International Teaching Assistants

Changes in the ITA Evaluation Process

A message from Dr. Stephen M. Roth, Associate Provost and Dean, The Graduate School, UMD [September 11, 2024]:

Dear DGS/CGS,

As you’ll recall, the Graduate School and Maryland English Institute (MEI) have examined data from prior years regarding MEI’s assessment of international teaching assistants (ITAs) and met with various constituent groups about the referral process for ITAs whose first language is not English. As a result of those conversations, we began piloting changes to the referral, exception, and course placement process, beginning for the Spring 2024 semester. We are continuing that pilot for the Spring and Fall 2025 semesters. The pilot process for 2025 is outlined below:

  • All appointed ITAs should be referred to Maryland English Institute according to the current referral process (please download the linked form).
  • MEI reviews each ITA’s profile to determine if they are exempt from English language support. As of Spring 2024, ITAs can be exempted from spoken English support in one of two ways:
    • A speaking sub-score of 24 (iBT TOEFL), 7.5 (IELTS), or 76 (PTE) on their admission English proficiency exam.
    • Exempt from submitting English proficiency exams for admission, based on Graduate School Guidelines.
  • If an ITA is appointed for teaching duties and is not exempt from English language support, the ITA must be concurrently enrolled in UMEI 006 while serving as a TA. Full clearance for teaching for that ITA would come through successful completion of the UMEI 006 course.
  • Based on last year’s pilot, appointed TAs will be given the opportunity to submit new speaking test scores for exemption from spoken English support. Our current policy allows newly-admitted students with English language conditions for admissions purposes (Intensive, Bridge, Writing) to submit updated test scores until the published deadlines. For the 2025 ITA pilot period, new proficiency test scores for spoken English may be submitted by the following deadlines for ITA spoken English exemption purposes:
    Spring term TA appointment: December 1
    Fall term TA appointment: July 1

Measuring success for this pilot will come largely through comparative examination of ITA evaluations in undergraduate courses, along with programmatic evidence of success, including collecting data from DGS/CGS. Given the complexities of language acquisition and the dynamics of communication, no system like this can be perfect. However, we believe that this pilot will better serve ITAs, departments, and undergraduate students alike. Please let us know as you have questions or feedback through the pilot period. We plan to conduct the pilot through the 2025 cycles with ongoing review and follow-up with departmental stakeholders.

My sincere appreciation to Jon Malone and the MEI faculty/staff for their close partnership in developing this pilot program.

Best,
Steve

The goal of the English Programs for International Teaching Assistants (ITAs) is to provide ITAs with the skills they need to be effective oral communicators in the classroom. The instructional focus is primarily on clear communication and pronunciation skills for the classroom.

Course

English Pronunciation (UMEI 006)
  • meets 2 days a week, 2 hours per day
  • to develop broad communication skills
  • does not carry degree credit
  • counts as 12 graduate units
  • special course fee required
    • $2,055

If a student is required to take an English course based on admission speaking test scores, and that student has been formally appointed as a TA, the department is responsible for the course fee. The department may not pass the cost of this instruction on to the student. Tuition assistance cannot be used for UMEI courses.

Clearance to Teach

At the end of the semester, ITAs are exempted from further language support and fully cleared to teach by successfully attaining a grade average of 75% in UMEI 006. Candidates who do not pass the course may take another semester of UMEI 006.

A Note to Departments

Appointed ITAs who have already achieved certain scores on the speaking subsections of the TOEFL or IELTS tests can now be cleared for teaching without needing to be tested by MEI. To be exempt from testing, the ITA must have achieved a score of 24 or higher on the Speaking sub-section of the TOEFL, or a score of 8.0 or higher on the Speaking sub-section of the IELTS, or a score of 80 or higher on the speaking subsection of the PTE.

The ITA referral form includes a separate section at the bottom for the names of appointed ITAs who meet the requirement for exemption from testing. MEI will verify the ITAs’ test scores in their SIS records and enter the teaching clearance.

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