ELI 381

GSI Communication Skills

1 credit 

Fall

Permission of Instructor Required

This language course, designed for, and restricted to, those graduate students who are being considered for graduate student instructor positions at the University, focuses on the communication skills necessary for successful performance as a classroom or lab teacher and in office hours. Students learn to expand their language repertoire to engage in impromptu interactions with students, to engage students both through interactive lectures and active learning in class, to understand and handle questions, and to address student concerns and help students practice content in office hours. Activities include videotaped practice teaching, classroom observations, office hour role plays, an undergraduate interview, discussions, and observation, analysis and practice of various classroom communication strategies using video and transcripts of UM classes. Students also formulate an individual work plan that addresses their individual classroom communication goals; examples include improving pronunciation, improving ability to understand and respond to student questions, or improving presentation skills.