Are International TAs a problem?

Balthezar
Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:00:19 +0000

I saw an entry on a CC thread at another college discussing International TAs, and the problems students sometimes had understanding them. I realize that international grad students scramble to find jobs in order to have sponsors for visas. Does this make them especially prevalent in TA positions at Urbana? I have nothing against an international TA as an instructor, but since the ability to communicate is an absolute must, especially when the subject matter is, in and of itself, difficult to understand, do students often comment on international TAs making getting a good grade in a given class more difficult?