The Mellon 5+2 Program is sponsoring a panel and forum for International Student TAs on Thursday, April 11 from 12-1:30pm in HIB 137.
International TAs sometimes face challenges establishing authority in the classroom; encountering new pedagogical set-ups culturally different from home; balancing between “too strict” lecture-teaching styles and “activity-based” learning; and managing culturally insensitive or hostile student-teacher situations. Given that international TAs bring diversity to the humanities and can offer fresh perspectives on the pedagogical practices of different disciplines and since UCI, in recent years, recruited a considerable number of international TAs, we plan to bring some of the following issues to the forefront for a round-table discussion:
– Grading, teaching, and classroom management among different cultures of instruction
– Mentoring and being mentored: the international graduate student perspective
– Milestones and requirements: the Speak test
– Articulating strengths as well as challenges
– Future actions: sharing resources, creating a community
Panelists:
Pratichi Priyambada (History)
Anandi Rao (Comparative Literature)
Yao Pei (German)
Moderated by Julia Lupton, Humanities Commons
Lunch will be served.