The Classroom Apprenticeship

Four weeks. More than 25 real teaching reps. A qualification built around practice, not paperwork.

4 Weeks · $1,395 · Siem Reap, Cambodia

The Programme

Not a course. A structured apprenticeship.

Most TEFL courses spend the bulk of their time in a classroom — watching presentations, filling in worksheets, and completing a handful of observed lessons at the end. The Classroom Apprenticeship is built differently.

From day one, you're teaching. You accumulate more than 25 counted teaching moments across three escalating tiers, with trainer feedback after every rep. By the time you finish, you don't just hold a certificate — you know how to teach.

"25-plus teaching reps isn't a number we advertise for its own sake. It's what it takes to actually get good at this."

The programme runs in Siem Reap, Cambodia — one of the most straightforward entry markets for first-time teachers, with no degree requirement and strong demand for qualified native-English-speaking teachers.

How it works

Three tiers. Real stakes at every level.

The apprenticeship model means you're always working at or just beyond your current level. Each tier increases the complexity of the teaching context and the standard of feedback.

Tier 1

Peer practice

You teach your fellow trainees. Low stakes, but real feedback. You learn to handle a room, manage time, and recover from mistakes without the pressure of a real class.

Tier 2

Peers as students

Your cohort plays the role of genuine language learners. Lessons are planned and delivered as if to real students. Trainer feedback becomes more detailed and more demanding.

Tier 3

Real Cambodian students

You teach actual students at partner schools in Siem Reap. Everything is observed and logged. This is where the rep count matters — by now, you've done this enough times to perform under real conditions.

Curriculum

What you actually cover

The training content is designed to be immediately applicable — not theoretical frameworks you'll never use in a classroom.

Lesson planning — structuring a lesson with a clear objective, staged tasks, and time management
Classroom management — attention, grouping, pace, and handling disruption
Teaching grammar in context — presenting language structures without making lessons feel like grammar drills
Teaching vocabulary and pronunciation — practical techniques that stick with students
Skills teaching — reading, writing, listening, and speaking tasks that work in a real classroom
Young learner strategies — adapting lessons for children and managing young classrooms
Materials and task design — creating and adapting resources with what you have
Assessment and correction — monitoring progress and giving feedback that students can use

Fees

What the programme costs

The programme fee covers your training, certification, and placement support. Personal costs — accommodation, food, flights, visa — are separate and vary depending on your choices and lifestyle in Siem Reap.

Item	Cost
Programme fee	$1,395
Accommodation (approx. per month)	$150–$350
Food (approx. per month)	$150–$250
Visa on arrival (30 days)	~$35
Estimated total (excl. flights)	~$1,800–$2,100

Cost estimates are approximate. Verify current visa fees and living costs independently before budgeting.

After the programme

Placement support that doesn't stop

Placement support is included and continues until you're placed. We work with a network of schools in Siem Reap and Cambodia. We introduce you to schools, prepare you for interviews, and support you through the process of finding a position that suits you.

Introduction to partner schools in Siem Reap
CV review and interview preparation
Support continues until you are placed — not just through graduation

No degree is required to teach in Cambodia. This is one of the reasons Siem Reap works well for first-time teachers who don't hold a university qualification.

Eligibility

Who this programme is for

Native English speakers from the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or South Africa
No prior teaching experience needed
No degree required
Candidates from outside the countries listed above are considered on a case-by-case basis — we'll be honest with you upfront about placement prospects

DESTINATION TEFL

Ready to find out more?

Send us an enquiry and we'll walk you through whether the programme is the right fit.

Email admissions@destinationtefl.com