To the Editor:
I am writing in regard to a problem which has become increasingly evident to me in the past semester. I have heard many undergraduate students express discontent with their teaching assistants. Unfortunately, many of these frustrations result from language differences. The remainder of these remarks is addressed to the undergraduate student body.
Currently, one half of graduate students entering RPI are foreign-born, with the largest groups coming from India and China. Since most graduate students will be hired as a teaching assistant at some point in their careers, you are likely to have at least one TA for whom English is not his or her native language, or who speaks English with an unfamiliar accent or vocabulary. Fortunately for you, international students tend to be a relatively self-selected group; they are highly motivated, intelligent, and accomplished enough to secure funding to come to the United States for the prolonged period of study required to earn a Ph.D.
Unfortunately, cultural and language differences can complicate an otherwise good relationship between a student and his or her TA. By understanding these differences, and taking steps to resolve them, you can improve your own learning experience and help your TA be a better instructor.
If your TA has an accent, be patient. By listening carefully over time, you will get used to that accent. Meanwhile, stop your TA if you can’t understand something he or she says. If a word sounds unfamiliar to you, repeat it and ask what he or she means. If the word was mispronounced, the meaning may be clear from the definition. Or, you can ask him or her to write it down. If you have a chronic problem understanding your TA, encourage him or her to prepare written notes or exercises for class. Be sure to go to his or her office hours where you will have individual attention, and you will be likely to have a chalkboard or paper handy.
There is an article in the latest Grad Life (the newsletter of the Graduate Council) listing some ways that a TA can help resolve communication problems with his or her students. If you have time, check it out on our website in a couple of weeks (http://www.rpi.edu/dept/union/graduate/) or look for a copy in your department. I would appreciate any additional suggestions of actions that you think your TA could take to help you learn. You can e-mail me at barrea2@rpi.edu. Or, stop by the Student Senate table in the McNeil Room on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, 11-2, and leave a message with one of the senators.
Andrea K. Barreiro
MATH GRAD
Graduate Senator
