|
|
|
|
While the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) measures English comprehension, it does not provide a good measure of English production. Stanford’s English for Foreign Students (EFS) program has developed a testing measure that simulates office-hour communications. Stanford graduate students who list languages other than English as their first language on admissions papers are screened for readiness to serve as a TAs. Such students typically take the TOEFL and a Stanford English Placement Exam. The Placement Exam may include a Teaching Assistant (TA) rating. If it is obvious that a foreign student has a superior mastery in producing English, the examiner will often rate the student proficient enough for a TA role. If the examiner does not rate the student TA proficient, and the student is later considered for a TA position, Stanford requires that student to obtain approval from EFS before receiving payment on a TA contract. This approval may be as simple as a telephone interview, or it may require the full half-hour simulated TA communication evaluation. Marginal English Production? Stanford has also developed Linguistics 692, Speaking and Teaching in English. It is a three-unit course which takes prospective TAs through the English needed for various tasks required of teaching assistants. Each week the students perform a task such as explaining a concept, answering questions, going over a homework set, or giving advice before the midterm. Linguistics teachers meet students individually to review their weekly videotaped presentations. EFS: Beverly McChesney; Phone # 5-1554.
|
|
|
