Observed Teaching Practice (OTP)

Where Knowledge Becomes Teaching Skills

Vantage TEFL's ObservedTeaching Pracitice

Knowing Isn’t the Same as Being Skilled

Knowledge is important—it’s how we understand concepts, rules, and theories. We gain knowledge by reading, watching, and listening. But knowing about something doesn’t mean you’re actually good at doing it.

On the other hand, skills are developed by doing. They come from practice—by applying what you know in real situations and learning through experience.

To put it simply: knowledge is theoretical; skills are practical.

For example, you can study all the rules of a sport, understand its strategies, and memorize the stats—but unless you actually play, you won’t develop the skills needed to perform well on the field. Practice is what turns knowledge into ability.

The same is true for teaching English. If you want to become a confident, capable teacher, you need more than just book knowledge. You need real classroom experience—working with actual students who don’t speak English—and learning how to adapt your teaching in real time.

Even more important is receiving feedback from experienced trainers who can help you identify what’s working, what’s not, and how to improve. Self-reflection is helpful, but it’s no substitute for expert guidance.

That’s why Vantage's TEFL practicum is so valuable. It’s where theory meets practice—where everything you’ve learned in the course comes to life. You’ll turn your knowledge into real teaching skills—the kind that make a difference in the classroom.

Why Live Teaching Practice Matters

Reading about teaching or watching others do it—whether in person or online—can only take you so far. To truly become a skilled teacher, you need to get in front of a class.

At Vantage, our observed teaching practicum is the heart of our professional TEFL certification program—and one of the most valued parts by our trainees.

You’ll teach real, non-English-speaking students in a live classroom setting, gaining hands-on experience and building the confidence and skills you’ll need to succeed as a teacher.

TEFL Practicum or observed teaching practices

How Vantage TEFL’s Practicum Works

At Vantage, the teaching practicum is where everything you’ve learned comes to life. It consists of a minimum of six one-hour lessons, each focused on a different communication topic. Here's how we guide you through every step:

1. Planning Your Lessons

Your practicum starts with learning how to create a professional-level lesson plan. Our trainers will work with you to create a lesson plan that includes everything you need, such as

Clear learning objectives
Your aims as the teacher
Anticipated student challenges and how to address them
A detailed, step-by-step lesson procedure using the ESA (Engage, Study, Activate) methodology

Your lesson plan should be so thorough that another trained teacher could pick it up and confidently teach your class.

2. Sourcing and Preparing Materials

Next, you'll gather visuals, worksheets, and other materials that support your lesson’s goals. We’ll help you match the right resources to your topic using our extensive library of coursebooks and categorized teaching materials.

3. Teaching Real Students

Now comes the exciting part—you’ll teach real non-English-speaking students in a live classroom setting. While you're teaching, one of Vantage’s experienced trainers will observe and assess your performance in areas such as:

Teaching methodology and techniques
Classroom presence and manner
Boardwork
Class management
How well you follow your lesson plan
Student engagement and reactions
Time management

4. Self-Reflection and Expert Feedback

After each lesson, you’ll first complete a self-evaluation, reflecting on what went well and what you would improve.

Then, you’ll have a one-on-one feedback session with your trainer, who will offer constructive insights and practical suggestions to help you improve in the next lesson.

If this sounds intense, don’t worry!

We’ll guide and support you through the entire process. Most trainees find that with each class they teach, their confidence grows and their teaching skills sharpen significantly.

By the end of your practicum, you’ll be fully prepared to walk into any classroom, anywhere and teach anyonea professional, effective English lesson.

At Vantage TEFL, New Teachers are Born in the Classroom

Vantage TEFL's Practicum Partners

All our courses are conducted in registered facilities and our Teaching Practices are held in schools and colleges that are registered with the Thai Ministry of Education.

We hold our practicum with the following institutions:

The Boromarajonani Nursing College – The first academic institute of the Ministry of Public Health, it’s grown into Thailand’s largest nursing training facility with 28 campuses throughout the Kingdom.

The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce - UTTC is a private, non-profit higher education institute organized into eight schools offering degree programs to the doctoral level in English and Thai.

The Human Settlement Foundation – A volunteer organization dedicated to finding solutions to homelessness and quality living in flourishing communities.

Petcharawun Witthaya School – A Thai government school with more than 2,000 students ranging from kindergarten to the 9th grade.

Chokchai Khru Kiao School – A private Thai institute specializing in kindergarten through the sixth grade--kids from 4 to 12 years old.

The Good Shepherd is an international congregation in 73 countries. The foundation was established in 1835 with the purpose of providing relief to women from harsh social conditions.

We are also teaching refugees who have made "Good Shepherd Thailand" a temporary home.

Observed Teaching Practice at Chokchai Khru Kiao School

1873/15-16 Sena Center, Phaholyothin Rd,

Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900

Tel: 02-511-3516

Fax: 02-511-3515