APPLICABILITY: INTERNATIONAL TEACHING ASSISTANTS/FELLOWS

For many years Texas universities have been concerned about the language competencies of teachers who are non-native speakers of English. That concern was reinforced by the 70^th Texas Legislature (1987).

All Texas public universities that utilize teaching assistants, instructors, lab assistants, research assistants, lecturers, instructors, assistant professors, associate professors and full professors whose primary language is not English shall establish a program (or short course) that will ensure that all courses (with the exception of foreign languages) will be clearly taught in the English language, or in signed English; provided that this section shall not prohibit individual assistance to a non-English speaking student in his or her native language during course instruction. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall monitor and approve such programs at each institution of higher education. Any such institution failing to establish such programs and have such programs approved by the Board by September 1, 1988, shall remit into the General Revenue Fund five percent (5%) of the amount such institution is appropriated for Fiscal Year 1988 in the line item entitled instructional administration. (Senate Bill 1, Section 28, p. III-107 of the higher education riders.)

The University of North Texas instituted its own language certification program for international teaching assistants and teaching fellows in 1983. That program was set up by the University's Intensive English Language Institute in collaboration with the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and those academic departments that hire international teaching assistants/teaching fellows.

To ensure that all courses (with the exception of foreign language courses) will be taught clearly in the English language, the university requires that all persons who are employed as a teaching fellow/teaching assistant or research assistant, and whose native language is not English, be screened for English language competency before assuming their duties. Those teaching personnel who are not certified by this screening process will be required, before they may be given a full teaching responsibility, to participate in and successfully complete a program designed to improve language competencies to the level required for certification.

III. Procedures and Responsibilities for Teaching Fellows/Teaching Assistants and Research Assistants

A. Intensive English Language Institute (IELI)

The IELI is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a language certification program for teaching fellows/assistants and research assistants whose native language is not English, which consists of the following components:

1. Diagnostic language screening;

2. An International Teaching Assistant/Teaching Fellow (ITA/TF) training course;

3. Evaluation system (in conjunction with academic units).

The IELI also is responsible for publishing the schedule of language screening times and the training course schedule, both of which shall be coordinated with academic units. The IELI also will provide reports of the results of the certification process to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, to appropriate deans and to department heads.

B. Academic Units

Those academic units (colleges, schools, departments/divisions) that are responsible for the employment of teaching assistants/fellows (ITA/TF) and research assistants (IRA) are responsible for the following:

1. Informing prospective and new teaching fellows/assistants and research assistants who are non-native speakers of English of the requirement for language screening and certification prior to employment.

2. Providing new or prospective ITAs/TFs with a memo indicating their status as a new or prospective ITA/TF. This memo is to be presented to the ITA/TF Program Coordinator in the Intensive English Language Institute for entry to the language screening and certification program.

3. Notifying new or prospective ITAs/TFs and IRAs of time schedules for language screening.

4. Providing liaison with the Intensive English Language Institute in the evaluation of initial screening results, and of final certification program results.

5. Ensuring that prospective ITAs/TFs are not placed on the payroll or allowed to assume their duties unless they are certified by IELI.

C. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

The Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs is responsible for the implementation of the language certification program. Any exceptions to the policy required by deans and departments shall be handled by this office. The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs will notify the ITA/TF Coordinator of any exceptions.

The International Teaching Assistant/Teaching Fellow and Research Assistant Program at the University of North Texas is sponsored jointly by the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI). Its purpose is to train, evaluate and assist current and prospective international teaching assistants, teaching fellows (ITA/TFs) and research assistants (IRAs).

The program consists of three phases:

1. an initial English language competency screening;

2. a formal course designed to improve the ITA/TFs' communication skills;

3. an extensive evaluation of the course participants that includes recommendations for teaching responsibilities.

The diagnostic screening process involves the use of the TSE/SPEAK test and a videotaped demonstration speech. The Test of Spoken English (TSE) and the SPEAK test (an institutional form of the TSE) are both published by the Educational Testing Service. Students sign up for SPEAK testing at or before the beginning of the term if they have not submitted TSE scores to their departments. Scores fall into three categories:

0-179 — poor speaking proficiency indicates need for additional basic English language training before participating in the ITA/TF and IRA program.

180-219 — student needs ITS/TF training course in communication skills in order to improve speaking proficiency and pedagogical skills; the student should complete the program satisfactorily before teaching.

220-300 — student is eligible for exemption from the ITA/TF training course provided student performs satisfactorily on a short video-taped lecture.

On the basis of their performance on these measures, the ITA/TFs and IRAs are:

1. encouraged to increase their basic English language proficiency prior to being re-tested and enrolling in the training course, or

2. required to take the ITA/TF course in communication skills, or

3. are exempted from the program.

The communication skills course is a free, non-credit course offered for a 12-week period during each long term (eight weeks during the summer terms) for ITA/TFs. Research assistants should participate if there are plans to use these individuals in any instructional capacity now or at a later date. The goals of the course are:

1. To improve language skills necessary for effective teaching (pronunciation, fluency, intonation, volume).

2. To discuss non-verbal communication skills needed for classroom teaching (eye contact, gestures, movement).

3. To analyze basic techniques for effective teaching (lecturing, giving instructions, answering questions, testing, cross-cultural awareness).

The final evaluation of students' performances in the communication skills course is based on a short (10 to 15 minutes) video-taped lecture. This presentation is on a subject selected by the participant from his or her major field of study. The taped presentation is evaluated by a panel that usually includes at least one departmental representative. The panel makes recommendations for ITA/TF responsibilities in the following categories:

Certified — ITA/TF or IRA demonstrates teaching and language skills adequate for full teaching responsibility in the classroom.

Conditionally Certified — ITA/TF or IRA exhibits some problems in speaking skills, non-verbal skills or basic teaching skills and should be given teaching responsibility only in a class or lab where a senior teacher is present. An ITA/TF or IRA in this category should work closely with the departmental ITA/TF or IRA supervisor, observe experienced teachers' classes and/or take the communications skills course again.

Not Certified — ITA/TF or IRA exhibits serious problems in communication and should be given no speaking responsibility in a class or a lab. An ITA in this category could assume tutorial or grading responsibilities, take the communication skills course again and/or enroll in an optional pronunciation course at the IELI.

The ITA/TF and IRA Program is offered as a service to the academic units of the university and to their international teaching assistants and teaching fellows. Recommendations from the ITA/TF and IRA program are based on and only relate to language and communication competencies for teaching. Competency to teach in a particular discipline, or in an individual discipline-related environment, is an academic concern that cannot be addressed by the ITA/TF and IRA Program.

*Reviewed with no changes