KOTESOL International Conference 2016
(Concurrent Session)
Christopher Gareth Haswell, Kyushu University
The Value of International Students as TAs
Abstract
International students as TAs have the potential to form a crucial bridge between instructors and students in mixed nationality universities. They provide support for the instructor, and can have a positive influence on students in the course, providing in-class role-models of proficient English performance. This presentation introduces data from interviews with international students working at an internationalized in Japan, and concludes that these students play a vital but unrefined role in university internationalization. The international TAs reported personal, professional and sociolinguistic benefits conferred by their time working and studying on an internationalized campus. In addition, this presentation recommends methods to assist with organizing a TA program employing international students, and highlights the advantages for the TAs and their respective institutions.
Biographicals
Christopher Gareth Haswell is an Associate Professor at Kyushu University in Japan. His doctoral research was conducted at one of the premier international universities in Japan, comparing that institution with universities in Japan, Korea and China. He researches in the field of sociolinguistics, investigating university internationalization and the use of English in higher education. He welcomes inquiries about his work, and also invites other researchers to join in research projects aiming to improve the opportunities for all stakeholders to maximize their benefits from the process of university internationalization.
Return to the list of Concurrent Sessions at the KOTESOL 2016 International Conference
