What is "student teacher"

n. a college student who is teaching under the supervision of a certified teacher in order to qualify for a degree in education [syn: practice teacher]

A student teacher, pupil-teacher (historical) or prac teacher (practice teacher) is a college, university or graduate student who is teaching under the supervision of a certified teacher in order to qualify for a degree in education.

The term is also often used interchangeably with "Pre-Service Teacher". It is a much broader term to include those students that are studying the required coursework in pedagogy, as well as their specialty, but have not entered the supervised teaching portion of their training. In many institutions "Pre-Service Teacher" is the official and preferred title for all education students.

Pupil teacher also used to refer to a senior pupil who acted as a teacher of younger children, which in the 19th and early 20th centuries was a common step on the road to becoming a professional teacher for intelligent boys and girls – often from a less affluent background who were unable to attend Teacher's College for even a short period.