ITA Developmental English
Are you looking for skilled teachers who will get to know you and help you succeed? If so, the ELI is what you need! Our teachers are all highly-qualified and ready to go the extra mile for you. Our helpful staff is ready to help make your transition to the U.S. a smooth one!
Developmental English for ITAs
Designed to fulfill UTA’s language requirements for GTAs
Developmental English for International Teaching Assistants is a 10-week course which focuses on improving the individual’s English speaking ability and providing the graduate teaching assistant (GTA) with insights about instructing classes in a manner that is culturally appropriate for American university students.
You will receive targeted and personalized pronunciation lessons and the opportunity to:
- Practice vocabulary specific to your major
- Design and present mini-lectures about important concepts in your field
- Receive personalized feedback from an experienced ESL instructor
- Gain confidence in your ability to teach U.S. undergraduate classes
Strengthen your pronunciation while becoming the teacher you’ve always wanted to be!
For more information contact:
Lisa Yabuki
Senior Office Assistant
University Hall 502
817-272-2730
ELPA Information
| For Dates of Next Interviews | Contact Lisa at eliadmissions@uta.edu |
| Duration: | 10-12 minutes |
| Cost: | $70 |
| Who is eligible? | Any student with a UTA Student ID number who 1) has not yet met the UTA language requirements for Graduate Teaching Assistants AND 2) has been recommended by their graduate advisor to take the ELPA |
ELPA Interviews
As of August 2024, the English Language Institute is now offering the opportunity for students to take an English Language Proficiency Assessment prior to enrolling in Developmental English for ITA’s. This assessment can be used to meet the university’s language requirements.
Here are the steps for testing:
Step 1: Ask your graduate advisor if they believe you are a good candidate for ELPA testing.
Step 2: If your graduate advisor says yes, sign up for an ELPA Interview time slot. We offer interview time slots during one-week windows in January, March, June, August, and October. Navigate to https://tinyurl.com/ELIELPA to register. If registration is closed, contact eliadmissions@uta.edu for the next available dates.
Step 3: Pay a non-refundable $70 fee and book an interview time slot.
Step 4: On the day of your interview, click on the MS Teams link provided at the time of booking. You will meet with an ELI staff member for approximately 10-12 minutes. During this time, you will be asked questions about yourself, your background, and your educational goals. The interview will be recorded.
Step 5: After your interview, a 3-person committee of ELI faculty will rate your interview. You will be notified of your results within 2-3 weeks.
Step 6: If you pass, you have met the UTA requirements for being an ITA and do not need to do anything further. The ELI will inform the graduate school of the outcome. If you do not pass, you will have the opportunity enroll in the Developmental English course. At the end of the course, students will be interviewed and evaluated again.
Note: Students may only take the ELPA assessment one time prior to enrollment in Developmental English.
Developmental English Course Information
| For Date of Next Class | Contact Lisa at eliadmissions@uta.edu |
| Duration: | 10 weeks |
| Cost: | $925 |
| Materials: | Carnegie Speech Software (cost is included in tuition) |
FAQ’s for the Developmental English course
What are the policies for the class and registration?
Registration for DE/ITA English is available online. Once the online form is complete and the payment has been submitted, the student will have a seat in the class.
16 seats are available in each section. The policies and procedures for the DE/ITA English course for International teaching assistants are listed below:
1. Meeting Times and Sections:
Classes will be held at set days and times each week, typically 2 hours on Mon/Wed, or 2 hours on Tues/Thurs, for 10 weeks with an additional two-hour teaching lab once a week for 8 weeks.
If an additional section is needed, its time will be announced the first day of classes.
2. Attendance policy:
The attendance policy allows or a maximum of five (5) hours of absence from class (including lab time) during any course.
Students who do not attend class regularly make little improvement, if any, in their spoken English.
Students exceeding the number of hours may be dropped from DE/ITA English.
3. Tuition and Software:
Tuition and Software is $925.
This includes a $50 non-refundable processing fee.
4. Students who drop the DE/ITA English course will be given refunds according to the following schedule:
| TIME OF DROP | REFUNDED |
| Prior to 1st day of class | $875 |
| During 1st, 2nd, & 3rd class day | $550 |
| During the 4th class day (up to 5 p.m.) | $350 |
| After 5 p.m. on the 4th class day | No refund |
What is the refund policy?
Tuition and software is $925.00. This includes a $50.00 non-refundable processing fee.
Students who drop the Developmental English/ITA course will be given refunds according to the following schedule:
| TIME OF DROP | REFUNDED |
| Prior to 1st day of class | $875 |
| During 1st, 2nd & 3rd class day | $550 |
| During the 4th class day (up to 5 p.m.) | $350 |
| After 5 p.m. on the 4th class day | No refund |
Who should take this course?
Any international student who wants to improve his/her oral presentation skills may take this course. However, the course is designed primarily for international graduate teaching assistants who must improve their speaking and presentation skills to meet the communication requirements of their assistantship. Most graduate departments accept a passing score in this course from students who have not passed the iBT TOEFL speaking section or IELTS. Students should take the iBT TOEFL speaking section or IELTS before registering for this course.
What is covered in this course?
The course covers the following communication components:
- Pronunciation and prosody such as the pronunciation of individual sounds, word stress, rhythm, intonation, and phrasing.
- A linear teaching model with a beginning, middle, and end to each lesson or demonstration.
- Classroom management strategies that include how to engage a class more effectively by involving its members in questions and general participation.
- Application of classroom instruction during a weekly 2 -hour lab. For each lab, students will present up to an 8 minute lesson in the subject area to which they will be assigned as a GTA, and the presentations will be videotaped. The DE/ITA English instructor will confer with the student to explain where improvement is needed and how students can accomplish change in their presentation and speaking skills.
Note: Students enrolled in DE/ITA English will have access to the Language Acquisition Center and pronunciation software in the ELI computer lab.
How are students tested?
Class attendance is monitored. Students missing in excess of 5 hours of class or lab may be dismissed from the course. Students record and submit 7 videotaped practice-teaching lessons, plus their final teaching lesson. The final video includes an 8-minute teaching lesson and an individual interview with the class instructor. Final videos are scored by at least 2 raters.
How do students know if they passed the course?
Students will be informed of whether or not they passed the final video via e-mail from their instructor or the DE/ITA Coordinator. If students have been notified that they have passed the course, they can pick up a copy of their release letter at University Hall 502, during ELI office hours. Any students who do not reach an acceptable proficiency level in 10 weeks may enroll in the course again the following semester.
When are the classes held?
Classes usually begin 3 or 4 weeks after regular UTA classes begin (except during summer semester) and last 10 weeks. Students attend classes four hours per week, Monday through Thursday, plus a 2-hour teaching lab once each week.
What materials are needed?
To participate in this course, students will need access to a computer with audio/video capabilities and the ability to login to MS Teams. Students will not need to purchase any materials. The following are included in your registration fee:
- Access to Native Accent Software by Carnegie Speech
- Lesson Materials on Canvas and/or Microsoft Teams
