This study aimed at problematizing practicum by means of identifying personal theories of four preservice English teachers about teaching English in public schools. Besides, it was intended to identify changes in their personal theories and what triggered them. Two semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire were used to collect data. The participants were in the fifth and last year of a teacher education course at the Universidade Federal of Goiás and the practicum was conducted in a federal school called CEPAE/UFG. The results showed that the participants believe that it is possible to teach English successfully in public schools. They also show that the practicum, which was conducted in a context considered almost ideal, influenced the trainees' perceptions about teaching in public schools.
practicum; personal theories; English teaching; public schools