Teaching Assistants' Training Program

Abdullah Farooqi, TATP Humanities Trainer
Kangbin Zhou, TATP Sciences Trainer

The number of international students and international TAs is at an all-time high and growing at the University of Toronto campuses. Multi-language learners (MLL) bring unique contributions to the classroom experience, but often face structural barriers that hinder their academic performance: communicating in class or performing well on written assignments. In addition, TAs receive minimal training for dealing effectively with MLL students. With this context in mind, the goal of this workshop is twofold: to support TAs working with MLL students, as well as to support TAs who are MLL. Drawing on pedagogical practices and individual student/TA experiences, this workshop will provide participants with concrete strategies to overcome anxieties about language and/or cultural barriers in the classroom. We will discuss strategies for drawing on diverse experiences and language backgrounds in the classroom, helping us to reframe language and cultural diversity as a teaching strength. Finally, we will broaden participants’ awareness of the resources available across UofT to support MLL students and TAs.