English Testing and ITA Instruction
Basic Policy
MSU ITAs who are not native speakers of English are required to demonstrate that they meet a minimum standard of fluency in spoken English before they can be assigned teaching work that involves oral communication with undergraduate students. TAs may meet this requirement by achieving any one of the following:
A score of 50 or higher on the Test of Spoken English (TSE), given by the Educational Testing Service
A score of 50 or higher on SPEAK, given by the English Language Center (ELC)
Taking English 097 (the ITA Speaking and Listening Class) and getting a score of 50 or higer on the ITA Oral interview (ITAOI). The ELC gives the ITAOI.
Test of Spoken English (TSE)
Any person who signs up and pays a fee to the Educational Testing Service is eligible to take TSE. TSE is given regularly on campus and internationally. At their own expense, students may take the TSE as many times as they wish. Test dates, registration procedures, and a TSE practice test are posted on the Educational Testing Service home page
SPEAK
Both SPEAK and the ITA Oral Interview (ITAOI) are given free of charge to eligible students at MSU by the ELC. Students have four (4) opportunities to meet the university's requirement via SPEAK or the ITAOI. To be eligible to take SPEAK on campus, students must have regular admission and must have proof of TA status. Students who are being considered for a teaching assistantship must submit a SPEAK request form to the ELC signed by their department. Students who do not receive a sufficient score on SPEAK in a given attempt must wait at least two months before retesting. A SPEAK test practice tape and booklet (call number TAS000#25) are on reserve at the Audio Visual Library (4th floor west wing, Main Library).
English 097 and the ITA Oral Interview
English 097 is a course in English pronunciation and teaching skills for current or prospective international TAs. The course is offered both fall and spring semesters. The prerequisite for enrolling is (a) a SPEAK score of 45 or (b) a SPEAK score of 40 and permission of the 097 instructor. Priority in enrollment is given to students who already have TA appointments. To enroll, eligible students must sign up with the instructor at the TA Program Office (9 International Center) before the first day of class. The class starts Monday on the third week of each semester. At the end of the course, students must take the ITA Oral Interview (ITAOI). Students who get an interview score of 50 or higher satisfy the TA English requirement and can be cleared for teaching. Students who score below 50 on their first interview have two semesters and two more opportunities to meet the requirement. To re-interview, students must sign up at the ELC Office (A 714 Wells Hall) no earlier than three weeks and no later than one week before the interview date.
Appeal Procedure by Review Board
If a student obtains a 45 on SPEAK or a 45 on the ITAOI and the student's department feels the test result inaccurately reflects the student's speaking ability, the department may ask a Review Board to independently evaluate the student's spoken English. This Board will consist of (a) a departmental representative (b) two ELC representatives, and (c) a representative of The Graduate School. The Graduate Director of the student's department must request the review on the student's behalf. The Review Board can grant interviewees a full or partial waiver to teach. They can also refuse to allow interviewees any waiver.
Work Assignments for TAs who fail to meet the University English Requirement
If a TA does not receive the minimum university score on SPEAK or the ITAOI, the student's department has the option of giving the TA a work assignment that does not involve direct oral communication with undergraduates.
Overseas Preadmission Screening
Each winter, the ELC administers the SPEAK test at locations in China, and if need warrants, Seoul, South Korea. Departments wanting more information about the English competency of Chinese or Korean applicants for graduate teaching assistantships can have them take the SPEAK test during this ELC visit. Departments are strongly encouraged to utilize this option because they may use overseas test results when making TA appointment decisions. Departments should send the names and addresses of applicants they want tested to Melissa Rio (3-3220) at The Graduate School no later than one month before the test date. The ELC will attempt to notify the applicants of the test times and places. To overcome recurring problems of mail delivery, some departments may also send the applicants a secondletter or email with the testing information.