International Teaching Assistant Language Program (ITALP)


	International Teaching Assistant Language Program (ITALP) CTD Home > CTD Programs > International Teaching Assistant Language Program (ITALP) It is a UCSD policy that international graduate students be certified as having requisite language skills before they can serve as TAs. The International Teaching Assistant Language Program is designed to assist international students in meeting that requirement. The ITALP is a service including: Language Testing Language Assessment Summer Language Seminars Language Classes and Private Tutorials ESL Proficiency Accent Reduction Public Speaking Classroom Management Training Teaching Simulations Audio and Videotaping Apprenticeship Teaching ITA Language Program Registration Form To learn more about ITALP or to sign up, please visit the CTD offices (located on the third floor of Center Hall). Language Testing All international graduate students are required to demonstrate a high level of oral and aural competence in the English language before they can be employed as a teaching assistant. In order to assess the level of language proficiency, all departments are required to screen prospective TAs. A screening consists of a 15-20 minute impromptu interview, during which the student must respond to general and discipline-specific questions. The testing panel evaluates the responses for level of presentation ability and overall language proficiency, including pronunciation, listening comprehension, speech flow, vocabulary, grammar, and organization. The ITALP coordinates the departmental screenings. Language Assessment The ITALP provides extensive testing for language assessment, which involves audio and video taping of students using both general and discipline-specific English. The SPEAK test may also be administered upon department request. The assessment is designed to give a clear picture of an international student's strengths and weaknesses in speaking and understanding the English language. The results of the assessment are used in the development of an individualized language program so that the student can achieve at least the minimum language proficiency required to qualify for a teaching assistantship. Summer Language Seminars To help prepare prospective TAs for the test, ITALP has created a special seminar for any international graduate student who is scheduled to participate in a departmental screening. The seminar can be an intensive one-week course or a series of 2-hour workshops offered prior to the start of the Fall quarter. The seminars focus on language, public speaking, and cross-cultural training. Language Classes and Private Tutorials Those international graduate students who have not successfully passed the screening are given the opportunity to improve their language skills by attending language classes and/or private tutorials. The classes and tutorials entail a disciplined and detailed program of instruction including ESL proficiency, accent reduction, public speaking, classroom management, and cross-cultural training. When warranted, private tutorials are scheduled on an individual basis by the coordinator of the International Teaching Assistant Language Program. Teaching Simulations In order to help international graduate students prepare for the rigors of the classroom, the International Teaching Assistant Language Program organizes a series of teaching simulations. These are actual classroom forums wherein the international graduate student prepares and presents a lesson to a class of undergraduates so as to determine communicative strengths and weaknesses. The undergraduates listen to the lesson, participate when appropriate, and finally critique the performance of the prospective teaching assistant. This is particularly useful for international graduate students whose language is acceptable but who have trouble in other areas of teaching, such as communicative style. Audio and Videotaping International graduate students are audiotaped and videotaped to help them better understand their language and teaching skills. Taping is conducted during class time so that student responses are included in the assessment, or in private so as to concentrate more on the linguistic and pedagogical skills of the international graduate student. Apprenticeship Teaching This is a highly effective program designed by the International Teaching Assistant Language Program to help provide international graduate students with a more practical and personal form of teaching instruction. International graduate students are assigned to more experienced TAs as apprentice teachers. These experienced TAs will help the international graduate students with their teaching by pointing out areas for improvement, suggesting alternatives, and above all by serving as positive role models. All assignments are coordinated and monitored by the ITALP in conjunction with the international graduate student's home department. Back to Top Center for Teaching Development 9500 Gilman Drive Center Hall 307 La Jolla, CA 92093-0030 Phone: (858) 534-6767 Fax: (858) 822-0318