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University of Florida
Gainesville FL 32611-5454
Phone: (352) 392-3286
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ASE 2: Course Description For EAP 5836

This course is offered three times per academic year: Fall, Spring, & Summer C

Current Syllabus

ASE 2 Homepage

Course Goal
ASE 2 attempts to ensure the teaching success of international teaching assistants (ITAs) by enhancing their linguistic and cultural competence in the U.S. classroom.
This 3-credit (S/U) course is designed for international students who scored 45 or 50 on the SPEAK test and are currently teaching a class or lab. Its purpose is to address aspects of the ITAs' spoken English, cross-cultural awareness, and teaching techniques that are likely to cause communication difficulties. ASE courses do not count toward a graduate degree. However, they are University of Florida graduate classes, listed in the catalog and eligible for fee waiver. They do appear on the academic transcript.

Method
This course has three basic components:
Individual observation and feedback - Every other week an ASE instructor will observe each ITA's class or lab. Up to seven observations will be videotaped and analyzed. On alternate weeks the ITA will meet with the instructor for feedback on strengths and weaknesses noted during the observation. Individual needs in areas such as pronunciation, grammar, fluency, and clarity will be addressed in the conferences.
Seminar - The seminar meets weekly for two periods. The seminar will address issues of language, culture, and pedagogy which apply to the group as a whole. Topics include:
  • Tips for First Day of Class
  • Characteristics of a "Good" Teacher
  • Cross-cultural Teaching
  • Interactive Skills: Active Listening, Listening and Responding to Questions, Promoting Learning by Asking Questions
  • Improving Intelligibility: Principles of Intonation, Stress, and Rhythm
  • Handling Difficult Situations.
  • One-on-One with Students: Office Hours
  • Academic Honesty
  • Negotiation and Persuasion.
  • Lecturing: Organizing Information and Making Connections.
  • Discussion: Leading and Participating.
  • Emergencies in the Classroom
  • Who Are My Students? The Undergraduate Student, Diversity, Gender Issues.
  • American Values.
Final Evaluation - There is no final exam in this course, and students do not need to take the SPEAK test again. Instead, at the end of the course, representatives of UF departments meet with the ASE instructor to individually review videotapes of students' teaching, evaluate their classroom skills, and decide whether they are qualified to continue teaching or need further coursework in English. Passing the course does not guarantee exemption from further classes in English nor does it ensure future teaching assistantships.

Course Materials
A significant proportion of the materials and assignments for this course are available on our website. It is therefore necessary to have access to a computer with fast internet access. You also need a GatorLink ID and a copy of Apple's free QuickTime Player. Required print materials are listed on the course syllabus. Finally, a standards-compliant web browser is necessary to properly display some of our instruction materials. ASE recommends that you download and use Mozilla Firefox.

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Copyright © 2007 Academic Spoken English UF

Last modified 13 May 2007
Programming: drjdg <drjdg(at)ufl(dot)edu>