Internship

All FAST TRAIN students seeking Virginia state licensure must complete an internship, and this internship must be completed overseas. While overseas, the internship requirement may be met in one of two ways: Student teach for a semester or teach for one year full time in the licensure area in an accredited international school.

Full-Time Teaching as Internship

  • Elementary PK-6: Teach for one year as a full-time elementary school teacher in an accredited international school, or if you wish to also obtain IB Award Level I eligibility, teach for one year as a full-time PYP teacher in an authorized IB PYP international school. (Students can obtain a full-time job at any point in the program.)
  • ESOL PK-12: Teach for one year as a full-time ESOL teacher in a PK-12 classroom in an accredited international school.

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Student Teaching Internship

Student teach for a semester (15 weeks) in an accredited international school, either in an elementary education PK-6 or ESOL PK-12 classroom (depending on the license sought). All licensure course work, general education course work as required by the program, Praxis II exam (elementary education candidates), Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (all teacher candidates) and Virginia Reading Assessment (elementary education candidates) MUST be completed prior to student teaching. An increasing number of FAST TRAIN graduates are choosing to complete their internship requirement through a one-semester student teaching experience overseas. There are three advantages to student teaching:

  • It is an excellent training experience, during which the intern receives careful guidance in a realistic, yet controlled setting.
  • The school gets to know the intern, which makes it easier to receive an offer of a teaching position; and
  • Student teaching lasts 15 weeks and the graduate can have her/his full license more quickly than if s/he elects to teach.

Student teaching interns must pay tuition to GMU (internship counts as 6 credit hours), as well as a $500 stipend to the school for supervision.

Should you choose the student teaching option, fill out the Elementary Education or the ESOL Student Teaching Request Form at least the semester prior to student teaching to enable the office to make the initial contact and arrangements for student teaching (i.e., early spring for a fall placement; early fall for a spring placement).

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Student Teaching Requirements by Program

Elementary Education: The assignment will be completed in a 15-week "split setting" placement: 7.5 weeks in grades PK-3 and 7.5 weeks in grades 4-6. The placement will occur overseas at an accredited international school.

English as a Second Language: The assignment will be completed in a "split setting" placement: 7.5 weeks in grades PK-6 and 7.5 weeks in grades 7-12. The placement will occur overseas at an accredited international school.

Peace Corps Fellows Elementary Education/ESOL: All programs require an internship in order to be licensed in the State of Virginia. Returning Peace Corps Fellows will complete their internship locally. In lieu of student teaching, Peace Corps Fellows may teach for one year, full time, in an accredited school as an elementary education or ESOL teacher. However, because of the “No Child Left Behind” legislation, it may not be possible for students to obtain a job in the metropolitan area without first completing a formal student teaching placement. In that case, FAST TRAIN will place the Fellow in a local school as a student teacher once all licensure requirements have been met and will cover the cost of the six credit hours required for student teaching.

Those who choose to may go overseas to complete the student teaching requirement. However, the returning Peace Corps volunteer will not be considered a Fellow. If the overseas route is preferred, the returning volunteer will be considered a traditional FAST TRAIN student and the internship requirement may be completed in one of two ways: (1) One semester of student teaching abroad in a "split setting": 7.5 weeks in grades PK-3 and 7.5 weeks in grades 4-6 (for elementary education candidates) or 7.5 weeks in grades PK-6 and 7.5 weeks in grades 7-12 (for ESOL candidates), OR (2) One year of full-time teaching abroad in an accredited international school, in any elementary grade (PK-6) for an elementary education candidate or any grade PK-12 for an ESOL candidate.

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 Supervision for Student Teaching

  • Supervision is provided by both the cooperating teacher and site supervisor. The FAST TRAIN Field Coordinator will provide GMU support throughout the student teaching assignment.  Please see the Student Teaching Manual (PDF | DOC).
  • Cooperating teachers must be licensed in elementary education or ESOL, depending on the license sought. They must also have at least three years of experience in the subject or level at which the student teaching is taking place.
  • University supervisors must have a master’s degree in a relevant field, as well as experience in teacher education, or in supervising teachers or student teachers. Often the school's director or principal fulfills this role.
  • Resumes of all supervisors must be sent to the FAST TRAIN Field Coordinator.

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Student Teaching Manual

Review the Student Teaching Manual (PDF | DOC).

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Tuition, Fees and Registration

FAST TRAIN student teachers must pay for supervision and tuition:

  • Tuition (see current rates on website)
  • Supervision: $500 fee (payable to school) The intern pays the supervision fee directly to the school AT THE BEGINNING of the experience.
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