Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the CTE-ITA?
Who should take the ITA language assessment (ILA)?
What is the purpose of the ILA?
How is the ILA scheduled?
How should ITAs prepare for the ILA?
What are the possible results of the ILA?
What does the ILA consist of?
Where are the ILAs held?
What is the purpose of the CTE-ITA?
The program has two goals:
- To contribute to the success of ITA's teaching experience
- To improve the quality of undergraduate education at Cornell University.
Who should take the ITA language assessment (ILA)?
All first-time teaching assistants from a country where English is not the first language are required to participate in a 30-minute ITA language assessment.
What is the purpose of the ILA?
The ILA determines whether an ITA must enroll in the CTE-ITA program and if additional English classes are needed beyond the CTE-ITA program.
How is the ILA scheduled?
The ILA is scheduled, by appointment only, generally prior to the fall and spring semesters. Limited dates are available four times per year. 2007-2008 ILA schedule
Currently ILAa are scheduled online by graduate field assistant using Oracle. The graduate field assistants may also arrange for the department's director of graduate study, the student's advisor, a departmental faculty representative or themselves to attend the ILA.
Scheduling An ILA Online
Using your campus Oracle account, follow these steps:
- Go to File > Agenda > Open.
- In the "Open Agenda" window, type ITAP.
- Click OK and a new agenda window will open for ITAP.
- Go to the appropriate dates listed above.
- Suggest an ILA time: All interviews are half an hour long and can only be made on the half hour (e.g. 10, 10:30). While scheduling please include the student's name, your department name (or abbreviation) and if needed, the department or faculty representative's name that will attend the assessment.
- Please approve the request to automatically notify Leslie Williams via email of your request.
- Leslie will be sent your suggestion and either accept or deny it.
Once Leslie has accepted the meeting, it will turn green, and your meeting is scheduled. All meetings must be accepted and confirmed by Leslie. Please do not suggest a meeting and plan to attend unless your proposal has been confirmed.
If your suggestion is denied, Leslie will contact you via email or phone about another time.
- Leslie will respond to you only as needed. No response (or an accepted meeting in Oracle indicated by green) means your ILA is scheduled.
- This meeting will automatically appear in your agenda.
- Please do not doublebook entries.
If you have any questions about scheduling please contact Leslie Williams at itadpATcornell.edu.
If you do not have an Oracle account please follow the CIT instructions to request one. Once you have an account, come back to this site and follow the scheduling directions above.
How should ITAs prepare for the ILA?
All ITAs are expected to be prepared for the ILA by having filled out a registration form. This form should be email to Leslie Williams (lrf6ATcornell.edu) two days prior to the ILA.
ITAs must also be prepared with a five minute presentation on an entry level, field specific topic. Generally, an advisor or course professor should suggest a topic most relevant to the ITA's assignment, and the student should have the opportunity to prepare for their presentation in advance.
What are the possible results of the ILA?
There are three possible results of the ILA:
- CTE-ITA courses are required before beginning a teaching assignment.
- CTE-ITA courses can be taken concurrently with the teaching assignment.
- CTE-ITA courses are optional for the student.
What does the ILA consist of?
The ILA consists of two parts:
- An informal oral interview
- A simulated teaching exercise, consisting of a five minute presentation on a field specific topic. An advisor or course professor can suggest a topic relevant to the ITA's assignment, and the student should prepare for their presentation in advance.
Where are the ILAs held?
ITA language assessments (ILAs) will be held in the Center For Teaching Excellence, Room 421 CCC (Computing and Communications Center), located on Garden Avenue Extension. Our building is across from Bailey Hall, directly north of Roberts Hall and west of Caldwell Hall.