). NEAS accredits TESOL centres in Australia in both ELICOS (overseas student) and AMEP (migrant) teaching centres: it does not accredit individual teachers. However, because NEAS stipulates what qualifications teachers should have, any NEAS-accredited centre in which you apply to work will expect you to meet these conditions, as outlined on the following website:
http://www.neas.org.au/teachers/index.php
As you’ll see, the requirements for the ELICOS sector stipulate a practicum of 6 hours supervised and assessed teaching in TESOL, and those for the adult migrant sector stipulate 60 hours. Hence EDLI504 provides for both of these. However the onus is always on students to check that their existing and planned qualifications meet requirements in the sector where they wish to seek work.
16.3 What’s involved in the practicum and how long does it take?
The whole unit, EDLI504, takes one trimester. The Professional Experience (practicum) component requires that you complete a 60 hour placement in a TESOL centre approved by UNE. This must be completed by 31st October. In most cases the placement will occur as a single block of 10 days, but this depends on the teaching schedule of the particular centre, and other arrangements can be negotiated with the lecturer. The practicum will involve your observing the class teacher, preparing and teaching some classes yourself, keeping a variety of records of both, and possibly undertaking other teaching-related tasks as well. There are very detailed guidelines for how to go about this in EDLI504’s Professional Experience Booklet, along with the necessary forms you need to fill out.
16.4 Can I do the practicum where I live?
Many MAAL students live and work overseas, and some in Australia. The requirement for placement is that the centre and the supervisor are both approved by UNE. In many cases, a centre in a city or town where you live, or one nearby, will meet UNE’s requirements. It is the task of the Professional Experience Office to make the decision as to whether a centre is approved for you to undertake your practicum. If there is no suitable centre where you live, then you will have to consider either travelling to another town where there is a suitable centre (in which case you need to factor in travel and accommodation costs), or, if feasible, applying to do your practicum at UNE’s English Language Centre (ELC) in Armidale NSW. (NB such application must be done through the Professional Experience Office: on no account should you approach the ELC directly).
16.5 I think I know where I can do my practicum: how do I get it approved?
Once you are enrolled in EDLI504, your first task is to fill in Form 1: Information Sheet and submit it to the Professional Experience Office by 1st August. The Office will then contact your proposed centre and supervisor on your behalf.
16.6 I have no idea where I could do my practicum: can I still apply?
If you are in Australia, the Professional Experience Office will endeavour to find you a suitable placement. Indicate on Form 1 that you do not know of one yourself.
If you are not in Australia, you will need to locate a suitable centre yourself, or consider coming to UNE’s English Language Centre (see 16.4).
16.7 Do supervisors have to sign an agreement with UNE?
Yes, once a centre and supervisor is approved by the Professional Experience Office, we send the supervisor an agreement to sign, full details of the requirements and the necessary forms for supervising the practicum.
16.8 Are there extra fees involved for the practicum?
No. EDLI504 attracts the usual HECS payment (Australian citizens) or full fee charge (international students) as does any MAAL unit.
There is a very small honorarium paid to supervisors in recognition of the valuable service they provide. The Professional Experience Office pays this.
However, you may have to consider whether you will incur travel and/or accommodation costs if you have to undertake the practicum away from your usual place of residence. Any such costs have to be met by the student.
16.9 Can I pick specific points of teaching to be the focus of my practicum supervision?
The content of your practicum teaching will always be a negotiation between you and your supervisor, based on the needs of the students you will be teaching, the nature of the curriculum and what your supervisor feels you need for your professional development.
16.10 Can I get Advanced Standing for a TESOL practicum done elsewhere?
The usual Advanced Standing rules apply to EDLI504. In other words, if you can show that you have completed a similar accredited university unit elsewhere, and we deem that it is comparable to EDLI504, you may be granted Advanced Standing.