A TESOL practicum in Malta

Abstract

Built on the premise that TESOL professionals require practice in engaging in research as part of teacher development programmes, this chapter describes a practicum that MA TESOL students in Malta complete by doing fieldwork at a school. Fieldwork is here understood as research in the context in which school leaders, teachers, and learners operate. The practicum enables students to apply their theoretical knowledge to a brief investigation into a TESOL setting, and to develop the skills required to study the attitudes, beliefs and practices of a community of academic managers, teachers, and learners. In the process, students develop a better understanding of their own professional identity, and hone their capacity to grow via critical inquiry. This chapter starts by describing the TESOL context in which the practicum is held, how teacher education and development in TESOL courses in Malta are organized, and how the practicum sits within the structure of the MA TESOL programme. Then, it provides a detailed explanation of the main features of the practicum, especially in terms of its theoretical orientation, learning outcomes, expectations, input, mentoring, and assessment. Last but not least, the chapter outlines some of the strengths and challenges associated with the practicum.