Tahany Abdulaziz Albaiz 
(Faculty of Education, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)

 

Abstract: While in-service training is directed to those who already secured their lives with a job, there are groups of blossoms who are only one little step away from getting a job and need to boost their cognitive preparation with experiences and need a challenging transition from classroom to work environment. For this concept, a practicum should be launched. Practicums have been in existence for a number of years all over the world in many state-of-the-art universities. The practicum is usually designed to provide students with a venue to perform activities involving practical applications of many related fields and gain confidence to perpetuate their personal and professional growth. This action-based research has based its component on a proposed program that has conceptualized its framework around “Sustainable Development” as it focuses on the development of skills which connects existing skills with future career demands. This training-based program aims at helping the targeted audience (senior students who are required to complete their field training credits in English) to: (1) integrate the instructional component of their academic knowledge with actual in-field practices, (2) live the practicum experience in classroom environments which resemble, as closely as possible, the settings where they might be intended to teach, (3) Professionally develop through workshops and work-related responsibilities, (4) develop a realistic awareness of the structure of particular institutional settings and leadership styles; and (5) reflect what they’ve learned and appreciate teamwork. The program has been piloted and evaluated by trainees in the discussion part of this paper.

 

Key words: professional, growth, practicum, training, EFL, sustainable, development, reflection, evaluation