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Today we'll discuss some of the issues that international teaching
assistants face when teaching in a culturally diverse environment.
As an ITA you will encounter various classroom situations involving
your students,
your colleagues, and your superiors.
One such situation could be a complaint made by a frustrated student.
American culture in part has been influenced and shaped by the principles
of free speech.
Citizens are free to debate,
protest, or complain.
Complaining can be viewed as a function of the democratic process
because it most often leads to change.
Today will present you with the scenario involving a complaint.
We will further provide you with the skills necessary to effectively resolve
the situation
and avoid possible issues in the future.
Now let's take a look at what happened in a few days earlier
when a student came to my office to complain about an ITA's behavior
in English writing classroom.
Anne: Hi professor, how are you? Prof: Hi Anne, how are you doing? doing
Anne: I'm doing good, thanks. I just wanted to see if I could pick up my paper from last semester?
Prof: Sure, have a seat. Anne: Thanks
Prof: How are classes going this semester?
Anne: They're going pretty good for the most part but I'm having a little bit of trouble in
one of my writing classes.
Prof: Really? What's going on?
Anee: Well, I have an ITA for that class and her first language is Italian
and there's an international student in the class who's always speaking Italian to her
and it winds up taking a lot of class time and I'm starting to feel frustrated.
Prof: Do other students feel this way too? Anne: I think they do.
Prof: Okay, have you talked to the ITA about it?
Anne: I haven't because I don't want to make her feel badly, but I just wish she
would understand that it's frustrating for those of us in class
who can't understand what they're saying to each other.
Prof: The ITA's behavior in the classroom
has made the students very uncomfortable.
But let's now watch in detail what goes on in the classroom and why students have
reason to complain.
ITA: Okay guys let's take a look at our review handout one more time, and as you
can see adjectives are the last item that we are going to discuss today.
Just as reminder
our next test will be
on Monday.
So as we have already learned, the adjectives in English are
provide additional information about the noun they modify. So let's take a look at
our first example. The red car.
Sandra: Scuzzi, Professor? ITA: Sandra?
Sandra: [Asks question in Italian]
ITA: [Answers in Italian]
Going back to our
example we see that the adjective is always placed right before
the noun it modifies
but in English we must remember that a noun could be modified by more
than one adjective.
So let's take a look at our second example.
The round, wooden, dining table.
Sandra: [Asks question in Italian]
ITA: [Answers in Italian]
From this example
we see that
adjectives in English also follow a specific order.
So we could simplify this by saying that the preferred order of
adjectives in English is the following: number comes first,
followed by size,
then shape, color, material, use and the noun.
Sandra: [Asks question in Italian]
Prof: In this scene,
the ita has made the mistake of addressing the concerns of one student
in a manner that excludes the others.
I decided to approach the ita and discuss what happened.
It's been brought to my attention that some students in your writing class are
upset with the way that you address one student
in a language other than English.
ITA: Oh, I'm actually surprised the students never approached me to discuss this, but
thank you for bringing it to my attention. Now I definitely
realize that
perhaps my behavior was unacceptable
because I put the interest of one single student before those of the other
students.
I think I really need to find a better way of correcting this issue.
Prof: I'm glad you recognize the problem.
How do you think you can fix this problem?
ITA: Well, I know this
particular student has a great difficulty mastering grammar rules in
english
and
sometimes in class I
don't want to be rude and ignore her concerns because she clearly needs some extra
help.
But now
I'm worried that
this wasn't the best approach.
ITA: Here are some examples of sentences containing adverbs. Can anyone of you tell me the function
of each adverb in each one of the sentences?
Sandra: [Asks question in Italian]
ITA: Sandra, I'd be happy to go over difference between adjectives and
adverbs one more time with you.
I can actually see you right after class or you could come meet me during my
office hours and we'll have more time to discuss this
but right now please understand that I cannot take this learning time away from your
fellow classmates as it has come to my attention that many of you have been
feeling uncomfortable in this class because of my behavior and I
apologize and from now on the please feel comfortable to come and see me
during my office hours
if you have any questions or concerns and I'd be happy to help you.
Prof: What an improvement.
In the previous scene, the ITA correctly addresses the concerned student.
As a teacher
it is your responsibility to create a learning environment that meets the
needs of all of your students.
When faced with a problem,
handle it directly and be confident in your role as a teacher.