Description:
Even during non-pandemic semesters, TAs juggle their own course work, research, and professional development activities while teaching one or more often highly enrolled classes a semester. For the past year, TAs have been expected to learn new technologies for teaching remotely, establish an effective social presence in their remote classes in order to foster interpersonal relationships with and among students, and be cognizant of their own students’ emotional and mental states and teach with compassion, all while helping students achieve demanding course goals. In today’s discussion we will hear from a panel of graduate students who will share their experiences as language TAs during the pandemic. What causes particular stress and anxiety, what strategies have they developed for managing stress, and what can their TA supervisors, program directors, faculty advisors, and peers do to support them?
About the Discussant:
Jeanne Schueller is an applied linguist who teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in German language and culture and applied linguistics. She is affiliated with the Doctoral Program in Second Language Acquisition at UW–Madison. As director of the German language program, Jeanne coordinates first- through fourth-semester German and supervises teaching assistants. In addition, she co-developed and supervises Intermediate German: Reading, one of three third-year language courses in the undergraduate curriculum.
If you require accommodations to participate in this event, please contact Adolfo Carrillo Cabello at carri093@umn.edu at least three business days in advance.
