Proficiency Assessment of Teaching Assistants
All Teaching Assistants for whom English is not a primary language must pass an oral English proficiency test regardless of citizenship or visa status. A primary language is defined as a language used to communicate since childhood.
How can students receive English certification before they can begin teaching?
Departments who are considering candidates or newly admitted students to be screened for Teaching Assistant eligibility, the Proficiency Assessment is an option.
- Students who qualified for the Waiver of Language Proficiency Examinations for initial entry to the UConn Graduate School or have used the Duolingo Test to demonstrate language proficiency.
- Students eligible for microteaching testing who need to be screened sooner from the next available testing date.
- Students who are not eligible for microteaching testing can either take an English workshop course to be eligible for the test or register for the proficiency assessment.
The approximately 15-minute oral interview will consist of a series of questions that are designed to assess fluency, grammatical accuracy, quality of language, and comprehensibility. A UCAELI instructor with an advanced degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) will conduct the assessment and evaluate the speaking proficiency level of the student in terms of the EAQUALs/CEFR scale.
The video and conference communications tool Zoom is the preferred format for proficiency assessment meetings. Zoom works best when it is being run from the installed app. Students will need a Windows or Apple computer with speakers and a microphone. A working camera is required. The whiteboard feature from Zoom will not be allowed. If you are not able to access Zoom, we can arrange a meeting with Microsoft Teams.
Student or department can complete a registration form. Registration must be approved by the UCAELI office before the student is contacted to schedule the assessment.
Preparation
All proficiency assessment questions are considered general knowledge questions. Advanced preparation is not required. Scoring and recommendations will be as follows:
(Scoring is based on CEFR/EAQUALs English proficiency descriptors.)
Testing Results
After completing the proficiency assessment, students will be emailed proficiency assessment results. It may take 1-2 days to receive the results. The department contact will be copied on the results email. If the student does not demonstrate the minimum proficiency to teach undergraduate students, a language support course will be recommended. After completing the course, the student must register for the microteaching test for a re-assessment. Students will need to complete an English course before registering for the Microteaching Test.
Proficiency Assessment to make Admissions Decisions (Pre-Admission to UConn)
Academic departments who need to make admissions decisions based on an applicant’s ability to qualify for a teaching assistantship that entails direct instruction, should complete a proficiency assessment registration on behalf of the student candidate. We will contact the student directly using the email entered on the registration. If the student meets the English proficiency requirements to teach, we can officially clear them to teach in Student Administration after they have been admitted to the university.
Proficiency Assessment for Admission Purposes
Proficiency Assessment for Teaching Assistants cannot be used for admissions purposes since it only measures speaking proficiency. If a student requires screening for admissions purposes, please refer to the Proficiency Assessment for Admission. The proficiency assessment for admissions can be used in place of the TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo test. Results will be sent directly to The Graduate School.
The fee is $45. Payment is due before screening date. Departments covering the fee must enter a KFS on the registration form.