Statement of Purpose/Goals

The International Teaching Assistants interest section (ITA IS) serves TESOL members who work with nonnative-English-speaking teaching assistants as researchers, teachers, and program administrators.

History

ITA IS was first established with interim status at TESOL '92 and subsequently granted full status in October 1993.

The formation of ITA IS recognizes the contribution ITA specialists make to TESOL through service to the profession and to the organization. For over a decade prior to the founding of ITA IS, ITA issues had been the topic of preconvention institutes, papers, and workshops at TESOL meetings, but not all specialists, especially newcomers, had a reliable means of networking or contributing to or learning from these discussions on ITA concerns.

The ITA IS makes it possible for ITA TESOL members to meet one another, share concerns, research, and ideas, and develop a strong basis for research on and pedagogy for ITAs. The IS selects sessions and sponsors a range of conference activities -- a preconvention institute, academic sessions, and discussion groups. ITA IS also aims to explore how the insights and experience of its members can be shared with members of ISs with common concerns, thus more broadly benefiting TESOL.

Statement of purpose

ITA IS addresses research, teaching, and administrative issues related to the preparation of international teaching assistants for instructional duties in university classrooms.

Web Site

http://ita-is.org/