Introduction

This chapter provides the context and rationale of the practicum in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) teacher education programs, traditional role of the practicum in TESOL programs, common practices included in the practicum, the changes that potentially affect the TESOL practicum, and major theoretical frameworks (i.e., teacher learning and authentic learning) that ground the TESOL practicum. It also lays out different designs/types/modalities of TESOL programs and practica, TESOL practicum supervision, and challenges that TESOL programs face to set up their practicum. The chapter concludes with an overview of the structure and contents of the book.