ERIC Number: ED228897
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1983
Pages: 6
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Foreign Teaching Assistant and the Culture of the American University Class.
Sadow, Stephen A.; Maxwell, Monica A.
Often foreign teaching assistants (TAs) are assigned to lead a discussion-type class on the undergraduate level. Such an assignment requires skills, in addition to English language skills, which their own educational background has not developed in them. To help make up for their lacking skills, a short course, combining a series of minilectures and role plays, with the use of videotape where available, can provide the TAs with the insights they need. The course can run from 8 hours to 20 hours, and might be coordinated with advanced English courses dealing with public speaking, pronunciation, intonation, and discussion leading skills. In a course of this type the following items are essential: (1) the role of the teacher in the American university; (2) types of students the TAs may meet; (3) types of classes in terms of behavior and communication patterns; (4) expectations with regard to use of class time; (5) the first day of class; and (6) standards of politeness, especially how to criticize. Each of these topics, as well as more directly pedagogical topics, would be presented in as practical and useful a manner as possible. (AMH)
Descriptors: Class Activities, Classroom Environment, Foreign Students, Higher Education, Inservice Teacher Education, Internship Programs, Teacher Role, Teaching Assistants, Teaching Methods, Undergraduate Students
Not available separately; see FL 013 679.
Publication Type: Opinion Papers; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Paper presented at the Annual Convention of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (16th, Honolulu, HI, May 1-6, 1982).