Communicate : Strategies for International Teaching Assistants

by Smith, Jan; Meyers, Colleen M.; Burkhalter, Amy J.

• ISBN13: 9780131377202
• ISBN10: 0131377205
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1991-11-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

Without being field specific, this text covers language, methodology, culture, etc., that foreign teaching assistants need to be successful teachers.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii	(3)
To the Instructor	x
UNIT 1. INTRODUCING YOURSELF	1	(9)
TEACHING SKILLS	2	(3)
Focus: Objectives of the Course	2	(1)
Functional Language: Ending a Presentation	3	(2)
Assignment Presentation: Introducing Yourself	5	(1)
LANGUAGE SKILLS AND CULTURAL AWARENESS	5	(5)
Pronunciation: Diagnosis of Problems	5	(2)
Grammar: Diagnosis of Problems	7	(1)
Needs Assessment: Characteristics of a Good Teacher in Your Culture	8	(2)
UNIT 2. INTRODUCING A SYLLABUS	10	(19)
TEACHING SKILLS	11	(10)
Focus 1: Nonverbal Communication	11	(3)
Focus 2: Teacher Presence	14	(2)
Functional Language: Classroom Expressions and Terms	16	(3)
Assignment Preparation: Introducing a Syllabus	19	(1)
Assignment Presentation: Introducing a Syllabus	20	(1)
LANGUAGE SKILLS AND CULTURAL AWARENESS	21	(8)
Pronunciation: Compensation Strategies	21	(4)
Grammar: Compensation Strategies	25	(2)
Needs Assessment: Problem-Solving Strategies in the U.S. Classroom	27	(2)
UNIT 3. EXPLAINING A VISUAL	29	(23)
TEACHING SKILLS	31	(13)
Focus 1: Blackboard and Visuals	31	(1)
Focus 2: Organization	32	(5)
Functional Language: Describing Visuals	37	(5)
Assignment Preparation: Explaining a Visual	42	(1)
Assignment Presentation: Explaining a Visual	43	(1)
LANGUAGE SKILLS AND CULTURAL AWARENESS	44	(8)
Pronunciation: Word Stress	44	(3)
Grammar: Levels of Directness	47	(2)
Needs Assessment: Characteristics of a Good Teacher in the United States	49	(3)
UNIT 4. DEFINING A TERM	52	(16)
TEACHING SKILLS	53	(8)
Focus 1: Relevance of Content	53	(2)
Focus 2: Manner of Speaking	55	(2)
Functional Language: Organizational Cues	57	(3)
Assignment Preparation: Defining a Term	60	(1)
Assignment Presentation: Defining a Term	61	(1)
LANGUAGE SKILLS AND CULTURAL AWARENESS	61	(7)
Pronunciation: Stress and Intonation in Thought Groups	61	(5)
Grammar: Relative Clauses in Definitions	66	(1)
Needs Assessment: The "International TA Problem" in U.S. Universities	66	(2)
UNIT 5. TEACHING A PROCESS	68	(21)
TEACHING SKILLS	69	(9)
Focus 1: Aural Comprehension	69	(2)
Focus 2: Interaction	71	(3)
Functional Language: Responding to Student Answers	74	(3)
Assignment Preparation: Teaching a Process	77	(1)
Assignment Presentation: Teaching a Process	77	(1)
LANGUAGE SKILLS AND CULTURAL AWARENESS	78	(11)
Pronunciation: Reduction, Linking, and Rhythm	78	(6)
Grammar: Indicative and Imperative Verbs	84	(1)
Needs Assessment: Student Roles, Issues, Learning Styles	85	(4)
UNIT 6. FIELDING QUESTIONS	89	(18)
TEACHING SKILLS	91	(7)
Focus 1: Method of Handling Questions	91	(3)
Focus 2: Clarity of Response to Questions	94	(1)
Functional Language: Purposes of Restating Questions	95	(2)
Assignment Preparation: Fielding Questions	97	(1)
Assignment Presentation: Fielding Questions	98	(1)
LANGUAGE SKILLS AND CULTURAL AWARENESS	98	(9)
Pronunciation: Intonation for Questions	98	(4)
Grammar: Responding to Negative Questions	102	(3)
Needs Assessment: The Use of Questions in the Classroom	105	(2)
UNIT 7. PRESENTING A TOPIC OF GENERAL INTEREST	107	(15)
TEACHING SKILLS	108	(6)
Focus 1: Audience Awareness	108	(2)
Focus 2: Clarity of Presentation	110	(1)
Functional Language: Explaining Technical Terms	111	(1)
Assignment Preparation: Presenting a Topic of General Interest	112	(2)
Assignment Presentation: Presenting a Topic of General Interest	114	(1)
LANGUAGE SKILLS AND CULTURAL AWARENESS	114	(8)
Pronunciation: Emphasis	114	(3)
Grammar: Logical Connectors	117	(2)
Needs Assessment: TA Observation	119	(3)
UNIT 8. BEGINNING A TWO-PART PRESENTATION	122	(12)
TEACHING SKILLS	123	(5)
Focus: Review of Presentation Skills	123	(1)
Functional Language: Previewing Information	124	(2)
Assignment Preparation: Beginning a Two-Part Presentation	126	(1)
Assignment Presentation: Beginning a Two-Part Presentation	127	(1)
LANGUAGE SKILLS AND CULTURAL AWARENESS	128	(6)
Pronunciation: Enunciation	128	(2)
Grammar: Verb Form	130	(2)
Needs Assessment: Departmental Duties for TAs	132	(2)
UNIT 9. CONTINUING A TWO-PART PRESENTATION	134	(12)
TEACHING SKILLS	135	(4)
Focus: Review of Interactive Skills	135	(1)
Functional Language: Reviewing Information	136	(1)
Assignment Preparation: Continuing a Two-Part Presentation	137	(1)
Assignment Presentation: Continuing a Two-Part Presentation	138	(1)
LANGUAGE SKILLS AND CULTURAL AWARENESS	139	(7)
Pronunciation: -s and -ed Endings	139	(3)
Grammar: Verb Tense in Science and Technology	142	(1)
Needs Assessment: Hypothesis Testing	143	(3)
UNIT 10. LEADING A DISCUSSION	146	(13)
TEACHING SKILLS	147	(7)
Focus 1: Fluency	147	(4)
Focus 2: Comprehensibility	151	(2)
Assignment: Leading a Discussion	153	(1)
CULTURAL AWARENESS	154	(5)
Needs Assessment: What Happens After the International TA Program?	154	(2)
Where Can You Go From Here?	156	(3)
APPENDICES	159	(79)
APPENDIX I: Feedback Forms	157	(14)
APPENDIX II: The ITA Test	171	(7)
APPENDIX III: Field-Specific Materials	178	(60)
Biology	178	(4)
Business Administration	182	(4)
Chemistry	186	(4)
Civil Engineering	190	(3)
Computer Science	193	(4)
Economics	197	(3)
Electrical Engineering	200	(3)
Industrial Engineering	203	(3)
Mathematics	206	(3)
Mechanical Engineering	209	(3)
Physics	212	(4)
Psychology	216	(4)
Second Language	220	(4)
Sociology	224	(4)
Statistics	228	(3)
Subtechnical Terms Applicable to All Scientific Fields	231	(7)
Acknowledgments	238	(3)
Bibliography	241	(6)
Index	247