'TLC' helps train international TAs for classroom

by Tara S. Donahue

Imagine a teacher before a class of students who speak a different language and have grown up in a culture far removed from that of the instructor. For many people, this task would seem formidable. However, international teaching assistants face this situation everyday. To help ease their transition into an American classroom, the International Teaching Assistant Program offers several programs to assistant ITAs.

Under the direction of Darlene Panvini, an assistant director at the Center for Teaching, ITAP's theme is TLC: Teaching, language and culture.

"The program has grown from focusing mainly on English proficiency to recognizing that ITAs benefit from having an understanding of the cultural differences they experience in a U.S. classroom, as well as a range of teaching techniques to rely on," Panvini said.

Throughout the year, ITAP offers several opportunities for ITAs to expand their skills in the classroom and learn more about American culture. Before the fall semester started, new ITAs attended an orientation session to learn what to expect from American students and more about ITAP. In addition, previous to the semester starting, ITAs have their English-speaking ability evaluated, and they are videotaped teaching a "lesson" to a group of undergraduate students who offer feedback on the presentation.

If the evaluations show the ITA might benefit from classes in English before going into the classroom, ITAP offers English classes for the students free of charge.

In addition to English classes, ITAs can also work with student consultants, who are undergraduate students who work one-on-one with an ITA. According to Panvini, the paired SC and ITA work on a variety of activities.

"For example," she said, "in one session, the ITA might teach a short lesson from his or her discipline to the SC. The SC pretends to be a student, asking questions and taking notes. Afterwards, they talk about the experience."

The SC will give feedback to the ITA, including observations regarding word pronunciations and insight to cultural nuances.

This year, about 80 ITAs are expected to participate in ITAP. The new ITAs for this year represent more than a dozen countries including the People's Republic of China, India, Korea, Germany, Russia, Chile, Columbia, Poland and Australia.