Students will receive a Satisfactory (S) or Not Satisfactory (F) grade for this unit. This reflects the competency-based nature of the learning activities and the overall aim of the unit, which is to provide students with the opportunity to undertake supported teaching activities in a professional language learning and teaching environment.

Submission due dates

Submission due dates for the Observation tasks and the Portfolio are based on an average schedule for the practicum. Should the practicum start later, or be interrupted, a new submission date will be negotiated. Please keep the Unit Convenor updated.

Use of Generative AI

Please refer to instructions from your lecturer on the use and acknowledgement of use of Generative AI in your submitted assignments. Students are encouraged to reflect on their experiences of teaching and learning, theoretical ideas they have encountered throughout their course and their future context as they move through the unit.

The unit is delivered fully online via iLearn and involves students reading, completing tasks, and completing practicum preparation tasks. These are included in the practicum portfolio and may also be discussed online with other students completing their practicum. The main part of the unit happens at the placement site at an approved school or college through observations and supervised teaching. Optional group meetings are offered via Zoom throughout the semester.

Students also work from home to complete their portfolio.

Recommended readings:

Richards, J.C., & Farrell, T.S.C. (2011). Practice Teaching: a reflective approach. New York. Cambridge University Press.

Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community, you must not discriminate against or harass others based on their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual orientation, age, political conviction or religious belief. All staff and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone.

In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses.

Students are expected to communicate and behave professionally with lecturers, mentor teachers and students as well as other stakeholders during their course.

Students demonstrate their professionalism by meeting the Fitness to Practice requirements (see Policies and Procedures), which means that students conduct themselves in a professional manner and show that they are able to carry out the responsibilities and requirements of being a TESOL teacher. These include meeting the following attributes:

1. conduct (required professional behaviours): students must ensure that their conduct is within the bounds considered acceptable and worthy of membership of the profession;

2. performance (required competence): students must demonstrate a performance standard consistent with professionally accepted standards appropriate to their stage of learning;

3. health and/or disability (freedom from impairment): students must demonstrate awareness of their own health and ensure any condition/disability or injury does not provide unacceptable additional risk to themselves or others; and 

4. compliance (compliance with eligibility requirements): students must comply with the relevant rules, regulations and standards for practising as a student, provisional or full member of the profession.