Information
for students who placed in one of the provisional categories (2 & 3) on the ITA test.
As a reminder, ITAs in both of the provisional categories (2 & 3) are eligible to work as a TA who interacts with students, but are required by Carnegie
Mellon University policy to attend a minimum of 15 hours of ICC work (only 5 of which can be self-paced videos)
during the semester they are working as a TA.
Category Two TAs can work in all TA assignments:
- Undergraduate and graduate classes, labs, studios and individual hours
Category Three TAs can work as TAs in the following assignments:
- Graduate classes, labs or studios
- Tutor for one-on-one undergraduate sessions such as office hours or individual
tutoring
- Instructor assistant for undergraduate labs or studios (if supervised by an
instructor who is present in the lab or studio, and if not responsible for safety
instructions or for giving presentations to the class).
Below are some questions that students in Category Two & Three often
ask:
What specific
ICC work should Category Two & Three students do during the semester that they are
working as TAs?
Ideally, students will choose the work that we have indicated (see your ITA Test Results form)
is most useful for their individual language needs and which will best help them develop
their academic and professional fluency.
However, we realize that students sometimes have schedule conflicts that might prevent them from attending
specific classes. The ICC offers many options including workshops, seminars and individual work, all of which
can fulfill the required 15 hours. Note: no more than 5 self-paced hours can be used to fulfill the 15-hour
requirement.
I've already taken most ICC classes. Is it useful
to take ICC classes more than once?
Yes. In addition to providing specific language techniques and cultural information, ICC classes provide an
opportunity for language practice and feedback (crucial to the development of a second language). As such, our
workshops and seminars function much like "studio classes" or "labs", so many students have found it useful to
attend sessions multiple times.
I am going
to be very busy the semester that I work as a TA. Can I wait until the end of the
semester or the following semester to attend the ICC work?
No. You must attend the required 15 hours of ICC work during the same semester you are working as a TA who interacts with students.
The intent of the policy is to make sure that ITAs have on-going language support throughout the semester
they are interacting with students. Ideally, you should start ICC work from the very beginning of the
semester.
Does
the university monitor the workshop attendance of Category Two & Three TAs?
Yes. In accordance with CMU policy and the PA language certification law, academic departments and the
Provost's office are required to monitor the attendance of Category 2 and 3 ITAs. As a result, the ICC
is required to send a report on ICC attendance to both the departments and the Provost each semester.
The first report is sent at mid-semester (so it is important that ITAs complete approximately half of
the work by that time), and the second is sent at the end of the semester. It is your responsibility to
make sure that you are attending the required 15 hours of ICC work.
Is 15 hours enough to prepare me
to retake the ITA test?
The 15-hour requirement represents the minimum number of hours an ITA needs to maintain fluency during their
TA assignment. However, 15 hours are usually not enough for most second language learners to make progress
in their level of fluency. Many students who have been able to move to a higher category attended 30 - 40 hours
of ICC work each semester for several semesters.
If I take the ITA Test several semesters before
my TA assignment, should I wait until I begin working as a TA before doing language work?
No, you should not wait. We encourage students to attend ICC work before the semester
they work as a TA.
The best way to develop robust fluency is through continued practice, both before and
during your TA assignment. In fact, we have seen TAs who lost fluency after dropping out
of language work, especially if they were not actively involved in English outside of the ICC.
Remember, however, that you are still required to attend 15 hours of ICC work concurrent
with your TA assignment. If you do a significant amount of work in the semesters before
you work as a TA, you may consider retaking the ITA test before beginning
your TA assignment. Check with the ICC to determine the best time to retake the test.
Do
I have to attend ICC work every semester I work as a TA who interacts with students?
Yes, as a Category Two or Three TA, you must attend the required 15 hours of ICC work during every semester
you work as a TA unless you retake the test and place into Category One.
Do I need to eventually place
into Category One?
No, you do not need to strive to achieve Category One. You have passed the test and have
a sufficient command of spoken English to interact with students. For example, many Category Two TAs
have been highly successful as TAs, and several have won teaching awards.
Some Category Three TAs, however, may need to work towards Category Two if they are required
to work as TAs in undergraduate classes
Should I retake the ITA test?
No, students who will not TA again cannot retake the test. However, if you will TA again, check with ICC
to see if you have made sufficient progress. Moving into a higher category requires a significant increase
in fluency and does not reflect incremental improvements in language or teaching skills. Consider also that
if you retake the ITA test and remain in Category Two or Three, it may appear to your department that your
language has not improved even though you may have developed many of your skills.
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