PROGRAM HANDBOOKS - Biola University

Cook School of Intercultural Studies
Applied Linguistics & TESOL Program Handbooks
TESOL PRACTICUM SECTION 4.9
relationship during the course of our program. This should not be interpreted that prior
experience or concurrent non-apprentice situations are unsatisfactory, unimportant, or
unnecessary. The Department strongly recommends that students gain as much experience as
possible in a variety of situations. In certain cases, however, a limited reduction of teaching
hours has been approved after a review and evaluation of a petition filed with the department.
4. Remuneration for Teaching during the Practicum. In most cases, host institutions do not pay
students for their apprentice services. Should some remuneration (whether wage or
honorarium) be offered, however, students are free to accept it. This would be strictly a
personal matter.
5. Time and Location of Practicum. Normally a student gets classroom experience during the
spring semester (or whenever ISTE 692 is scheduled) at a local site arranged by the Practicum
instructor. These sites include Biola’s ELSP, other intensive ESL programs, local adult
schools, and community colleges. They are chosen in consultation with the student so the
teaching experience gained can complement the student’s previous experience and career
goals. Time and transportation constraints are taken into consideration.
We encourage students to do their Practicum as normally scheduled. However, an
alternative Practicum may be arranged in special situations. (1) Occasionally, special overseas
Practicum opportunities will become available, usually during the summer. Students will be
informed of these opportunities. (2) In some places (for example, Japan and Indonesia) there
are Biola graduates who have agreed to be a master teacher, and a Practicum can be arranged
there. (3) Students may make their own arrangements in consultation with the Practicum
instructor. The master teacher must be qualified and willing to provide observation and
evaluation. The teaching situation must allow for at least 50 hours in the classroom.
A student who does an arranged course Practicum will have special assignments to do to
take the place of the work done during the regular class sessions of ISTE 692 or will be
required to attend the class sessions. Specific arrangements must be worked out in advance
with the course instructor. The procedure is usually as follows:
a. Fall semester: students discuss plans with instructor
b. Spring semester: students sit in on ISTE 692 to gain that content
c. Summer: student does teaching and accompanying assignments
d. Fall semester: student registers for an “arranged course” ISTE 692 and turns in all
assignments to be graded
Date: August 2012 Page 2 of 3