Communicate: Strategies for International Teaching Assistants

Unit 1. Introducing Yourself Teaching Skills Focus: Objectives of the Course Functional Language: Ending a Presentation Assignment Presentation: Introducing Yourself Language Skills and Cultural Awareness Pronunciation: Diagnosis of Problems Grammar: Diagnosis of Problems Needs Assessment: Characteristics of a Good Teacher in Your Culture Unit 2. Introducing a Syllabus Teaching Skills Focus 1: Nonverbal Communication Focus 2: Teacher Presence Functional Language: Classroom Expressions and Terms Assignment Preparation: Introducing a Syllabus Assignment Presentation: Introducing a Syllabus Language Skills and Cultural Awareness Pronunciation: Compensation Strategies Grammar: Compensation Strategies Needs Assessment: Problem-Solving Strategies in the U.S. Classroom Unit 3. Explaining a Visual Teaching Skills Focus 1: Blackboard and Visuals Focus 2: Organization Functional Language: Describing Visuals Assignment Preparation: Explaining a Visual Assignment Presentation: Explaining a Visual Language Skills and Cultural Awareness Pronunciation: Word Stress Grammar: Levels of Directness Needs Assessment: Characteristics of a Good Teacher in the United States Unit 4. Defining a Term Teaching Skills Focus 1: Relevance of Content Focus 2: Manner of Speaking Functional Language: Organizational Cues Assignment Preparation: Defining a Term Assignment Presentation: Defining a Term Language Skills and Cultural Awareness Pronunciation: Stress and Intonation in Thought Groups Grammar: Relative Clauses in Definitions Needs Assessment: The "International TA Problem" in U.S. Universities Unit 5. Teaching a Process Teaching Skills Focus 1: Aural Comprehension Focus 2: Interaction Functional Language: Responding to Student Answers Assignment Preparation: Teaching a Process Assignment Presentation: Teaching a Process Language Skills and Cultural Awareness Pronunciation: Reduction, Linking, and Rhythm Grammar: Indicative and Imperative Verbs Needs Assessment: Student Roles, Issues, Learning Styles Unit 6. Fielding Questions Teaching Skills Focus 1: Method of Handling Questions Focus 2: Clarity of Response to Questions Functional Language: Purposes of Restating Questions Assignment Preparation: Fielding Questions Assignment Presentation: Fielding Questions Language Skills and Cultural Awareness Pronunciation: Intonation for Questions Grammar: Responding to Negative Questions Needs Assessment: The Use of Questions in the Classroom Unit 7. Presenting a Topic of General Interest Teaching Skills Focus 1: Audience Awareness Focus 2: Clarity of Presentation Functional Language: Explaining Technical Terms Assignment Preparation: Presenting a Topic of General Interest Assignment Presentation: Presenting a Topic of General Interest Language Skills and Cultural Awareness Pronunciation: Emphasis Grammar: Logical Connectors Needs Assessment: TA Observation Unit 8. Beginning a Two-Part Presentation Teaching Skills Focus: Review of Presentation Skills Functional Language: Previewing Information Assignment Preparation: Beginning a Two-Part Presentation Assignment Presentation: Beginning a Two-Part Presentation Language Skills and Cultural Awareness Pronunciation: Enunciation Grammar: Verb Form Needs Assessment: Departmental Duties for TAs Unit 9. Continuing a Two-Part Presentation Teaching Skills Focus: Review of Interactive Skills Functional Language: Reviewing Information Assignment Preparation: Continuing a Two-Part Presentation Assignment Presentation: Continuing a Two-Part Presentation Language Skills and Cultural Awareness Pronunciation: -s and -ed Endings Grammar: Verb Tense in Science and Technology Needs Assessment: Hypothesis Testing Unit 10. Leading a Discussion Teaching Skills Focus 1: Fluency Focus 2: Comprehensibility Assignment: Leading a Discussion Cultural Awareness Needs Assessment: What Happens After the International TA Program? Where Can You Go From Here? Appendices Appendix I: Feedback Forms Appendix II: The ITA Test Appendix III: Field-Specific Materials Biology Business Administration Chemistry Civil Engineering Computer Science Economics Electrical Engineering Industrial Engineering Mathematics Mechanical Engineering Physics