September 22, 2004

Undergraduate volunteers needed for instructor training

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Oral English Proficiency Program is seeking undergraduate volunteers to help international graduate students hone their skills at Purdue University.

The program, which helps prepare about 80 teaching assistants each semester from all campus disciplines, is looking for undergraduate students to attend a 50-minute class session in which international teaching assistants practice their skills in classroom simulations. Volunteers view two or three simulations from different students during the sessions, said April Ginther, English professor and director of the Oral English Proficiency Program. After each simulation, volunteers evaluate the instructor.

"Our international students take these evaluations very seriously. After all, they come from the exact audience they are preparing to teach," Ginther said. "The undergraduates benefit from this experience too because they develop a better understanding of how hard the international graduate assistants work to become effective teaching assistants."

Last spring semester more than 400 undergraduates volunteered a total of 725 hours. Some professors award extra credit for participation.

The classroom simulations start Oct. 4 and run through the semester. The days and times volunteers are needed is available.

CONTACT: Ginther, 765-494-3769, AGinther@purdue.edu

Writer: Amy Patterson-Neubert, (765) 494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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