TA Language Screenings
About
English language screenings are a way to assure that Teaching Assistants have the needed oral/aural English skills to present information and interact successfully with undergraduate students at the University of Kentucky. They do not assess teaching ability.
International TAs must demonstrate their oral/aural English skills in one of two ways:
- Valid speaking sub-scores for TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic English, or Duolingo English exams that align with their TA duties, or
- Earning a score in the TA language screenings that aligns with their TA duties
TA Language Screenings are required of all international TAs, with two exceptions:
- International TAs who were exempt from taking an English language test for admission. This includes international students who earned a prior degree from the U.S., or who have a statement on their official transcript or an attestation letter sent directly from the registrar of the degree-granting institution confirming that English was the sole language of instruction for their degree.
- Valid TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic speaking, or Duolingo speaking sub-scores can be substituted for a language screening. Test scores are considered valid for up to two years prior to the first day of classes that a TA engages in TA-related duties.
Default Placements
|
Language Screening Category |
TOEFL iBT Speaking Sub-Score* |
IELTS Academic Speaking Sub-Score* |
Duolingo Speaking Sub-Score |
|
Category I (3.5 or above) |
25 - 30 |
8.0 - 9.0 |
150-160 |
|
Category II (3.0-3.49) |
20 - 24 |
7.0 - 7.5 |
130-145 |
TA Language Screenings
The Screening Committee
- A UK undergraduate student representative
- A departmental representative (often the Director of Graduate Studies or department chair)
- An English as a Second Language (ESL) specialist
The Screening Process
Language screenings occur remotely via Zoom and are recorded.
- For Zoom screenings, participants will need to have access to a computer with a camera, microphone, and reliable internet connection.
- TAs will be asked to show a photo ID at the beginning of their screening.
- Because the screenings assess a TA’s aural and oral skills, closed captioning cannot be used unless special permission has been granted by UK’s Disability Resource Center and the Graduate Student Professional Enhancement office in advance of the screening. TAs requesting permission to use closed captioning should communicate this need to their DGS a minimum of one week before the screening.
The screening consists of a 10-12 minute interview. The screening will consist of two parts:
- The committee members will conduct a short interview with the TA. This will consist of basic, get-to-know-you questions.
- The TA will briefly discuss something about their major, field, or discipline that an undergraduate should learn. The committee members will ask follow-up questions of the TA.
The TA does not need to prepare a formal presentation or any slides for this.
Ratings and Approval
Each committee member rates the TA’s communication skills separately.
Rating scale
- 4 – completely comprehensible, NO impediments to communication
- 3 – generally comprehensible, MINOR impediments to communication
- 2 – partially comprehensible, MAJOR impediments to communication
- 1 – not comprehensible
After the screening is complete, members’ scores are combined, and the median score is used to calculate the overall score. The Graduate School will provide official scores to departments as soon as possible after screening sessions. In most cases, these official scores will be emailed within 24-48 hours of the screening. Departments should forward the official screening results to their TAs immediately after receiving them.Unofficial or preliminary scores should not be shared by departmental representatives. If a TA has not received an email containing their official screening score, the TA should contact the Director of Graduate Studies for their department. TAs will not receive any direct notification of results from the Graduate School.
Rating Categories
| Category | Score Range | Approved for |
| Category I | 3.5 and above | TA types 1,2,3,4 (all instructional activites) |
| Category II | 3.0-3.49 | TA types 3 and 4 (recitation or laboratory instructor, grading) |
| Conditional Approval | 1.5-2.99 | Type 4 ("non-interactive" lab assistants or graders for objective tests) |
| Non-Approval | Below 1.5 | Only non-teaching duties, must be funded by department |
A TA earning a Conditional Approval or Non-Approval rating must enroll in the ITA course the first semester of serving as a TA. TAs may work under the "Conditional Approval" category for a maximum of two semesters and must be re-screened at the end of their first semester. They may not circumvent these requirements by switching departments.
To be eligible for Teaching Assistantship funding through The Graduate School, a TA earning a Non-Approval rating must be re-screened at the end of the first semester and earn at least a rating of Conditional Approval.
If a TA’s teaching assignment changes, they must be re-screened if the new assignment requires a higher category placement than the one earned during a prior TA language screening.
These measures protect:
- TAs whose primary language is not English from the stresses and frustrations of being in inappropriate teaching situations, as well as from students who might blame the TAs' language skills for their difficulties in class.
- Departments by decreasing student complaints about instruction and documenting language proficiency, by providing a neutral evaluation of language skills not subject to departmental issues and pressures, and by sending the message to TAs and undergraduates that spoken English language skills and undergraduate instruction are important.
- Undergraduate students by assuring an appropriate level of spoken English language skills in instruction/grading, and by providing TAs whose primary language is not English with resources and support for improving their language skills as well as developing their pedagogy skills to account for any language difficulties.
TOEFL iBT / IELTS Academic Placements and TA Language Screenings fall under:
- KY state law (KRS 164.297)
- UK's "Policies on International Teaching Assistants" (AR 5.3)
Resources for Improving Spoken English Skills
-
ESL 090 and ENG 098 -- speaking courses for TAs whose primary language is not English
-
ESL 093 -- speaking/listening course for graduate students (not specifically TAs) whose primary language is not English
- ESL Courses through UK's Center for English as a Second Language
- Lexington Public Library
- Bluegrass Community & Technical College (BCTC) ESL Offerings
- Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning periodically offers ESL classes