Surviving Your First Teaching Practice (TP)
A practical guide for CELTA and CertTESOL trainees on how to handle the first 45 minutes in the classroom.
Teaching Practice (TP) is often the most stressful part of any initial teacher training course. Here is how you can survive your first one.
1. Prepare Your Board Layout
Don’t wait until you are in the room to decide where the markers go. Draw a rectangle in your notebook and plan:
- Left side: Emergent language / Vocabulary.
- Center: Main focus (Target Language).
- Right side: Homework / Reminders.
2. Check Your Instructions (ICQs)
One of the most common reasons a lesson fails is that the students don’t know what to do.
- Avoid: “Do you understand?”
- Use: “Are you working alone or in pairs?” “How many minutes do you have?”
3. Keep TTT Low
Teacher Talking Time (TTT) should be minimized. Elicit as much as possible.
💡 **CELTA Tip:** If you find yourself talking for more than 2 minutes straight, stop and ask the students a question.