- What do you think the most important qualities in a teacher are?
- What was your favorite class at MSU and what did the teacher do (or not do) that made the class your favorite?
- What was your least favorite class at MSU and what did the teacher do (or not do) that made the class your least favorite?
- What challenges did you face your first year of college and how did you deal with those challenges?
Your answers to questions such as these can be extremely helpful to new teaching assistants at the university as they seek to understand more about the expectations of the diverse undergraduate populations they serve. International graduate teaching assistants in particular, need to understand the many social and cultural factors that influence student and teacher roles, expectations, behaviors, and interactions in the context of an American university, as these may vary widely both across and within cultures. You can help by sharing your voice!
The International Teaching Assistant (ITA) Program at MSU, which helps to prepare international graduate students with English as an additional language to serve as teaching assistants, is interested in YOUR ideas about teaching and learning. We are looking for 10-15 undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds to share their honest opinions and experiences in recorded interviews. Participants will be interviewed and recorded during a brief session lasting approximately 20 minutes and taking place in person on MSU campus throughout the day on Friday, April 21, Saturday, April 22, or Friday, April 28. Video will then be professionally edited into short, informative teacher training videos highlighting diverse student voices. Student participants will be compensated for their participation in this important project.
If you are interested in participating, please complete the student information form HERE as soon as possible, but no later than noon on Wednesday, April 12th. The form asks for demographic information in order to ensure a diverse collection of voices is represented. If you are selected, you will be contacted to schedule an interview date and time.
Contact Alissa Cohen at cohenal@msu.edu with any questions.
Alissa Cohen (she, her, hers)
ITA Program Coordinator
English Language Center
Michigan State University
