Mission
The International Teaching Assistant Program’s (ITAP) mission is to empower international graduate students and postdoctoral scholars to achieve their academic and career goals through cultural and communicative support. This includes fulfilling linguistic requirements for teaching assistants and graduate instructors.
Services
ITAP offers many services to assess and develop communication skills and provide cultural development as a basis for a rewarding and enriching experience at Mizzou. These include:
Language Determination
All international students are unique in their linguistic backgrounds and experiences. If you are from a country on the exemptions list (where English is the native language), you do not need to have your language skills assessed before taking a TA or GI position. However, if you are not from a country on the list, but you believe you should be exempt from assessment based on your oral proficiency or experience using English, you may fill out this alternative assessment request form to provide more information about your linguistic background. Once reviewed, you will be contacted by the ITAP coordinator to arrange a conversation via Zoom. This meeting will determine whether you are exempt from the oral English assessment required of international students before assuming teaching assistant or graduate instructor positions.
Oral Language Assessment
As stated in Missouri statute 170.012 and University policy, every non-native speaker of English must have sufficient oral-English proficiency before taking on a teaching position. Teaching assistants who have no direct contact with students (e.g., responsible only for grading assignments) are not required to complete the language proficiency assessment. It is recommended that departments schedule assessments for candidates as soon as possible so appointment decisions can be made in a timely fashion. These assessments can be completed prior to enrollment, but after a student has been formally admitted, or postdoctoral scholar start date (e.g., during a campus visit, summer).
ITAP provides language assessment via Zoom each month.
Assessment Exemptions and Substitutions/Alternatives
I. Peer Assessments: TOEFL iBT or IELTS speaking scores less than 2 years old can be substituted for a language assessment.
TOEFL (IELTS) Speaking Score | ITAP Proficiency Level | TA/GI Responsibilities | ITAP Course Recommended |
29-30 (9) 28 (8.5) | 4 3.5 | Graduate Instructor Graduate Instructor with dept. observation | N/A N/A |
26-27 (8.0) | 3 | Recitation, Discussion, or Advanced Lab Leader | GRAD 8300 |
24-25 (7.5) | 2.5 | Laboratory Assistant (without a GRAD class) OR Recitation, Discussion, or Advanced Lab Leader with a GRAD class | To work in level 3 roles with this score, you must take GRAD 8300 concurrently, OR if your final goal is level 3, take GRAD 8300. However, if your final goal is level 4, you may take take GRAD 8200 first (while holding a level 2 role), then GRAD 8300 in another semester. |
23 (7.0) | 2 | Laboratory Assistant, or Foreign Language Instructor, or TAs holding office hours only | GRAD 8200 |
2. Alternative ITAP assessment: See the Language Determination section above to learn more about oral English assessment exemptions.
Note: These are exemptions of the language assessment only; they do not exempt an incoming student with a teaching assistantship or graduate instructor responsibilities from participating in the required orientation.
Oral English Language Development
ITAP encourages all non-native English speaking graduate students to practice English speaking and listening skills with peers, faculty, and MU undergraduates through informal conversation, academic activities, and more intensive programs and classes.
Because language skills improve best through the consistent, focused effort of the classroom experience, the ITAP program offers two courses with a focus on classroom communicative skills. These courses are open to all international graduate students who want to improve their oral communication and presentation skills, have TA/GI responsibilities, and are preparing for future professional activities. See below for more information on each course.
- GRAD 8200: Graduate and Professional Communication Strategies for Global English Speakers-I. This class emphasizes development of rhythm and pitch in oral communication, and compensation strategies to increase Global English efficacy when exchanging messages between listeners and speakers. It provides information on student-centered learning, teacher engagement, and overview of learning objectives in the context of creating a teaching presentation. It explains the process of facilitating discussion in the classroom and the mechanics of language for Global English Speakers during discussions. This course is appropriate for ITAP level 2 students wishing to improve their communicative skills to take on TA positions to lead recitations, discussion or review sessions, or studio classes. It is also appropriate for level 2.5 students (holding level 2 TA positions) who have a goal of level 4, in which case GRAD 8200 can be followed by GRAD 8300 to help students progress toward their goal. Additionally, this class can be taken by postdoctoral scholars who are seeking to improve fluency and ease of interaction for professional development. Graded on S/U basis only**. Click here for more information or to request permission to enroll in this course.
- GRAD 8300: Graduate and Professional Communication Strategies for Global English Speakers-II This class focuses on the development of extended speech including phrasing, mood, and complex grammatical structures. It provides strategies to tailor speech to specific audiences including varying structure, vocabulary, grammar, and tone to engage, structure, interact, and inform. It includes strategies to identify and navigate difficult situations in the classroom. This course is appropriate for ITAP level 2.5 students (with the end-goal of level 3) wishing to concurrently lead recitations, discussions, reviews, or studio classes as well as for level 3 students. For level 2.5 students wishing to attain level 4, taking GRAD 8200 first (while holding a level 2 TA position), then taking this course, may a better course of study. Additionally, this class can be taken by graduate students/postdoctoral scholars who wish to improve their interpersonal communication and interactive presentation skills for professional development. Graded on S/U basis only**. Click here for more information or to request permission to enroll in this course.
**All courses will appear on students’ transcripts. No tuition is assessed for these courses. Although these courses are listed in MyZou as zero credit hours, the workload is equivalent to a 3 credit course and should be considered as part of a student’s academic training and responsibilities. Consult your advisor and/or international center about recommended number of hours to take in addition to this class.
There are also a wide variety of language-development opportunities at Mizzou, including through the Center for English Language Learning, and in the larger Columbia community.
Graduate Teaching Orientation (GTO) for Teaching Assistants & Graduate Instructors
Graduate Teaching Orientation (GTO) takes place during the week prior to the start of any regular semester. This orientation is required for all graduate students (domestic and international) before the first semester of teaching or assisting with teaching (such as leading recitation, grading, etc.) at the University of Missouri.
Residency Requirement Waiver
Waiving the residency requirement
Missouri law and University policy require that international teaching assistants (ITAs) meet language and teaching orientation requirements in order to teach at the University of Missouri. International graduate students, who did not attend both primary and secondary school in an exempted country, are restricted from a teaching appointment during their first semester of enrollment at an accredited public college or university in Missouri. Under certain conditions, the chancellor can waive the residency requirement. ITAP can request a waiver from the chancellor on behalf of an ITA.
Waivers are not automatically granted and they are given only under the following conditions:
- The international student received a language assessment and has strong language skills for the type of teaching assignment they are receiving.
- The international student attended Graduate Teaching Orientation (GTO) prior to the beginning of the semester they are to start teaching.
- Representatives of the hiring academic department have provided evidence of the ITAs experience with the U.S. postsecondary classroom.
In order to be considered for a waiver, the student must complete testing and the program must submit the waiver request at least four weeks prior to the start of the semester.
Hiring Department Responsibilities
Hiring departments and programs interested in having international graduate students teach or assist with instruction are responsible for the following:
- Ensuring the student (unless they are from an exempted country) has completed a language assessment through the ITAP program and that the results are appropriate for the duties of the position
- Ensuring the student has completed GTO before they take on their duties
- Ensuring the student does not teach or assist with instruction in their first semester at Mizzou without an approved waiver
- Strongly encouraging the student’s ongoing professional development activities, such as enrolling in ITAP courses and other offerings