Section 2 (Altinsel): 3:00-4:20 pm, TThF C303 Wells Hall

Section 3 (Divers): 5:30-6:50 pm, TThF C200 Wells Hall

Resources:

Communicate, by J. Smith, C. Meyers and A. Burkhalter

Coursepack

MSU TA Handbook

Technical terms casettes

Taperecorder, headphones & adaptor

TEAM tutorials

TEAM Program website/links: www.msu.edu/~teamprog

“Teaching Thoughts” www.msu.edu/~taprog

This is an English speaking and listening class for international teaching assistants. The course will provide systematic practice in three areas of spoken English relevant to classroom instruction:

* English pronunciation

* the English used in making classroom presentations

* the English used in "class management"

The class will meet four and a half-hours per week for ten weeks with the instructor. Additionally, all students will meet TEAM tutors for pronunciation drills on the TEAM program.

For extra speaking practice students have all been assigned a free personal tutor. English Helproom meets Monday and Tuesday from 6:00-8:00 pm at Room 12 International Center.

The final class grade will be "P" (pass) or "NP" (no pass). To obtain a "P" students must complete all homework assignments satisfactorily and have no more than 4 unexcused absences. On November 18-19, students with a "P" will take the English Language Center's ITA Oral Interview. Students who pass the interview, satisfy MSU's TA English requirement and are cleared for teaching.

Students who do not complete all homework assignments or who have more than four unexcused absences will receive a class grade of "NP" and not be permitted to take the ITA Oral Interview. The only excused absence is illness documented by a nurse's or doctor's note. Being 10 minutes late to three classes will count as an absence. Students must return their books (Communicate), taperecorders, adaptors, and headphones to the TA Office before they can take the ITA Oral Interview.

Eng 097 Fall 2002

Week 1 Introduction September 9-13

Tuesday:

Introduction to course

Pronunciation

English Vowels

Assignment #1: Listen to your technical terms, make a list and record 50 terms on a blank tape, due Tues. Sept. 17

Assignment #2: Read Comm. Pgs 132-133

Interview a senior TA in your department about the TA duties,

report due Thursday, Sept. 19

Thursday:

Syllable stress

Reduced syllables

Friday:

English Consonants

Prep for concept teaching next week:

Defining a concept

Relative clauses

Assignment #3: Read “MSU Policies on Teaching” in the TA handbook. Intro pgs. 2-6. Write a short response.

Week 2 Defining a concept September 16-20

Tuesday:

Review of vowels

Presentation skills

Organizational Phrases

Assignment #4: See pg. 61 in Communicate

Prepare a 5-minute presentation of a concept in your field.

Thursday:

Review Word Stress

Teaching a concept in small groups

Due today: TA interview reports

Friday:

Teaching a concept

Video and audio tape

Assignment #5: Transcribe 10 consecutive sentences from your presentation on your casette and correct the mistakes using a red pen.

Assignment #6: Make arrangements to observe an undergrad class/lab in your department next week, due Tuesday, October 7.

Assignment #7: Exercises, pg. 16-18 Communicate, due Tuesday, September 24.

Week 3 Announcements and Syllabus Presentation

September 23-27

Tuesday:

Discussion on TAs’ leadership roles/ on the reading from the TA handbook

Practice announcements from daily newspapers, class memos

Practice academic terms. Handout and Communicate pg 16-17

Assignment #8: Prepare to present a syllabus. Communicate pg 20-21

See the sample syllabi in the TA Handbook pg. 2.6-2.17 but pick one to present in your field.

Thursday:

Linking

Work on class memos, SPEAK announcements

Discussion of class observations

Friday:

Present your syllabus. No videotaping, only audio.

One half of class present with an undergrad tutor.

Assignment 9: Transcribe 10 sentences from your syllabus presentation and make corrections.

Week 4 Presenting graphs September 30-October 4

Tuesday:

Present tense –s ending

Prep for graph presentations

Handout-sample graph outline

In-class practice with graphs

For Thursday, bring two graphs to present in small groups

Assignment #10: Prepare to teach a graph on Friday. Communicate Pg. 43

Thursday

Past tense –ed ending

Practice graphs in small groups

Friday:

Present a graph (videotaped)

Assignment #11: Transcribe 10 sentences and correct the mistakes.

Assignment #12: See the list of controversial topics (CP Pg.34) and submit your topic of choice on Monday. On Thursday or Friday, you willl lead a 20-minute discussion on your topic.

Week 5 Leading Discussions October 7-11

Tuesday:

Discussion on class visits

Assignment #13: Read: TA Handbook pg. 1.1-1.4

Interview an undergraduate student and report on the differences in the educational systems (handout), due Thursday, Oct. 17.

Thursday:

Intonation

Discussions on controversial topics

Friday:

Discussions on controversial topics

Week 6 Office Hour Roleplays October 14-18

Tuesday:

Directness and indirectness exercise

“Dealing with Problems” tape discussion

Assignment #14: Read CP Pg 36-42, due Thursday, October 17

Thursday:

Practice roleplays

Discussion of undergrad interviews, reports due.

Friday:

Roleplays with undergrads

Assignment #15: Write a few things you discussed with the undergraduates that wouldn’t be common in your country, due Tuesday, Oct 22.

Week 7 Teaching a Procedure/Process October 21-25

Tuesday:

Describing everyday objects (stapler, taperecorder, watch,etc)

Assignment #16: Prepare to present a procedure on Friday.
Comm. Pg 77-78

Practice teaching your procedure in small groups on Thursday.

Thursday:

Word stress exercise: in pairs advertise a product

Teach a process in your field in small groups.

Friday:

Teaching a procedure (videotaped)

Assignment #17: Transcribe 10 sentences and correct your mistakes.

Week 8 Negotiating a Class Agreement Oct. 28- Nov. 1

Tuesday:

Discussion on “Four Teaching Styles” tape

Thursday:

Negotiating Class Agreements

Friday:

Negotiating Class Agreements

Assignment #18: Prepare to teach a concept next week.

Week 9 Fielding Questions November 4-8

Tuesday:

Exercises on Fielding Questions

Communicate, Unit 6

Thursday:

Teaching a concept and practice fielding questions

Friday:

Teaching a concept and practice fielding questions

Week 10 Review for the Interview Test November 11-15

Practice teaching

Roleplays

Announcements

ITAOI November 18, 19