You can understand accented speech
- Don’t panic when you hear an accent that you’re not used to. Be confident that, with a little patience and a positive attitude, you can get used to the different speech pattern.
- Focus on what your instructor is saying rather than how they are saying it. In other words, focus on the meaning of the content being covered and not on grammar and pronunciation differences.
- Use whatever visual aids your instructor provides to help you understand them, especially key words. Ask your instructor to write down words or phrases that you don’t understand on the blackboard.
Recognize your instructor’s expertise and uniqueness
- Be aware of stereotypes that you may have and how they may get in the way of understanding your international instructor. Don’t just assume that you can’t be successful in a class because your instructor has an accent. They have expertise in the subject matter they’re teaching and are interested in helping you learn.
- Be open to your instructor’s teaching style. Every instructor has their own teaching style and, although they may have received training for teaching in American classrooms, they will likely be influenced by their own background.
Come to class prepared to learn
- Prepare for class by reading the material in advance. Familiarize yourself with new concepts and vocabulary that will be used in class.
Be responsible for your role in communication
- Remember that successful communication is not unidirectional. That is especially the case in cross-cultural situations. Be an active participant. Be respectful. Be kind. Be understanding.
Adjust your speech
- Speak slowly, clearly, and loud enough so that your instructor can more easily understand you.
- If your instructor asks you to repeat something you’ve said, phrase what you’ve said in a different way if you can. Avoid slang and idioms that a non-native speaker may not be familiar with in favor of words with more straight-forward meanings. Don’t be impatient. They are making an effort to understand what you’ve said so that they can respond to you effectively.
Interact effectively
- Help your instructor by letting them know when they need to speak louder or slower to help you understand them better.
- Be sure to ask questions if you don’t understand. Try to be as specific as possible with your questions. If something still isn’t clear after the instructor has answered, ask a follow-up question.
- Be patient and give your instructor time to formulate a clear response to your questions.
- You can double-check your understanding of a concept by saying it in your own words, so that your instructor can clarify any misunderstandings you have.
Communicate with your instructor outside of class
- Communicate with your instructor by e-mail. This allows them to think about your question and compose a response.
- Take advantage of office hours, especially for difficult classes. Come prepared with clear questions.
Get to know each other
- Get to know your international instructors as individuals. Ask them questions about their country, their hometown, their culture, their academic background.
- Be a cultural informant. Tell your international instructor about some aspect of American culture, for example, something related to student life. The more they know about you, the better they will be able to teach and interact with you.
Help a future GTA improve their English!
- Volunteer to be a Conversation Partner for a graduate student preparing for GTA duties. IECP Volunteers: Information – Intercultural English Language Programs
