There are subtle distinctions in the form and quality of posture and body movements, spacing and timing, eye contact, smile and head nod. If all teachers in your country sit tall and straight behind their desks, without looking, smiling, or nodding at individual students, you will tend to do the same. We tend to ignore these aspects of teaching, and tend to overlook how profoundly these actions affect our liking and respect for another and influence the quality and quantity of teaching and learning that occurs in the classroom. Following are some suggestions for improving the social relationships of international TAs with their students. Teaching Tips for International TAs Adpated from Mahdi, et.
Anxieties are common among international students just appointed to assist in teaching.
After all, these feelings of uncertainty are commonly felt even by native graduate TAs who are experiencing less general culture shock. One may feel uneasy, for instance, about going into a class whose students speak another language and have a different culture. The best one can do in this situation is to attempt to overcome these fears and try to build up one's own natural self-confidence. Remember that you are not the only one who is going to face this situation. International is beautiful.