Faculty & Staff | International Students

Frequently Asked Questions: International Students

1. Are there any publications or a handbook regarding international students? Where can one find this information?
2. A new international student has not arrived, (Visa problems or whatever) but is expected shortly after the Add/Drop deadline, what can the GPD do?
3. What is the International Graduate Teaching Assistant Communication Program?
4. What is the test of Spoken English Communication Skills?
5. Who is required to take the test?
6. If an international Teaching Assistant does not pass the test, what effect will it have on his/her assistantship funding?
7. Are there any exceptions?
8. How often is the test given on campus?
9. How are international graduate students informed about the requirement that they take this test
10. How are students and departments notified of results of the test?
11. What services are provided for students who do not pass the test?
12. Is there an Attendance Policy for Communication instruction classes?
13. How is the department informed of individual students’ progress in Communication instruction classes?
14. How is the department informed of individual students’ progress in Communication instruction classes?
15. What if a Graduate Program Director or the academic department has questions about a student’s participation or progress during the semester?
    

1. Are there any publications or a handbook regarding international students? Where can one find this information? On the graduate school website ( http://www.umass.edu/gradschool/faq.htm ) there is application information for international students. The international programs office is also an excellent resource ( http://www.umass.edu/ipo/ )

2. A new international student has not arrived, (Visa problems or whatever) but is expected shortly after the Add/Drop deadline, what can the GPD do?
Every student must be registered by the end of the Add/Drop period. If the GPD can determine that the student will arrive in time to complete the semester, the student should be enrolled in the appropriate first semester course or courses. In the event that he/she does not attend, the GPD can request a cancellation of the student's bill after the deadline. If the student is not registered by the deadline, the record will be deleted. When the student arrives there will be several problems recreating the file so that services can be provided.

If the student is not expected until late in the semester, a deferral of admission until the next semester should be considered. If appropriate, a memo should be sent to the Director of Graduate Admissions requesting the deferral.

3. What is the International Graduate Teaching Assistant Communication Program?
The International Graduate Teaching Assistant Communication Program (IGTACP) offered by the Graduate School helps international Teaching Assistants (ITA) improve their proficiency with the spoken English language. The objective of the program is to assure that all ITAs possess adequate spoken English language skills for classroom teaching. The program is divided into two components: SCREENING TEST OF SPOKEN ENGLISH COMMUNICATION SKILLS and SPOKEN ENGLISH COMMUNICATION INSTRUCTION CLASSES.

4. What is the test of Spoken English Communication Skills?
The purpose of the test is to identify any potential difficulties International Teaching Assistants my have in understanding spoken English of in being understood in the undergraduate U.S. classroom.

5. Who is required to take the test?
All incoming graduate teaching assistants/associates and returning international graduate students who will be assuming TA responsibilities for the first time are required to take the test. In addition, students who are not currently funded but who may be funded in the future for a teaching assistantship should take the test.

6. If an international Teaching Assistant does not pass the test, what effect will it have on his/her assistantship funding?
None, the test result has no bearing on the funding of the teaching assistantship.

7. Are there any exceptions?
The Graduate Program Director can request a waiver at his/her discretion for students only in the following categories:

1. Students whose entire education has been in the United Kingdom, Ireland, English-speaking Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Commonwealth Caribbean, or the United States.
2. Students with an undergraduate degree from a U.S. university.
3. Student who have taken and passed a test with a similar purpose at another U.S. university must provide documentation (i.e. TSE exam results)

A request for a waiver should be made only after the GPD has carefully interviewed the student and has determined that the student will not encounter difficulties in understanding spoken English or in being understood in the undergraduate classroom.

Request for waiver should be sent to Nigar J. Khan, Director, International Graduate Teaching Assistant Communication Program, Graduate School, 514 Goodell Building and cc to Myrna Cronen, Ph.D. Coordinator, International Graduate Teaching Assistant Communication Program, Center for Language Speech and Hearing, Arnold House.

8. How often is the test given on campus?
The test is given twice a year: at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.

9. How are international graduate students informed about the requirement that they take this test?
Effective September 1, 1998, international graduate students will be notified by their GPDs and during orientation that if appointed as TAs or TOs, they will be required to take a test of spoken English. Their options for such testing include:

1. taking the Test of Spoken English administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) before their arrival on campus and at their expense, or
2. taking a similar standardized test on campus at no cost to the student

10. How are students and departments notified of results of the test?
Students who take the test on campus are informed of the results immediately and they receive a written report and recommendation within three days of the test. The report indicates the following information:

-The student met the criteria for all test sections and passed the test. Spoken English speaking and listening skills are satisfactory and should not interfere with the student's ability to perform the duties of a Teaching Assistant.

-The student did not meet the criterion for one or more of the test sections. The student's level of difficulty and recommended TA duties are noted below. We recommend that the student enroll in spoken English Communication Instruction classes.

Level 1 Student has minor characteristics in his or her speech, which may be distracting in a classroom setting. English speaking abilities are otherwise adequate. Student can serve as a TA.

Level 2 Student has moderate problems with spoken English that would interfere with his or her ability to teach a class. Recommended duties include serving as a laboratory assistant or working on a one-to-one basis with students.

Level 3 Student has significant difficulty with comprehension and expression of spoken English. Recommended duties include setting up equipment for the laboratory and grading .

11. What services are provided for students who do not pass the test?
Small group English communication instruction classes are offered during fall and spring to ITAs who do not achieve test criteria. At the end of each semester, students are reevaluated. Students may continue in Communication Instruction classes for additional semesters.

12. Is there an Attendance Policy for Communication instruction classes?
Yes. Students who attend Communication Instruction classes are encouraged to attend all classes and complete all homework assignments. Students who miss three classes during the semester receive a written warning of poor attendance and their department receives a copy. If a student misses 5 classes during the semester, they are withdrawn from the class and their department is notified. Departments are encouraged to carefully review the results of the screening test and make sure that all appropriate students have taken the test and are attending classes.

13. How is the department informed of individual students' progress in Communication instruction classes?
A written report is sent to the GPDs at the end of each semester indicating each student's progress and recommend status.

14. What if a Graduate Program Director or the academic department has questions about a student's participation or progress during the semester?
Contact Nigar Khan, Director, IGTACP at 545-5278 or Myrna Cronen, Ph.D. Coordinator at 545-4011.