Instructional Skills for International Teaching Assistants (ITA)

TitleInstructional Skills for International Teaching Assistants (ITA)
Faculty/College/UnitOther...
OtherUBC Continuing Studies
StatusCompleted
Duration1 Year
Initiation04/01/2009
Completion03/31/2010
Project Summary

The Instructional Skills for International Teaching Assistants (ITA) program is designed to support international graduate students, visiting scholars and post-doctoral fellows develop the teaching skills they need to be successful instructors at UBC. The ITA program, like TAG's Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW), supports the UBC community in developing excellence in teaching. The ITA program, however, focuses on the specific needs of non-native English speaking participants who are new to this academic culture. The ITA program is offered nine to ten times per year in 30 hour sections, spread over the summer, fall and winter terms to classes of approximately 10-12 students. The content in the program focuses on both instructional skill development and intercultural communication strategies to support the cultural and linguistic adjustments of the participants. ITA students are required to develop and teach two to three practice lessons over the term after which they receive feedback from their peers and instructors to support them in continuing to improve their instructional skills.

Funding Details
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2009/2010
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorKaren Rolston
Year 1: Funded Amount66,000
Year 1: Team Members

Karen Rolston, Centre for Intercultural Communication, UBC Continuing Studies
Judith Plessis, Centre for Intercultural Communication, UBC Continuing Studies