International Graduate Teacher Cultural Intensive
Saturday, August 22, 2009
8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
100 ATLAS
Dear International Graduate Teachers:
Welcome to the International Graduate Teacher Cultural Intensive! The purpose of our session is to make your teaching experience at the University of Colorado at Boulder both enjoyable and successful. Our conference staff consists of Lead Graduate Teachers and University staff experienced in cultural issues. All new international TAs or GPTIs and all continuing international TAs and GPTIs are welcome. American TAs and GPTIs who are interested in cross-cultural issues are also welcome. It's a great opportunity to meet new friends and begin a productive year!
Attendance at the International Graduate Teacher Cultural Intensive fulfills one of the requirements for Graduate Teacher Certification.
For further information about the International Graduate Teacher Cultural Intensive, please contact the Graduate Teacher Program.Laura L. B. Border, Ph.D.
Director, Graduate Teacher Program
8:30 – 9:00 Coffee & Cereal Bars
9:00 – 9:15 Welcome & Introduction
Dr. Laura Border, Director, Graduate Teacher Program
9:15 – 9:45 Improving Your Oral English
Charl Norloff, Curriculum & Testing Coordinator, International English Center
Antonía L. Johnson, PhD, CCC-SLP, President, Clear Talk Communication at the Center for Talk Mastery
Speakers explain the services that are available at various offices on and off campus to assure that international graduate teachers have access to resources that will help them improve on their spoken and written English.
9:45 – 10:15 Being an International Teacher in the US
Watcharapong Ratisukpimol, PhD Candidate, Economics
This session introduces the challenges international TAs might face when teaching in the American classroom and resources that are available in the Graduate Teacher Program as well as other offices on the Boulder campus.
10:15 – 10:30 Break
10:30 – 11:15 Understanding the Background of American College Students
Dr. Sarah Zerwin, Fairview High School Teacher, Former Lead Graduate Teacher, Education
This session illuminates important aspects of the high school system in the U.S. to help teachers from other countries understand the background and expectations of their students.
11:15 – 12:00 Culture Shock: Adjusting to the CU Classroom
Tina Tan, Director, International Scholar and Student Services
Larry Bell, Director, Office of International Education
Visitors to any foreign culture experience a certain degree of culture shock. The presenters explore how to recognize your own symptoms of culture shock and suggest how to manage your encounter with the American culture successfully and with a sense of humor.
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 1:30 Handling Surprises During Office Hours
Vivek Kaila, PhD Candidate, Aerospace Engineering
Things that are considered public and private vary from country to country. For instance, some American students may use office hours as an occasion to express personal issues and family problems. This session explores possible solutions to potentially tricky interactions with your students.
1:30 – 2:15 Teaching Styles à la Harry Potter
Laura Border, Director, Graduate Teacher Program
We discuss various approaches to teaching using scenes from a Harry Potter movie.
2:15 – 2:30 Closing
Laura Border, Director, Graduate Teacher Program
Download the GTP Cultural Intensive Schedule as a PDF here
For further information about the International Graduate Teacher Cultural Intensive, please contact the Graduate Teacher Program.
