English Language Practicum

Although fall semester has only just begun, we are already thinking ahead to summer and the 3-week abroad practicum course in Wroclaw, Poland. We urge all of you to consider participating in this wonderful opportunity.  The exact dates are not set yet, but the course will run from approximately the end of July to the 3rd week of August.
The Poland Practicum has been offered since 2004 and each year participants came home transformed.

We are very proud of the high quality program that we’ve developed with our colleagues at the University of Lower Silesia in Wroclaw. This practicum gives you the added experience of culture and language immersion (very few people speak English is Wroclaw) which can enrich reflection on your own learning and teaching practice.
For those of you who have already done the NY Practicum, you might consider doing a second practicum abroad to gain some international experience- giving you the full spectrum of the field.

There is no better resource than the advise  impressions and experiences of those who’ve completed the Poland practicum.  We share some of their voices here.

For more information on the program including schedule, costs and accommodations, please visit the website www.iisce.org and click on English Language Practicum in the left column.

PLEASE NOTE:  You must notify Caitlin Morgan, morganc@newschool.edu, (212) 229-5372 of your intention to enroll by February 1st.

The Practicum provides a unique opportunity to teach in a foreign country within a structured and supportive environment.  You don’t have to hassle over all the logistics as you would if you opted to work abroad on your own.  This frees you to focus on your preparation and your students.  We were given excellent instruction, and personal, constructive feedback.  My students were bright, enthusiastic and eager to learn about New York.  We had a wonderful time together and I feel it was an invaluable experience, not to mention that it’s a great addition to my ELT resume.  My current colleagues often say, ‘Wow, I’d love to teach in Poland.  How do I get to do that?’”
Robin Poley Poland  ‘07

There are two practical benefits from the Wroclaw Practicum: how it will benefit you as a teacher in the classroom and your improved qualifications as an ESL teacher when seeking a teaching position.

I have been teaching 7 years now and have found that my students become responsive when I mention teaching in Poland. I tell them about my struggles with the Polish language when I was trying to communicate the just basic necessities and my experience with culture shock, although minimal.  They immediately smile and realize that I can truly empathize with their situation.  Suddenly I am no longer an outsider who doesn’t understand their daily struggles.

When I apply for jobs the requirements usually state that they prefer someone who has taught outside the US and/or speaks another language.

Regarding the practicum itself, the tight schedules and quick turnaround of preparing lesson plans and then teaching prepared me for the teaching jobs here in New York.

Wroclaw – An unforgettable experience. An adventure.  Best training for future teaching position.   Hard work that you will love.
Kathleen Uptegrove ‘04

The summer practicum is a great program and I highly recommend it to New School TESOL students.  It really enabled me to hone my teaching skills.

The host university is a popular and progressive local institution and is very supportive of the program.  The students are a diverse group, but all were quite motivated and serious. The guidance from the teacher trainer, Irena, was incredibly insightful and was a highlight of the program for me.  The other teachers were an enthusiastic and collegial group, which also enhanced the experience and contributed to the success of the program.

The administrative support from the staff there made it easy to be living in a foreign city. And what a delightful city!  Wroclaw is historic, vibrant, charming and friendly.  It's not overcrowded with tourists yet, but I expect it will be soon.

I would like to participate in the practicum again next year. Perhaps that is the highest endorsement I can provide.
Anne Beroza   Poland ‘09

The Wroclaw practicum is an extraordinary experience that every certificate candidate should seriously consider, no matter how much or how little classroom time you've put in. Intense? Very. Hard work? No question. Worth it? Absolutely.  You will find yourself fully responsible for organizing, preparing and teaching your class, with the help and guidance of Irena Shanahan, who is a master teacher in every sense. The process is a daily test -- for you, the teacher -- as you come to understand exactly how much you know about the art of teaching, and how much you don't. In exchange, you will meet highly intelligent, motivated students, with widely varying reasons for studying English. (I've taught three Ph.D. candidates there.) They have little contact with native speakers in Wroclaw, so our mere presence there makes an enormous difference. At the end of the three weeks, you will feel a great sense of accomplishment. I should know -- I've done it  three times and would be happy to go back again.
Diane Nottle, Poland ’09, ’08, ‘07

The Polish Practicum was an incredibly valuable teaching experience. It provided an opportunity to practice different teaching techniques in an EFL setting and to receive practical, personalized feedback from our master teacher, Irena Shanahan. Irena shared her successful techniques for teaching grammar and using effective presentation techniques in the classroom. The Practicum was challenging and sometimes exhausting, but above all, it was fun to meet many students from a different culture and to exchange information about what it is like living in our respective countries. The students were really eager to learn and to practice speaking English. Each student had an opportunity to give a short presentation and the students enjoyed talking about topics such as their hobbies, hometowns, local tourist attractions and professions. The administrative staff were very organized and provided excellent support. I would strongly recommend the Polish Practicum to any New School student interested in experiencing what it is like to teach an EFL class at the university level.
Pete Versage Poland ‘09

I can't say enough good things about this summer's practicum. Although it was sometimes stressful, the stress was put to good use: by the end of the three weeks I felt much more comfortable and in control of the classroom. I finally understood how to design both an individual lesson plan and a course trajectory based on the needs of a particular group of students. It can be overwhelming to work as you try to figure this out, but with Irena's help things began to get clearer as the days went on. She put her years of experience to work teaching us how to teach – and it worked! The students were a joy – really wonderful people who'd decided that a good way to spend most of August was sitting in a classroom for three hours a day. Their motivation made the experience even better. Agnieszka and Ula were also great; you couldn't ask for a better support team.
Anne Dorfman, Poland ‘09  
 
The Polish Practicum was a once in a lifetime experience!  The intense teaching program made me a better and more confident ESL teacher.   But the most impactful part of the Poland Practicum was working and living in a foreign country for a few weeks.  Wroclaw is a beautiful city, the people are friendly and engaging and contrary to what one might expect, the food is fantastic!"
Kelly Adams, Poland ‘07