As part of its commitment to the betterment of society and ensuring social justice, BRAC Institute of Languages (BIL) has successfully completed an English Language Course for the children of the employees of BRAC International and BRAC University. The course was entirely run by MA in TESOL students and was free of cost. Based on the needs assessment carried out for the target students, two groups of students were created: beginner (grade six to eight) and elementary (SSC to HSC level). TESOL students were put in various groups to teach the target students. The course teacher of Syllabus Design designed the syllabus for the participants, whereas the course teacher of Teaching Practicum 1 guided the TESOL students in preparing and using materials for hands-on practice.
The course ‘Teaching Practicum,’ being a functional approach to teaching, creates spaces where fundamental language teaching skills are expressed through organizing and utilizing TESOL students’ learning experiences. It provides TESOL students with first-hand experience of implementing course concepts, language theories, teaching methods, approaches, and techniques in real life settings.
Usually, students of such professional courses utilize Lab Schools for class observation and practice teaching tasks of practicum course on which they are required to write reflective reports. Instead of Lab Schools, BIL initiated this unique opportunity for the TESOL students by inviting the target students of outreach community. This internship-like experience has allowed the TESOL students to gain valuable educational experiences, apply the language teaching skills in real settings, investigate the gaps between theories and practices, and contextualize theories with the classroom settings. As the classroom teaching approach was functional, interactive and participatory, the target students had a unique exposure to various innovative and effective classroom experiences. It was seen that they were extremely enthusiastic and motivated and also eager to continue the course.
At the end of this course, the participating learners were awarded with certificates by Lady Syeda Sarwat Abed, Director of BIL. This exercise in providing the platform for teaching practice in authentic setting has surely proven to be another feather in the cap of the MA in TESOL program of BIL.