English Communication for International Teaching Assistants
Second Edition
In order to become successful communicators in undergraduate teaching environments in the United States, nonnative English speaking graduate students require hands-on and relevant practice. Now in its second edition, English Communication for International Teaching Assistants continues to provide constructive insights and versatile tools to facilitate such learning. The authors convey the principals of cross-cultural awareness within the classroom and emphasize the importance of discourse intonation in building rapport, conveying meaning, and structuring information.
The accompanying CD includes audio and video recordings of real teaching settings that can be examined and dissected for successful discourse intonation practices. Dozens of applied exercises, interactive tasks, and skills-building problems address communication proficiencies and deficiencies. Readers will transcribe and evaluate their own conversations in order to acquire strategies to become more effective speakers and to resolve communication breakdowns with undergraduate students. As a valuable tool, the ITA Performance Test is included, along with its developmental theory and guidelines for its use.
“This text does a fantastic job of working on discourse intonation. The video and audio clips are a great resource for the students. My students loved the mirroring project.” — Delia Cozzarelli, University of Buffalo
Part 1: ITAs' DISCOURSE INTONATION TOOL CHEST
1. Introduction to Discourse Intonation
Expectations / Cross-Cultural Differences in the Organizational Structure of Information / Information Structure at the Sentence Level / Rapport Building / Elements of Discourse Intonation / Organization of ECITA / Introduction to Discourse Intonation Audio Scripts
2. Thought Groups
Introduction / Definition of Thought Groups / Challenges with Thought Groups / Exercises for Skill Development and Practice / ITA Performance Test 9.0 / Thought Groups Audio Scripts
3. Prominence
Introduction / How Do I Know How to Use Prominence? / Exercises for Skill Development and Practice / ITA Performance Test 9.0 / Prominence Audio Scripts
4. Pitch Movement and Tone Choice
Definition / Sharing with Students: Rising Tone / Presenting New Information: Falling Tone / Routine Information: Level Tone / How to Make Tone Choices / Exercises for Skill Development and Practice / ITA Performance Test 9.0 / Pitch Movement and Tone Choice Audio Scripts
5. Pitch Level and Key Choice
Definition: Speech Paragraphs / Challenges / Exercises for Skill Development and Practice / ITA Performance Test 9.0 / Pitch Level and Key Choice Audio Scripts
Part 2: INTENSIVE PRACTICE IN AUTHENTIC TEACHING SITUATIONS
6. Discourse Intonation and Introducing Yourself and Your Course
Making Introductions / Introducing Yourself / Introducing the Class / Extra Activities on Introducing a Course / ITA Performance Test 9.0 / Discourse Intonation and Introducing Yourself and Your Course Audio Scripts
7. Discourse Intonation and Leading Labs and Classes
Benefits of Preparation / Telling Students What the Lab or Class Will Be About / Giving Explanations during Labs and Classes / ITA Performance Test 9.0 / Discourse Intonation and Leading Labs and Classes Audio Scripts
8. Discourse Intonation and Giving Instructions and Advice
Giving Instructions: Tone Choices / Giving Advice / ITA Performance Test 9.0 / Discourse Intonation and Giving Instructions and Advice Audio Scripts
9. Discourse Intonation and Asking and Answering Questions
Teaching and Questions in the Classroom / Attracting Students' Attention: SAW and Tone Choices / Answering Questions / ITA Performance Test 9.0 / Discourse Intonation and Asking and Answering Questions Audio Scripts
Part 3: RESOURCES FOR ITAs AND ITA COURSE INSTRUCTORS
10. For ITAs: Solving Communication Breakdowns
Before Teaching / Pronunciation / Listening Comprehension / Spoken Grammar / Vocabulary/Word Choice / Fluency / For ITAs: Solving Communication Breakdowns Audio Scripts
11. For ITAs: Techniques for Improving Discourse Intonation
The Mirroring Technique / Transcription Work: Transcribing Yourself
12. For ITA Course Instructors: ITA Assessment
Introduction / What Is a Performance Test? / How Are Performance Tests Different from Norm-Referenced and Criterion-Referenced Tests? / What Is a Performance Test? / How the ITA Performance Test Evolved / The Test Construct: What Does the Test Measure? / Instructions on How to Use ITA Performance Test Version 9.0 / Local Performance Test Validation / The Need for Local Validation Evidence / ITA Performance Test Instructions for ITA Candidates / A Rater Training Workshop