TA Language Screenings

• About 
• TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic Speaking Sub-Scores
• TA Language Screenings
• Resources

​

About

1. Submitting valid speaking sub-scores for TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic English exams that align with their TA duties
2. Earning a score in the TA language screenings that aligns with their TA duties

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

Valid TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic 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.

TA Language Screenings

• General Tips for Success
• TA Language Screening Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

​

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

All language screenings occur remotely via Zoom and are recorded. 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.

Interview

• A 3-5 minute interview between the ESL specialist and TA will begin each screening.
• The ESL specialist will ask general interest questions rather than specific questions about the TA’s field of study.

Teaching Simulation

• A 5-7 minute, planned lesson that simulates a discipline-specific, classroom teaching situation.
• TAs should teach introductory-level, discipline-appropriate content that they might teach early in the semester.
• Departments may provide advice on topics, but the topic is essentially the TA's choice as long as it is introductory and discipline appropriate.  TAs should choose material they know well and are comfortable discussing as the foundation for this teaching simulation.
• A maximum of 3 static PPT slides will be permitted as aides for the teaching simulation. These slides should not include any audio or video clips.
• Evaluation will be based on comprehensibility of communication in English, not on visual quality of the slide or teaching quality.

Question/Answer

• During and/or following the teaching simulation, committee members will ask questions related to the material the student is teaching.
• Questions will be basic ones such as, “Can you explain or clarify a particular term used?”
• Evaluation will be based on the TA’s listening comprehension and the comprehensibility of their answers to the questions asked.

Role Play

• The role play is an opportunity for the TA to act out a typical instruction-related interaction similar to office hours. The undergraduate representative will serve as a hypothetical student enrolled in the TA’s class.
• Evaluation will be based on the comprehensibility of communication with the student.

Ratings and Approval

Each committee member rates the TA’s communication skills separately for the four activities (interview, teaching simulation, question/answer, and role play)

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

Weightings of the screening components 

• Interview – 20%
• Teaching Simulation – 30%
• Question/Answer – 20%
• Role Play – 30%

Approval (two levels):

• Category I, or a rating of 3.5 or above -- any assignment, including having primary responsibility for teaching a course
• Category II, or a rating between 3.0 - 3.49 -- recitation or laboratory instructor who interacts with students or a grader who makes subjective decisions about written work. The TA may NOT teach a course independently (i.e. may not serve in primary-instructor role).

Conditional Approval:

• A rating of 1.5-2.99 -- With conditional approval, TAs may serve during the first semester of appointment as a “Non-Interactive” lab assistants with minimal student contact or graders for objective tests only.
• A TA earning a "Conditional Approval" or below 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.

Non-approval:

• A rating of < 1.5. Only non-teaching duties, to be funded by departments.
• With a non-approval rating, to be eligible for Teaching Assistantship funding through The Graduate School, students must be re-screened at the end of their first semester and earn at least a "Conditional Approval."

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