New England ITA Network
Where is your ITA Program located? (ESL Program, Institute for Teaching,
English Department, etc.)
Sponsored by the Graduate School. Located in Center for Language, Speech
and Hearing, Communication Disorders Dept.
To whom do you report and from whom do you receive funding?
Special Assistant to the Dean of the Graduate School. Funding from Graduate
School and the Provost's office.
How many ITAs do you work with in your orientation/testing/classes
in a typical semester?
We screen over 100. Approximately 35 students attend communication instruction
classes each semester.
What assessments do you use?
SPEAK for screening purposes. Informal assessments of pronunciation, presentation
skills, etc once students are in classes.
What classes do you offer? (Please give a brief description, if possible,
along with citations of textbooks used)
Small group (3-5 students per group) communication instruction classes.
Classes meet 2 hours per week. Address individual needs of participants.
Generally work on presentation skills, pronunciation, social communication
skills, some cultural awareness. Classes are led by students in Communication
Disorders Dept and supervised by me.
What is the single biggest problem you face?
In the recent past, the Graduate Employee Organization objected to the
requirement that all ITAs be screened. They considered this requirement
to be discriminatory since it was not also required of domestic TAs. The
issue of screening and the type of screening to be done became part of
their contract bargaining agreement. The administration supported the need
for screening and communication instruction classes for those who failed
the screening. Specific language was included in the contract regarding
these issues. |
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