College Teaching at the UM: Language, Culture and Pedagogy

2 credits 

Winter/Summer

ELI/CRLT/LSA GSI 

Intensive Course 

Enrollment restricted to those students nominated by their departments

This workshop focuses on classroom language, culture and pedagogy for prospective LSA GSIs whose undergraduate education was not English-medium. The Winter course is designed for students currently enrolled at the U of M who are candidates to teach the following Fall/Winter semester; the three-week August course is for new students who are candidates to teach their first Fall/Winter term on campus. 

Students learn:

  • To increase awareness and control of the language of the classroom; 
  • What the expectations are of GSIs; 
  • About the University of Michigan's diverse undergraduate population, campus culture and resources
  • A diverse array of teaching skills in a University of Michigan undergraduate setting informed by current pedagogical theories

Students learn to practice effective classroom communication skills and reflective teaching, with language and teaching feedback from peers, undergraduates, and instructors. Course assignments include videotaped practice teaching and feedback, office hour role-plays, observations and discussions with practicing GSIs and GSMs, discussions with undergraduates, and individual work based on individual student goals and department-specific teaching contexts. 

The Winter 10-week course is required for all LSA graduate students who did not receive an undergraduate degree from a U.S. college or university, or who did not earn an undergraduate degree in a university in which English was the medium of instruction. This course runs from late January to early April each year. The Summer 3-week course runs the first three weeks in August.

Note

Non-LSA students interested in this type of course should enroll in ELI 380.